As reported in Jang, JUI leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee charged with sighting the Eid moon should be disbanded and reformed with true (jayyad) ulema because the present committee was making wrong decisions. Most people in Lahore said that the Eid on October 1 2008 was wrong and that the committee had “eaten up” one fast by relying on science. In some suburbs of Lahore, like Muridke, three Eids were celebrated.
Eid moon and the naked eye
Writing in Express, Asadullah Ghalib stated that Muslims in the world had not been able to unite themselves on the observance of Eid. In Pakistan, Eid was rejected on October 1 because the moon was not seen with the naked eye but with the help of a telescope. However, Pakistan observed Eid on three different days, this time also including Punjab. He said there could not be any ijtihad on the condition of the naked eye, but the Muslim world could organise an agreed system.
Mullah and politics
Writing in Express, Tanvir Qaiser Shahid explained mullah as someone who cannot tolerate a different opinion and is on sale for politicians. One Maulana Abdul Qadir Azad khateeb of Badshahi Masjid in Lahore once sided with the opponents of Benazir and issued the fatwa that anyone who voted for Benazir would have his nikah dissolved.
Rooms occupied for 30 years
According to Jang, Punjab University administration in Lahore had four hostel rooms meant for the caretaker of the hostel vacated. The Jamiat Tulaba Islam was in occupation of these rooms for 30 years. In one room it even tortured students who did not obey them. The administration got the rooms vacated with great courage.
Pleasure domes of Islamabad
Columnist Haroon Rashid wrote in Jang, that Islamabad had many 20-kanal farm houses where nights stayed awake and days remained asleep and beautiful actresses from India were brought in to increase the pleasure of the rich for millions of rupees. People who gave crores of rupees to the women of pleasure in these houses sat down in comfortable sofas and mourned over the misfortunes of Pakistan.
Illegal mosques in Islamabad
An article in monthly Naya Zamana, stated that Sector G-11 had sprouted four mosques within a square of 500 yards in its centre. In I-10, a public park had been trespassed by a madrassa of Ahle Hadith which has grown from a one room affair to a multi-storeyed institution. The mosque administration said no permission was required for building a mosque. Islamabad had 43 illegal mosques in 2007. By official reckoning the official mosques in the city are sufficient to cater to the population.
Dont trust Friends of Pakistan
Economist Dr Shahid Hasan Siddiqi said in Jang, that Pakistan should not take help from Friends of Pakistan forum convened in Dubai to support Pakistan financially. Pakistan should first stop playing a helping role in Americas programme of attacking deep inside Pakistan territory. As a result of its Bajaur operations, terrorism had increased in Pakistan. He wrote that terrorism was actually being done by foreign agents sent into Pakistan. Without first removing the causes of Al Qaedas terrorism it would be fatal for Pakistan to accept aid from Friends of Pakistan.
Terrorists in south Punjab
Columnist Hamid Mir wrote in Jang, that he told Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that terrorists of the tribal areas were making their new hideouts in Multan, Bahawalpur and Muzaffargarh and “if you attack them there, they will go to Karachi.” Therefore, the best thing would be to negotiate with the Taliban. The prime minister agreed with him that the Americans were after Pakistans nuclear weapons.
America takes blood of Pakistani children
According to Jang, ex-ISI chief General (Retd) Hamid Gul said that America will never stop attacking Pakistan as long as its objectives here are not met, which are connected with Pakistans nuclear weapons. Until then, Pakistan government will go on offering the blood of Pakistani children to the Americans.
One-eyed burqa, please!
As reported in Jang, a Saudi scholar of religion, Muhammad Al Hibadan, has told the Saudi women that the veils covering their faces and hair but showing their two eyes were against Islam. He asked them to wear a veil with only one hole in it showing just one eye, which would be considered Islamic. He also said that women made themselves seductive through the use of cosmetics, which was against Islam.
What people want
Daily Jang, reproduced a 1959 column by the great writer late Ibrahim Jalees saying that people wanted bread to eat, water to drink, houses to live in, schools and colleges to study in, and even get Kashmir for them to spend holidays in. But once all this was done, people will complain about bread not being put in their mouths, cloths not being sewed by the government and the houses not being swept by the government. In the end they will demand fare for going to Kashmir too.
America tried to kill Asfandyar
Writing in Express, Asadullah Ghalib stated that Asfandyar Wali was attacked by America, but like Aftab Sherpao he was reluctant to name America as the killer. To save their cooperation with the US, politicians often blame their brothers in the Tribal Areas, the Taliban and Al Qaeda and not the real culprit. A Muslim cannot attack a Muslim, therefore only America does the deed.
America and Stone Age Pakistan
Columnist Irfan Siddiqi wrote in Jang, that the US had signed a nuclear deal with India, the same US whose conflagration “we have embraced as a holy fire that burns our homes and children.” To play beloved (dildar) to the US, we have handed over our airfields, our seas, our air space and our intelligence to it. While the US advances, Pakistan is being slowly pushed into the Stone Age.
ISI chief General Taj and Benazir
According to Aajkal, the PPP was opposed to the ISI chief General Nadeem Taj and wanted him gone but army chief General Kayani was cautious about post-Musharraf reshuffles. The PPP tried to get him placed under Interior Ministry but failed with Kayanis help. It hated General Taj because he had refused to meet Benazir despite a number of requests from her. Finally, when he met her his advice to her not to hold the Liaquatabad public meeting was too threatening in tone to be accepted.
Alas, Pakistan can't hit America
In response to American Senator Joe Bidens statement that Pakistan as a nuclear power was dangerous because it could hit Israel with a nuclear bomb, Asadullah Ghalib wrote in Express that Pakistan did not have a missile that could reach America and therefore it had to listen to such threats silently.
Baitullah dead or married again?
Reported in Express, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad of Bajaur, who was deputy commander of Baitullah Mehsud, the chief of Tehreek Taliban in the Tribal Areas had suffered an attack of paralysis while Baitullah Mehsud was actually dead from his various fatal illnesses. Maulvi Umar, spokesman of Baitullah in South Waziristan, denied the news and said that Baitullah had actually married another bride on the day the news of his death was made public. Jang reported that the entire South Waziristan danced with joy on the wedding of 35-year-old Baitullah Mehsud. According to daily Express, 40 dumba (sheep) were killed and eaten in celebration.
Our path to future is mined
Writing in Jang, Nazir Naji stated that in order to fight the Soviet Union we prepared warrior priest in the name of Islam. These warriors have completely ruined our society and more guest warriors coming into Pakistan will soon trample under foot whatever is left of Pakistan. Pakistan had no idea how its way forward is being dangerously mined by these people.