“As for those who sunder their religion and become schismatic, no concern at all has thou with them. Their case will go to Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do.”(Al-An’aam 6:160). So, when the people separate, sever, split up their religion to suit their own caprices and fancies, violent differences arise among them and unanimity of views disappears. Where do the Muslims find themselves in the light of this verse of the Holy Quran since 16th century, if not since 660 AD? Were we not told: “Peace be unto you, because you were steadfast; behold, how excellent is the reward of the final abode” (Al-Ra’d-13:24)? No, but alas! We went astray and are still being burnt/remain under such like threat of white phosphorus that burns the bones. Be it Gen Myers who handed over to Gen Pace in September or even Gen Pace himself, nobody on earth can deny the facts revealed by the Italian documentary made by Sir Sigfrido Ranucci. The use of incendiary weapons is prohibited under Protocol III of the Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCCW). Faluja was devastated by WP weapons, which were characterized by US Intelligence Assessment as chemical weapons when Saddam Hussain used them against Kurds in 1991. US, itself invaded Iraq under self created false alarm of Saddam’s chemical weapons which he allegedly was going to use against Israel. Now what to do? There has never been any other compensation for injustice except justice. America and its allies be made to pay countless trillions of dollars for the heinous devastation of life and property. For this, they must quit Iraq first, to be replaced by UN Forces. Also, all those who have not signed the mentioned protocol (if any) must be made to sign it, forthwith.
Indonesia had been under colonial rule for 350 years. “Bung” (brother) Soekarno harnessed its manpower through knowledge. He created one language, for the Indonesians who lived on three thousand different islands and spoke dozens of different languages and dialects. In less than two decades he made a strong “bull” of Indonesia. He coined and succeeded in “Panchilla”. His concept of the “New Emerging Forces”(NEF) and then his demand for a United Nations Headquarters for the eastern areas, soon became a red rag for US and the leading European Powers. The bull was made to go down on his knees and bleed to death, in the arena where he had addressed thousands of people in pin drop silence.
King Faisal of Saudi Arabia ensured that all Muslim oil producing countries turned off the oil taps for America and its allies, until they restored their birth rights according to UN resolutions. King Faisal was revered for his piety and strength of character, by Muslims all over the world. So, like Soekarno, he was getting too big for his boots and therefore dangerous to “developed society” of the west. Something had to be done to eliminate him. It was not long before he was ‘done in’, by the will of Allah, as some would put it.
Then came Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the lime light. He was a “most intelligent and brilliant” leader (Interview with History by Oriana Fallacy). Kissenger considered him so, until 8th of August 1976. Then, at Lahore, during briefing by ZAB and in one to one talk also, ZAB told him that given the Indian aggression in Dec 1971 and her nuclear explosion in 1974, the acquisition of nuclear technology had become irrevocable. After that Kissenger left for France hurriedly to influence that government not to honor the deal of a reprocessing plant, concluded with Pakistan. At Lahore airport, talking to media persons Kissenger said “I shall make horrible example of him”. The newspapers are still kept safe. “Science and Technology” by Dr.A.Q Khan pp 13 and 241 having explained detailed account towards nuclearisation, Dr. Khan says: “…..Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the country’s first elected prime minister who did not hesitate to lay his life for Pakistan’s nuclear programme…..”. India was provided all support to go nuclear before China, by America and allies. The hounds in Pakistan were very close to Bhutto. They were told to go ahead with “Fair Play”, and ZAB was made to depart like his brother “Bung Karno”.
The above three paragraphs should illustrate what happens when great leaders of developing countries attempt to control their own destinies. Therefore, the future struggle for real independence, through knowledge of all countries rich in manpower and natural resources, as it seems, will be interesting. No country lives in isolation. Pakistan is no exception and must prove a good member of the International Community. Some countries are far more vulnerable than others, possessing uranium, oil and other vital raw materials- all of no use until someone is prepared to sell them the knowledge to enable them to process and develop this wealth for their own people, by their own people and within own country.
Privatization has picked up. A country which is unrepresentative and unaccountable makes the corruption worse. Although taking and giving bribes is considered the most lowly form of corruption, more reprehensible are the favors extended to relatives, cronies and personal loyalists, at public expense. The most damaging aspect of this culture of favoritism includes the needless appointments of public offices, and that too, without judging the merit. The maximum most part of the budget is consumed by this blood sucking community. A committee is urgently needed to sort out all the so many black sheep.
