Category: World

Jamatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that solution to Kashmir issue is a liability on the shoulders of the armed forces and Pak Army should fulfil its responsibility in this regard.

He was addressing ‘Estehkam-e-Pakistan Convention’ held here to express solidarity with Pak Army.  Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, ex-ISI DG Hameed Gul, Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki, JI leader Dr Farid Piracha, Lahore High Court Bar Association president Shafqat Chohan and others also addressed on the occasion.

Slamming Geo TV for projecting peace with hostile neighbour India, under the banner of ‘Amn ki Asha’, he demanded that a referendum should be conducted to ascertain the opinion of the nation over ‘Amn ki Asha’. He said Jang Group had committed a crime by maligning Pak Army and it should not only seek apology but also face penalty.

He said that the media group had promoted Hindi and Western culture in the country and made efforts to transform the country into a secular state by negating the two nation theory. He said after a long time, the army chief had termed the Kashmir as Pakistan’s juggler vein. He said the Kashmir issue was a liability on the shoulders of Pak Army and time had come to resolve it at the earliest. He said that entire Kashmir would have been the part of Pakistan if the military commander had followed the instruction of Quaid-e-Azam.

The JuD leader said that nation is united against the forces who wanted to destabilise the country. He said that they condemn the attack on Hamid Mir, but the propaganda launched against the armed forces after the attack was bigger assault.

He said, “Attack on Hamid Mir was attack on one person while attack on ISI and armed forces was attack on the whole nation.” “I would advise Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah to study the Holy Quran which forbids blaming anyone without evidence,” he further said.   Sardar Atiq said the defence minister committed a shameful act by defending the country’s enemies instead of armed forces. He claimed that India wanted to establish military cantonments in Pakistani areas under the grab of trade.

Hameed Gul said it was shameful that the prime minister and president did not bother to express their sympathies with the families of the martyrs on Yaum-e-Shuhada. He said the PM by inquiring after Hamid Mir had established the fact that the rulers were siding with those who were blaming the state institutions.  Shafqat Chuhan said that every institution should work within its limits. He said that anti-Islam forces wanted to destabilise the country.

Paris: Global press freedom has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade, according to a Freedom House report released today.

The decline was driven in part by major regression in several Middle Eastern states, including Egypt, Libya, and Jordan; marked setbacks in Turkey, Ukraine, and a number of countries in East Africa; and deterioration in the relatively open media environment of the United States.
Freedom of the Press 2014 found that despite positive developments in a number of countries, most notably in sub-Saharan Africa, setbacks were the dominant trend in every other region. The share of the world’s population with media rated “Free” remains at just 14 percent, or only one in seven people. Far larger shares live in “Not Free” (44 percent) or “Partly Free” (42 percent) media environments.
“We see declines in media freedom on a global level, driven by governments’ efforts to control the message and punish the messenger,” said Karin Karlekar, project director of the report. “In every region of the world last year, we found both governments and private actors attacking reporters, blocking their physical access to newsworthy events, censoring content, and ordering politically motivated firings of journalists.”
“In 2013 we saw more cases of states targeting foreign reporters and media outlets,” Karlekar added. “Russian and Chinese authorities declined to renew or threatened to withhold visas for prominent foreign correspondents, but the new Egyptian government went a step further by detaining a number of Al-Jazeera staff on charges of supporting terrorism.”

