Declaration of Jehad

This makes sense. The concept of Jehad, may have been relevant in the middle ages,itself seems outdated in todays world. This is today used by mad mullahs to whip relegious passions of common people to achieve their sinister ideals. These medival thoughts and ideas have no place in todays world. Shun these propogators of hate who will lead you to the dark ages and instead take a step into what we have now

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Nuggets from the Urdu press

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Nasibo Lal in trouble

According to Khabrain, folk singer Nasibo Lal, while singing at Gujranwala Arts Council, allowed fuhush (obscene) dancers like Alisha, Khushboo and Lashana, to perform lasciviously in front of a local audience. People responded with great enthusiasm although the event was against the rules of decency. They repeatedly performed bhangra while ignoring ideology of Pakistan.

Milosevic and Osama

Historian of Afghan jehad Raja Anwar, writing in Khabrain, said that if Milosevic could be brought under trial in an international court why couldn`t Pakistan or any other state ensure that Osama bin Laden is brought before an impartial court? He could be punished only if found guilty. Raja Anwar wrote that Afghanistan had given nothing to Pakistan but kalashnikov culture and was not willing to make any concession, not even on the Durand Line.

Mufti Shamzai`s fatwa

According to Nawa-e-Waqt, Mufti Shamzai of Karachi`s Banuri Mosque issued the fatwa that when the Americans land in Pakistan his followers should immediately take over the country`s airports. Fifty thousand followers did bayat-e-jehad (pledge of war) on his hand. He said anyone fighting on the side of Christians against Islam would go to hell.

Sharif brothers part ways

According to daily Din, Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif fell apart in their hideaway in Saudi Arabia and that Shehbaz Sharif had bought a residence of his own separately from the family still led by Abbaji. The paper opined that since Shehbaz had decided to part ways with the family he may lose Saudi financial help.

Pakistan`s paradox

Renowned columnist Nazeer Naji wrote in Jang that Pakistan had a strange history of upheavals. Bhutto, a liberal, chose a fundamentalist officer General Zia for promotion to army chief, who overthrew him and converted Pakistan into a fundamentalist state. Bhutto was a secularist but spent more time banning alcohol in Pakistan and apostatising the Ahmedis to please the mullahs. The initial paradox was that Jinnah was a secular leader who was opposed by the mullahs, but later Pakistan was to be moulded in the vision of not Jinnah but mullahs. Then General Zia chose Nawaz Sharif as his heir but in 1997 he was elected for his economic policies; instead he chose to enforce shariat after coming to power. But for a man devoted to shariat he chose General Musharraf, a non-Islamist, to head the army. General Musharraf who toured the cantonments to defend Nawaz Sharif for sacking an earlier chief, was later to remove Nawaz Sharif. And an Islamist army was now ready to get rid of the jehadi mullahs and rid the state of fundamentalism. Nawaz Sharif was opposing his anti-Taliban policy from Saudi Arabia although his brother chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had clearly said during his tenure that the Taliban were training the terrorists targeting Pakistani leaders.

What will Pakistan give?

Famous columnist Irshad Haqqani wrote in Jang that Pakistan and the US had discussed the matter of Pakistan`s offering landing facilities during the invasion of Afghanistan but there was no discussion on territorial rights. But General Hameed Gul, through a letter, said that he had trimmed his anti-Musharraf position when assured by him that neither land nor landing facilities would be granted to the American troops.

US to take intelligence help

Famous columnist Hussain Haqqani wrote in Jang that during the Afghan war the Americans used Pakistani intelligence to fight the Soviet Union but this cooperation was not really beneficial; but this time, he hoped, it would be more fruitful. This was a crucial point of time in the Pak-US relations.

Osama wanted me killed!

Leader of the PPP Ms Benazir Bhutto said in daily Din that Osama bin Laden paid Nawaz Sharif of the PML ten million dollars to topple her from government through the device of a no confidence vote. She said that Osama also planned to get her killed, but his plans failed twice.

Present land holding against Islam

According to daily Din, Council of Islamic Ideology came to the conclusion that the present land holdings in Pakistan were against Islam and must be undone because the child born in the house of a feudal lived in luxury while the one born in the house of a poor man was deprived. In the past, land reforms were undone by the Federal Shariat Court on the question of annexation of land without payment of market price.

Beaten up for singing `mahiya`

According to daily Pakistan a police officer ASI Shameem Gondal of Malka Hans had the habit of following a lady school teacher singing the mahiya songs of Mansoor Malangi loudly to seduce her into thinking of love. But the school teacher suddenly took off her burqa and started beating him up with her shoe. Other school girls accompanying her joined in and also beat him up with their shoes. After the beating it was discovered that one tooth of the thanedar ASI was broken but he was allowed to go only after he swore on a copy of the Quran and made the school teacher his sister.

It is not aunt`s home!

According to Nawa-e-Waqt, ex-ISI chief General Hameed Gul said that after the Taliban shot down two unmanned spy planes of the United States, the Americans were bound to run away from the battle field. He said all would soon be well because defeating the Taliban was not khala ji ka ghar (easy as being in one`s aunt`s home).

