Advanced Hypocrisy

Why is it … ?
That a nun can be covered from head to toe and she is respected for devoting herself to God
But when a Muslim woman does that, she is considered “oppressed” ?

Why is it … ?
That a Jew can grow a beard and he is just practicing his faith,
And when a Muslim does that, he is an extremist ?

Why is it … ?
When a western woman stays at home to look after the house and kids she is sacrificing herself and doing good for the household,
But when a Muslim woman does so, she “needs to be liberated” ?

Why is it … ?
When a Christian or a Jew kills someone, religion is not mentioned, (that is, Ireland, Rowanda and the IRA or elswhere)
But when a Muslim is charged with a crime, it is Islam that goes to trial ?

Dance of Seven Veils has Begun

General (now retired) Pervez Musharraf had been telling lie after lie to his nation. It is said in our country that the truth can not remain hidden for long. So, like dance of the seven veils, things have started unveiling themselves.

A few days back, Renowned scientist Engineer (Doctor) Abdul Qadeer Khan had revealed that Pervez Musharraf had promised to lift restrictions on Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan but had failed to keep his promise. An old friend of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has filed a petition in Islamabad High Court against un-lawful restrictions on Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan which is being heard in the court.

Now, according to the report circulated by the South Asian News Agency, Dr Khan said that Libya is lying as Tripoli did not get anything from Islamabad. He said they purchased nuclear hardware from the person from whom Pakistan had purchased nuclear hardware. He said he admitted it not because of any fear but in the interest of the country. He said at that time he was told that if he did not accept the allegations, the country might be bombed.

It quoted Dr Khan as having told in a telephonic interview that Musharraf is doing whatever the US wants. He said the US plans to break up Pakistan by 2015.

Bitterly criticising the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said it is not an international organisation but belongs to the Americans and Jews and he is not bound to appear before the IAEA.

Dr Khan, who is respected as a national hero in Pakistan, said that now it is time to show the real picture to the nation because the other side is spreading false stories one after another. He said that his report would not remain under wraps like the Hamoodur Rehman Commission report because he has told each and everything to his family and the nation would soon know the truth.

About the threat to his life, Dr Khan said he is a true Muslim and believes that life and death are in the hands of Almighty Allah, therefore, he is not afraid of death. About procurement of conventional weapons by Pakistan despite having nuclear weapons, he said they have no value as compared to the nuclear weapons and are being bought just to receive commissions. In this regard, he referred to the construction of flyovers in Karachi and said that in the areas inhabited by the poor there are big potholes all around. When big projects are executed, he added, these are meant to receive commissions.

C T Scan of Bush’s Brain

Personal physician of President George W Bush advised him to have complete clinical examination. Every thing went alright the radiologist was a bit confused about CT scan of the President’ brain. The images were referred to a highly qualified expert of CT scan. He gave the following report:

1. His brain has two parts, RIGHT and LEFT.
2. In the LEFT part, there is nothing RIGHT.
3. And in the RIGHT part, there is nothing LEFT.

Law of the Garbage Truck

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it.

A person narrated:

“One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really, really friendly.

So I asked, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’; this is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Garbage Truck’.

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so….. ‘Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the one’s who don’t.’

To Be Your Best Self

To blame and complain will only make matters worse.
Whatever you care about, is your responsibility.
What you see in others, shows you yourself.
See the best in others, and you will be your best.
Give to others, and you give to yourself.
Appreciate beauty, and you will be beautiful.
Admire creativity, and you will be creative.
Love, and you will be loved.
Seek to understand, and you will be understood.
Listen, and your voice will be heard.
Show your best face to the mirror, and you’ll be happy with the face looking back at you.

Notices

One comes across different notices at hotels, one very common is “Rights of admission are reserved”. This can mean both ways:

1. Any body can be disallowed entry in to hotel or be thrown out of the hotel.
2. Even the most obnoxious person can be allowed entry in to the hotel and no body has a right to object.