Key Global Findings:
§ Of the 197 countries and territories assessed during 2013, a total of 63 (32 percent) were rated Free, 68 (35 percent) were rated Partly Free, and 66 (33 percent) were rated Not Free.
§ All regions except sub-Saharan Africa, whose average score leveled off, showed declines, with the Middle East and North Africa suffering the worst deterioration.
§ Triggers for country declines included governments’ overt attempts to control the news—whether through the physical harassment of journalists covering protest movements or other sensitive stories, restrictions on foreign reporters, or tightened constraints on online news outlets and social media—as well as the role of owners in shaping media content through directives on coverage or dismissals of outspoken journalists.
§ Country improvements were largely driven by three factors: a growing ability of private firms to operate television and radio outlets; greater access to a variety of views via online media, social media, and international outlets; and improved respect for legal protections for the press.
§ China and Russia maintained a tight grip on local media while also attempting to control the more independent views provided either in the blogosphere or by foreign news sources.
§ The world’s eight worst-rated countries remain Belarus, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Key Regional Findings:
Americas:
§ The regional average score worsened to its lowest level in five years, and just 2 percent of the population in Latin America lived in Free media environments.
§ Scores dropped in Honduras, Panama, Suriname, and Venezuela.
§ Paraguay’s rating improved to Partly Free.
§ Conditions in the United States deteriorated due primarily to attempts by the government to inhibit reporting on national security issues.
Asia-Pacific:
§ Only 5 percent of the region’s population had access to Free media in 2013.
§ China, rated Not Free, continued to crack down on online speech, particularly on microblogs, and also ramped up pressure on foreign journalists.
§ Press freedom deteriorated in Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and several Pacific Island states, including Nauru, which was downgraded to Partly Free.
§ Burma and Nepal registered score improvements.
Eurasia:
§ The overwhelming majority of people in the region (97 percent) lived in Not Free media environments.
§ Conditions in Russia remained grim, as the RIA Novosti news agency was closed and the government enacted additional legal restrictions on online speech.
§ Ukraine was downgraded to Not Free for 2013 due primarily to attacks on journalists covering the Euromaidan protests, and further erosion took place in Azerbaijan.
§ Positive developments occurred in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.
Europe:
§ This region enjoys the highest level of press freedom, but the regional average score registered the second-largest drop worldwide in 2013.
§ The Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden were rated the world’s top-performing countries.
§ Significant decline took place in Turkey, which fell into the Not Free category, as well as in Greece, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom.
§ A modest numerical improvement was noted in Italy, which remains Partly Free.
Middle East and North Africa:
§ Only 2 percent of the region’s people lived in Free media environments, while the vast majority, 84 percent, lived in Not Free countries or territories.
§ Backsliding occurred in Libya, which fell back into the Not Free category, and Egypt, where the military-led government limited press freedom.
§ Significant deterioration took place in Jordan and to a lesser extent in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. Press freedom declined further in Syria, in the midst of an especially brutal civil war that posed enormous dangers to journalists.
§ Improvements took place in Algeria (upgraded to Partly Free), Yemen, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Israel (upgraded back to Free).
Sub-Saharan Africa:
§ The majority of people (56 percent) lived in countries with Partly Free media. Improvements in the legal and economic spheres in 2013 were balanced by declines in the political category.
§ Declines occurred in South Sudan and Zambia (both downgraded to Not Free), the Central African Republic, and several countries in East Africa, including Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda.
§ West Africa saw a number of improvements, including the upgrade of Côte d’Ivoire to Partly Free and numerical gains in Mali, Senegal, and Togo.
§ Other gains were recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, the Seychelles, and Zimbabwe.

Islamabad: Terming Kashmir as the “jugular vein” of Pakistan, the country’s Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif said the issue should be resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris and in line with UNSC resolutions for lasting peace in the region.

Addressing the main ceremony to mark the ‘Youm-e-Shuhada’ (Martyrs’ Day) at GHQ Rawalpindi, Gen Sharif said Kashmir was an internationally recognised dispute. “Matchless sacrifices offered by Kashmiris will not go in vain,” he said.

Sharif, who just returned from his official trip to Saudi Arabia, termed Kashmir as a “jugular vein” of Pakistan. He called for resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris and in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The resolution of the Kashmir issue is “indispensable” for lasting peace in the region, he said.

“Pakistan Army is in favour of peace but is always ready to respond to any aggression in befitting manner,” he said on Wednesday.

Pakistan has often described Kashmir as the “jugular vein” but this is the first time Gen Sharif has used the term or spoken about Kashmir since taking over late last year.

Talking about domestic issues, he said that Pakistan Army believes in strengthening of democracy, supremacy of constitution and rule of law.

The army chief lauded the media and said: “We believe in freedom of media and responsible journalism”.

His comments came amid a controversy surrounding the attack on leading Geo TV anchor Hamid Mir and subsequent move by the Defence Ministry seeking cancellation of the broadcasting licence of the channel.

Sharif said Pakistan Army supports every effort for elimination of terrorism and restoration of peace in the country.

He said armed forces of Pakistan are capable enough to foil the nefarious designs of the enemy and remain alert round the clock for defence of the motherland.

Nobody should doubt the capabilities of Pakistan Army as it will come to the expectations of the nation, he said.

Sharif asked anti-state elements to unconditionally accept Pakistan’s Constitution and join the national mainstream otherwise the military “with the support of people will take them to task”.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of dignitaries, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and former Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

A female student in Kenya has revealed that she has infected a total of 324 men with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

The HIV positive girl, who attends the Kabarak University in Nakuru, is said to have been infected by a man at a party.

The unidentified 19-year old is allegedly aiming to infect a total of 2000 men in revenge.

According to reports:

The girl allegedly contacted Kenyan Scandals on Facebook and claimed she had something to confess.

After she was assured her identity was going to be protected (the Kenyan Daily Post, however, published a picture from her Facebook profile along with the article) she wrote: “Sep 22nd 2013 is a day I”ll never forget, we went clubbing in town and got drunk with some senior students then went back hostels for party round 2″.

She then explained that when she woke up, the morning after, she realized a boy named Javan had had sex with her while she was drunk.

“I only asked if he used a condom and he said yes, however when taking bath I noticed sperms down there, I wanted to commit suicide, I feared getting pregnant and HIV.”

When she discovered she was HIV positive, the girl confronted Javan who insisted he was clean.

“I was so depressed and took alcohol to die, I even bought poison, the pain was just unbearable how was I gone face the world, I let my parents down, I gave up on the world and just wanted to end my life. My future had been ruined, somehow someone had to pay,” the girl said.

“I accepted my fate and promised to make all men I come across suffer, I know I’m attractive and men both married and unmarried chase me left right and center.