Zia wanted Afghanistan

Quoting a journalist once close to General Zia, Maqbul Sharif, daily Pakistan wrote that General Zia did not want the Russians to leave Pakistan at the end of the Afghan war. He wanted the question of a new government in Kabul resolved before their exit. In fact he wanted to send Pakistani troops to Kabul in the same manner that India had sent its troops to East Pakistan.

Jehadi organisations are fake

Quoted in Jang, ex-ISI chief General Javed Ashraf Qazi said that 90 percent of the organisations engaged in jehad in Kashmir were fake. Hew said leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Samiul Haq were interested only in amassing funds and advancing their political ends. If they were sent to Afghanistan to fight they would jump out of the bus and run away. He said in the past the Taliban were warned many times that because of them Pakistan was being labelled a terrorist state but they did not listen.

Israel did it!

Talking to daily Pakistan, Sipah Sahaba chief Maulana Azam Tariq said that those who attacked New York and Washington should be sought in Israel and India because Osama bin Laden was blameless. He said if Afghanistan was attacked he would issue fatwa for the murder of Americans and Israelis. He said America wanted to attack Pakistan`s nuclear installations while pretending to attack Afghanistan. He added that there would be civil war in Pakistan if Islamabad continued to support the Americans.

Hekmatyar will join Taliban!

Editor Ausaf Hamid Mir wrote that if Pakistan were to sever relations with the Taliban in the wake of similar action by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, it will force two offended Afghan leaders, Hekmatyar and Sayyaf, to join the Taliban and make an anti-Pakistan alliance. This new alliance will stop the advance of the Northern Alliance but Pakistan would be forever deprived of the friendship of its precious Afghan brethren.

Allah will answer Mulla Umar`s call!

According to Khabrain Mulla Umar of Afghanistan had prayed to Allah for special intervention against the American attack, as a result of which Allah had sent down a storm off the coast of Karachi as a sign. Before this, Salahuddin Ayubi had also prayed like Mulla Umar and his prayer was heard and a Christians army was caused to be gharq (sunk) by Allah.

A Lahori heir to Afghan throne speaks out!

According to daily Din, Ashraf Durrani of Lahore was discovered to be in the line of descent of Ahmad Shah Abdali Durrani who established the first Afghan empire. Ashraf Durrani formally laid claim to the throne of Afghanistan and stated that the Afghan people were not satisfied with the government of the Taliban. He also laid claim to the diamonds presently owned by the Queen of England and said that the diamond had belonged to his ancestor Shah Shuja.

Allama Iqbal`s joy

Famous historian Dr Safdar Mehmood wrote in Nawa-e-Waqt that Allama Iqbal would have been overjoyed to see that the civilisation of the West was no longer obsessed by women but by a bearded man called Osama bin Laden.

Ms Mazari is anti-America

According to Ausaf, former chairman of the state-run Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Mr Niaz A. Naik, wrote to the Foreign Office saying that the present chairman of the institute, Dr Shireen Mazari, was anti-American and was harming the interests of Pakistan by writing against the United States. The paper said that upon an inquiry made by the Foreign Office, ex-foreign minister Agha Shahi stated that she had criticised the United States while defending the interests of Pakistan.

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re: Gowardhan # 202

Gowardhan,

You have milked this joke as much as you could, or should.

If I want to believe that the moon is made of Swiss cheese, who the heck are you to stop me from doing so? Let people believe what they want to. There are all kinds of crappy things some Hindus believe in. You will spend your time and effort better if you focused attention on enligtening your co-religionists.

That is, ofcourse, assuming that your time and effort are worth anything.

anny,

Thing is some people actually believe this. If just talking about it is offensive, how offensive is believing in it?

Gowardhan

i see - that explains the sweet endearing terms used to refer to each other. Have fun !!

aicha

mr. gowy

im not sure if its in the quran or in some hadith but apparently the wine in jannat is supposed to be the kind that does not induce nasha which is the only reason that alcohol is prohibited in islam- one takes leave of ones senses and (imo) a man who is unaware of what he is doing, is not a man.

your tone, is very offensive

Reply Hobbyty # 195

HT

``It may of may not be defined differently for women and for men - This for those women and men effected by either the lack of difference or differences, to negotiate, within the context of their culture, their values, their vision.``

We all negotiate meaning in context of our cultures. I’m missing the specific significance here. ??

“Whether organized or disorganized, what`s that got to do with it - how have explained that morality does not arise out of religion? Is not all morality religion?”

How would you define religion?

Aicha,

He He. Those naked buxom women and free-flowing booze is very attractive. Now I know why those Jihadis are so ``religious`` and read the book many times a day.

Always wanted to have a harem of naked women.

Fatimah?

Gowardhan - thinking of switching ??

Thats A-OK and you dont have to be so bashful about it : )

aicha

I am curious. How does booze flow freely and men get dozens of naked women to frolick around in paradize when on earth drinks are strictly barred and women are told to ``dress modestly``?