What is happening in Iraq is because of the chronic schism that was made use of by the colonials in the past too. Muslims did not hold fast to the rope of Allah. No Warner is going to come again. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the last one. The right from wrong has been made clear. You will reap what you sow. Mediation in Kashmir will be harmful for the sub-continent. Mediation ensures implementation of his verdict. Friends can be changed but neighbors cannot. The Holy Quran is an eternal book. What has been mentioned into it is bound to be true and decisive. Why was it for instance, said: “See they not how many a generations We destroyed before them, whom We had established in the earth more firmly than We have established them…..Yet We destroyed hem for their sins, and created after them another generation”.(Al-Anam-6:6). Recall and reflect what Message was contained in the sermon of the Holy Prophet PBUH, delivered by him at his first and the last hajj! And also “…. Whosoever killeth a human being for other than man-slaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind….”(5:32). “……Their affairs by mutual consultation.”(Al-Shura-42:38).
The last verse lays down shura (mutual consultation) as the basic principle which should guide Muslims in the transaction of their national affairs. A simple word contains the nucleus of a representative form of government of which the West is so proud. The head of the state “whosoever is elected properly is bound to take counsel with representatives of the people when he is to take a decision of vital national importance”. But Muslims did reverse to all the mentioned discourse. Immediately they followed Byzantine and established kingdoms. Halaku Khan came, killed them, threw their self praising and fabricated library books, in hundreds of thousands in the river and also put them on fire. Another Halaku Khan, in the Israeli changed face of US is doing the same there. But Mongols emerged to be better Muslims after that; would the US and UK too follow the suit?
Mind is power. Knowledge is power. The side that wins the battle of the mind will win the war in the end. The war may be won even without the battle having been decided on a conventional battle field because the civilian population that supports the soldiers in the field, from the weapon producing factories, communication system etc, may have thrown up its hands before the ‘citizens in uniform’ has had time to engage the enemy in a decisive battle in the battle field. Countries may have knowledge but almost nil resources, like Japan. They use their diplomatic power combined with knowledge power to acquire these resources. It could also be vice versa. They are big powers or there is a sole super power because they have knowledge, technology and the resources. The spread of knowledge and a humane attitude will go a long way towards endearing it in the third world. But America is not free country. It belongs to Zionism.
The first time that Islam was associated with military power was when the Messenger Muhammad PBUH received a divine command to preach and propagate the faith of Islam, and did so in self defense. The weapon that spread Islam was that of mind. When the thinking changed all the other codes of life were also changed. Moral code of Islam was the real weapon, with commander himself setting the highest example. If America does that, it might live otherwise, it would disintegrate, in the hands of Hedonism and Nihilism.

Pakistan’s effort to achieve MDGs 2015
Khalid Khokhar

In the aftermath of horrific earthquake of 8 October 2005, and after the relief and reconstruction efforts getting in full momentum, Pakistan shows the commitment of the Government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) even under these difficult circumstances. The MDGs are to be achieved over a 25-year period, which is a time span normally associated with one generation. World leaders made a promise vis-à-vis the poor and disadvantaged members of society that the current generation will “spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty”. According to World Bank report, proportion of people living in extreme poverty in developing countries dropped by almost half between 1981 and 2001, from 40 to 21 per cent of global population. However, the achievement of the MDG poverty goal would still leave 913 million absolutely poor by 2015 in addition to a substantial number of people who survive on between one and two dollars a day and are a very vulnerable group that can slip very quickly into absolute poverty. Despite their limitations, the MDGs give us something to aspire for.
Pakistan is committed to lay emphasis on alleviating poverty, creating jobs, promoting education and setting up health facilities. Pakistan had gone a long way towards achieving a vibrant economy, a smooth functioning democracy, improved governance and becoming a major player in regional and global peace and stability initiatives. The government had spent close to a trillion rupees on developing social sectors and on poverty related programmes during the past five years. The government fully recognizes that sustained growth is critical for poverty reduction; focus on growth alone is however, not enough. Population explosion poses great problem. The government has succeeded in reducing the growth rate from 2.3% to 1.9%, yet it adds three million people annually to our total population of about 150 million. Given our limited resources, the country will find it hard to support such a large number of people even with our present GDP growth rate of 7-8 per cent. The percentage of those living below the poverty line stands at over 34 per cent. The government is serious striving to reduce the population growth rate, to about 1.3 per cent in the coming years. If this is achieved, the benefits of economic development in the country will begin to expand to the lower-middle and lower classes, where they are most required. GDP per capita is US $736, life expectancy has improved to 64 years, and literacy rate of adult population has gone up by 50%. Since 1990 some progress has been made towards most of the MDGs. Despite increasing progress since 2000, in most areas the overall rate of progress is not enough to be on track to meet the 2015 MDG targets.