“I buried the good girl in me and became the bad girl, my goal was to infect as many as possible,” she explained.

The girl then confessed she had already infected 324 men, 156 of which are students at the Kabarak University where she studies, the rest are married men, lecturers, lawyers, celebrities and politicians.

“Not a day passes without me having sex, mostly 4 people per day,” she continued in her confession. “Your day is coming, you men destroyed my life and I will make you and your people pay for it”

Arnoud van Doorn’s son, Iskander Amien De Vrie, was one of the 37 people who converted to Islam during the Dubai International Peace Convention. 

The son of Arnoud van Doorn, the famous Dutch policy maker and distributor of an anti-Islam filmFitna that caused unrest in 2008, surprised the audiences at the three-day Dubai International Peace Convention by 
embracing Islam.

Arnoud’s son, Iskander Amien De Vrie, was one of the 37 people who converted to Islam during the convention.

“I bear witness that there is no God to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his worshipper and last messenger,” said Iskander in his Shahadah (testimony) to become a Muslim.

Arnoud van Doorn shot to fame in 2008 as one of the names associated with the anti-Muslim filmFitna, which was released in 2008. The film promoted misconceptions about Islam and Arnoud was one of the film’s distributors.

Five years later, Arnoud was a changed man having learned more about Islam, which he today calls as ‘a religion of peace’. He converted to Islam after learning more about the religion and his decision shocked the world.

“I saw my father become more peaceful after converting to Islam. That’s when I realised there is something good in this religion and it made me change my perception of Muslims. I started studying the Holy Quran and going through lectures of important scholars,” said Iskander in an interview with Khaleej Times.

Iskander, 22, credited his college friend Younis for setting a good example of what Muslims 
really are and how they live their life. “My friend Younis is a good practicing Muslim who taught me something new every day. He was patient with me and there was no way I could be rude to him,” said Iskander.

Iskander also drew inspiration from his father’s life and how he underwent a transformation to become a more peaceful person.

Talking about the anti-Islamic movie Fitna, Arnoud called it a “mistake”, which he deeply regretted. “There is a misconception among people that I produced the movie Fitna, but I wasn’t involved in it. I was only responsible for distributing the movie. Today, it is something that I deeply regret.”

Arnoud hopes to produce a movie about the righteousness preached in Islam and correct his earlier “mistakes”. “I feel an urge and a responsibility to correct the mistakes I have done in the past. I want to use my talents and skills in a positive way by spreading the truth about Islam. I am trying to make a new movie about Islam and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It would show people what examples the Prophet set in his life and the 
movie would invite younger 
people to Islam.”

With both the father and son now leading life as Muslims, the astonishing story was talked about by speakers and scholars even after the convention was over.

Arnoud is now calling on people to support his Islamic Foundation, which is fighting Islamophobia in Europe. Having started the European Dawah Foundation, Arnoud has come a full circle from his earlier days as a member of the right-wing anti-Islam Freedom Party.

His team of volunteers works towards bridging the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims and helping people clear their misconceptions about Islam.

Iskander now plans to take a trip to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and hopes his mother would also embrace Islam soon.

Iran: An Iranian mother spared the life of her son’s convicted murderer with an emotional slap in the face as he awaited execution with the noose around his neck, a newspaper reported Thursday.

The dramatic climax followed a rare public campaign to save the life of Balal, who at 19 killed another young man, Abdollah Hosseinzadeh, in a street fight with a knife back in 2007.

Shargh newspaper said police officers led Balal to a public execution site in the northern city of Nowshahr as a large crowd gathering on Tuesday morning.

Samereh Alinejad, mother of the victim who lost another son in a motorbike accident four years ago, asked the crowd whether they know “how difficult it is to live in an empty house.”

Balal, black-hooded and standing on a chair before a makeshift gallows, had the noose around his neck when Alinejad approached.

She slapped him in the face and removed the rope from his neck assisted by her husband, Abdolghani Hosseinzadeh, a former professional footballer.

“I am a believer. I had a dream in which my son told me that he was at peace and in a good place… After that, all my relatives, even my mother, put pressure on me to pardon the killer,” Alinejad told Shargh.

“The murderer was crying, asking for forgiveness. I slapped him in the face. That slap helped to calm me down,” she said. “Now that I’ve forgiven him, I feel relieved.”

Balal said the “slap was the space between revenge and forgiveness.”

“I’ve asked my friends not to carry knives… I wish someone had slapped me in the face when I wanted to carry one,” Balal said in a television interview.

A high-profile campaign was launched by public figures including Adel Ferdosipour, a popular football commentator and TV show host, and former international footballer Ali Daei, appealed for the victim’s family to forgive the killer.

According to the United Nations, more than 170 people have been executed in the Islamic republic since the beginning of 2014.

Under the country’s interpretation of Islamic sharia laws in force since a 1979 revolution, murder and several other crimes are punishable by death.

But the victim’s family has the right to spare a convict’s life in return for blood money, under Islamic laws.