Zafar

Sorry, it shud read as flws:

``It may of may not be defined differently for women and for men - This for those women and men effected by either the lack of difference or differences, to negotiate, within the context of their culture, their values, their vision.``

Whether organized or disorganized, what`s that got to do with it - how have explained that morality does not arise out of religion? Is not all morality religion?

Reply Hobbyty # 191

Mian

“It may of may not be defined differently for women and for men - This for for those women and effected for either the lack of difference or differences, to negotiate within the context of their culture, their values, their vision.”

Please rephrase. Yeh mere samajh men nahin aya.

“Are they better off? We all have our opinions about that, but in effective, practical terms, these conclusions remain primarily with those actors within an given culture and society.”

Asking women whether they feel they have equal benefits and status to men in their society is probably a good place to start. Kuen ke mendak is a phrase that was originally coined by ladies who lived in purdah in the subcontinent to describe themselves.

“You had suggested that morality need not be religiously ordained. This is intriguing. Remember, not all religions are defined by the 3 Abrahamic religions, but either way, explain to me how you can conclude that morality does not derive from a religiousity?”

Cultural norms are a function of history (including interaction with, or understanding of religion). If organised religion fades in importance, does it mean that morality also declines? I would say that it doesn’t, though the definition of what is moral and immoral certainly changes. The improvement of women`s rights in those societies where organised religion has declined in importance is thought provoking.

Hang in there

Zafar

Reply Bapu # 192

Hey – if you’re so paranoid that you can’t accept a compliment on your writing (I DO like reading what you write although I usually find your opinions, assumptions, etc. wrong or offensive) main kya karoon?

Does this cut and paste (again!!!! at least paraphrase, using the metaphors and similes you make up yourself) mean that we should start referring to you know who as Osama bin Laddoo?

Zafar

PS Not yet beach weather but, Inshallah, soon. Since Australia is a multicultural country you know what that means – yes – like in a Hindi film from the 70s – all these women in wet, clinging hijab running into the water….

ZAfar ,Dont advise me anymore,here is a business proposal for you DOWN & UNDER for the coming summer ,or is it al;ready beach time there!

Honey:



American officials say Osama bin Laden uses a network of shops that sell honey to generate income and secretly move weapons, drugs and agents.

One official said honey ranks as one of Al Qaeda`s most important business operations, less for the income it generates than for what he called its ``operational assistance.``

While declining to provide any estimates of the revenue the honey business brings to Al Qaeda, he said the shops allow the organisation to ship contraband like money, weapons and drugs.

``The smell and consistency of the honey makes it easy to hide weapons and drugs in the shipments. Inspectors don`t want to inspect that product. It`s too messy,`` said one official.

The officials say they have evidence that Osama bin Laden is using a network of shops that sell honey, a staple of Middle Eastern life since biblical times, to generate income and secretly move weapons, drugs and agents throughout Al Qaeda, his terrorist network.

``Bin Laden is in control of a number of these retail honey shops and members of his organisation are also involved,`` one administration official said.

The administration is considering adding the names of some of the stores under investigation to a list of people and entities whose assets the US wants frozen by allies around the world. The list, the second that the administration has compiled, is expected to be released as early as the end of this week, officials said.

The honey stores that officials say are controlled by Al Qaeda are found throughout the Middle East as well as in Pakistan. One key location, they said, is Yemen, which produces some of the purest and most expensive honey in the region and which is home to many supporters of bin Laden. The stores, officials said, provide legitimate revenue for bin Laden`s terrorist network.

Officials said intelligence officials had finished a study on the role of honey stores in Al Qaeda earlier this year but have been aware of the importance of these stores and attempting to monitor them for almost two years.

Another terrorist group known to have used honey shops to support its operations is Egyptian Islamic Jihad, officials said. That group, which was headed by Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of bin Laden`s key aides, has effectively merged with Al Qaeda.

The Central Intelligence Agency has been gathering information about Al Qaeda`s ties to the honey trade for several years, but it wasn`t until last May that a top secret report on the honey shops was distributed within the intelligence community, officials said.

Analysts have identified several honey companies they believe are tied to bin Laden. These include Al Shifa Honey Press and Al Nur Honey, both of which are in Yemen, according to US officials.

While officials have long known that bin Laden has used charities, banks and informal financial networks to move money and operatives from country to country, there has been almost nothing about the role of the honey trade in the public record.

But officials said that customs agents in the Middle East had within the last year or two confiscated guns that were hidden in bulk shipments of honey.

Government officials declined comment on the companies being investigated. But Steven Emerson, a private analyst who maintains a vast database on suspected Islamic terrorists and their activities, said that some individuals associated with the two Yemeni honey companies have ties to Al Qaeda.

Emerson said that information his researchers gathered shows that one of the owners of Al Nur Honey, based in Sana, is Muhammad Hamdi Sadiq al-Ahdal, also known as Muhammad al-Hamati and Abu Asim al-Maki. Emerson said that a 1992 article in an Arabic journal described Ahdal as one of the first Arabs to have fought in Afghanistan.

Emerson said that after fighting in Bosnia, Ahdal was detained in Saudi Arabia in 1998 for planning terrorist activities against Saudi Arabia. Upon his release in 1999, he was deported.