The Government remains committed to achieving these targets, however, significant additional resources and effort will be needed to deliver the substantial improvements in progress required. Pakistan has taken bold steps to increase the women participation in national and provincial assemblies and at present the proportion of seats held by women is 22% in national assembly, 18% in senate, 19% in provincial assembly and 33% in local councils. During the last 5 years the Government has increased pro-poor spending in the national budget. More initiatives are being launched to create jobs and decent work. The reform process aimed at limiting the government’s direct economic role, expanding the space for civil society and the private sector, devolving power and placing people at the centre of national development will foster progress in the years to come. We have seen positive developments in education. These have been brought about through large public sector investments as well as the rapid growth of private expenditure on schooling. The National Education Policy (1998-2010) and the National Plan of Action for Education for All and the establishment of the National Commission for Human Development will help to sustain progress towards the education targets. Pakistan’s Human Development Index (HDI) has seen an increase. This year’s Human Development Report ranks Pakistan in 135th position, up from rank 142 the previous year. Steady progress has been made in the ratio of girls to boys at all levels of education, as well as in the role of women in national decision-making. Despite the disaster that hit northern Pakistan, the prospects for continued MDG progress in the country remain feasible and affordable. The targets are not ‘mission impossible’. Several of the MDGs can be doable, whereas others may need to be tailored and adjusted to the country-specific context.

Pak earthquake & Indian media
Sobia Nisar

It is hard to believe that even at the critical time of earthquake tragedy that struck Pakistan and took the lives of 1 lakh people, the Indian media has not spared the incidence in gaining political mileage out of it. Contrary to the sentiments of grief and pain expressed by the Indian Premier, the stories projected by Indian media are devoid of any human feeling. The Indian media and officials try to create an impression that on strategic level, the disaster has hampered the potential and capabilities of Kashmir based militants. The Indian media declared that about 1300 Mujahideen have been killed in Indian Held Kashmir and the freedom struggle in occupied Kashmir has lost its momentum due to this earthquake. News stories claiming destruction of terror camps and deaths of hundreds of so-called terrorists are published in Indian media on almost daily basis. This negative reporting by India in projecting the theme that numbers of Mujahideen have been killed during this earthquake is quite disturbing for the poor Kashmiris which have already suffered such a big tragedy.
Analysts believe that negative propaganda by Indian media has been done for a number of reasons. First, to gain sympathies of Western world that like them India is facing a terrorist threat from Muslim state of Pakistan. Second, to ensure that world community does not put pressure on India that it must allow the divided families on both sides of Line of Control (LoC) to get together. Third, India wants to give morale lowering signals to freedom fighting outfits that they have lost hundreds of their comrades. Their organizations have become weak. Therefore they must either surrender or dismantle their organizations.
Although it is not the time to play politics, however, the Indian media is engaged in low propaganda politics for own benefits. Even the opening of LoC by the Indians on five points, is just a matter of point scoring for Indian media. Indian media wants to project her relief efforts to the world community, while in reality; India refuses the free movement of Kashmiris along LoC to provide assistance to their brethren on the affected side. Had India been actually sincere to help earthquake affectees in Azad Kashmir, then she should have allowed the Kashmiri people in Indian held Kashmir to come to Pakistan for relief work. The movement along LoC is hampered as the Indians do not allow the Kashmiris to travel freely across the LoC and help their brothers on the other side. In addition, if any Azad Kashmiri comes at the relief camps set by India, he undergoes the process of screening and thorough checking. The Indian media has no hesitation to label the innocent Kashmiris coming for medical aid as cross-border terrorists.
If India is sincere enough to help the affectees on purely humanitarian basis, then it must try to facilitate the relief and rehabilitation work rather than indulging in point scoring. The Indians should allow free opening of people to travel across LoC in order to provide maximum help and assistance to the affected people. Most importantly, it should put an end to the false propaganda techniques via media. At the same time, Pakistan must tread carefully in dealing with India. Indian media should clearly understand that no ploy can distract its attention from the core issue of Kashmir, to resolve which the Indian leadership is still not ready to accept any time frame despite two years of dialogue.