But I would bring on record two really new types of notices which are displayed at a hotel located in the cool mountains of Nathia Gali, Pakistan. These notices are placed on nicely designed stands installed in the lawns of the hotel.

Notice near the entrance:
For you joy and pleasure, we spent lot of time, money and effort to grow these flowers.
Be thoughtful of the people who are yet to come and see them.

Notice at the other end:
Plucking of flowers is strictly prohibited.
Who-so-ever pucks flower will be handed over to FBI for prosecution as Terrorist.

Hiba

Hibah is the giving of a gift whether it is given to one who is in need or to a well-to-do person, and thus it differs from sadaqah which is meant only for the needy though they may be one’s relatives.

The giving of gifts (including charity) is praised, while the withholding of small gifts is denounced as against the spirit of Islam.

Stress is laid on developing the spirit of brotherhood by the giving of gifts, great or small as one can find.

Even a poor man may give a gift out of the charity he has received. Compensation for a gift received is recommended.

The giving of a gift to one child would be an injustice to other children, and it is therefore not allowed.

A husband can give a gift to his wife and vice-versa.

A wife may give gifts out of the property she has received from her husband. A joint gift may be given to more persons than one, and a gift may be given out of joint property.

A gift may be given to, and received from, a non-Muslim. It is forbidden to take back what has once been given as a gift.

A gift for life is recognized subject to certain conditions.

Property may be dedicated as waqf, becoming thus inalienable, or as waqf `ala-l-aulad.
One who receives a gift or any other good from another must give expression to thanks.

Waqf is something like Welfare Trust. Waqf `ala-l-aulad means a Trust for own children.

Dr A Q Khan was Punished because he Disliked US Policies

Investigations against Dr AQ Khan have proved that the renowned nuclear scientist had no links with al-Qaeda and that he helped Iran and Libya to divert the US focus from the Pakistani nuclear programme. Also, he was tricked into making the infamous confession on the national TV by President Musharraf and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

Highly-placed government sources have claimed that it was not established during the four-year-long investigations that Dr Khan was providing nuclear technology to Iran and Libya just for money. The probe found that the main reason behind nuclear proliferation was because Dr Khan disliked the US policies.

According to a statement given by Dr Khan to investigators, he thought that if Iran or Libya became nuclear powers, pressure of the West from Pakistan will be diverted. Dr Khan was also of the view that the US might try to destroy Iran or Libya, so he tried to help these countries to develop a nuclear umbrella.

Investigators never found big amounts of money in his bank accounts. There was a transfer of four million rupees in the account of one woman named Sabeeha but Dr Khan declared her a “blackmailer”.

Initially, the US authorities had claimed that Dr Khan was in contact with al-Qaeda leader Khalid Sheikh Muhammad but it could not be proved. Pakistani investigators never found any evidence of his links with al-Qaeda or the Taliban. Before Dr Khan appeared on the Pakistan Television in February 2004 and accepted that he was involved in nuclear proliferation, his old friend Senator SM Zafar warned him in early 2004 that he should not confess anything in the name of national interest because the establishment will make him a scapegoat. But the poor doctor never listened to his old friend.

Dr Khan claimed that it was not only Shujaat but also President Pervez Musharraf, who assured him on February 4, 2004 that nothing bad will happen to him after the confessional statement and that he would be free to move anywhere in Pakistan but unfortunately he was betrayed.

He said he was not demoralised during the detention and faced investigation with courage and spent his time with his family, books and his Allah.

He said he was retired from the Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL) in March 2001 because he had reached the age of 65, but he added: “I was retired may be because I was not a sycophant.”

He said he was dragged into the nuclear proliferation controversy through a sting operation against Iran and Libya. Responding to another question, he said, “I was not asked any questions about my alleged links with al-Qaeda because investigators were aware that it was just propaganda.”

He said “I am not in the custody of the civilian government but in the custody of the Army.”

He revealed that late Benazir Bhutto never contacted him during the detention but added: “Yes, Nawaz Sharif and Qazi Hussain Ahmed sent me some messages of support.”

By Hamid Mir
Published in the News, May 31, 2008