Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Suicide attack on Ashora procession;

death toll in the suicide blast yesterday rose to 40 and
numerous injured
GBE Monitor

KARACHI, Dec.29: A suicide bomber on Monday, december 28, targeted Pakistan's
largest procession of Shiite Muslims on their holiest day, killing at least40 people and wounding dozens more in defiance of a major security crackdown. The blast sparked riots in Karachi, the financial capital, where angry mourners went on the rampage, throwing stones at ambulances, torching cars and shops and firing bullets into the air, sparking appeals for calm. According to hospital sources, at least 38 bodies have been brought to civil Hospital; while two bodies were taken to Jinnah Hospital.The several injured were shifted to private hospitals. Provincial government had deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces, fearing militant attacks on Ashura processions. “The blast was so huge that I felt my hearing had gone, but then I started hearing cries of injured people and saw pieces of human flesh and blood on the road,” said Abbas Ali, 35, one of the mourners thrown to the ground. Interior Minister Rehman Malik blamed Tehreek-e-Taliban, against which the military has been waging a major operation in near the Afghan border, and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, another of Pakistan's most feared Islamist networks. “At least 30 people have been killed so far in the suicide attack and 63 others have been injured,” provincial health minister Saghir Ahmed told AFP.
"We have declared emergency at all hospitals in Karachi and doctors are making every
effort to save the injured. According to an AFP correspondent the situation is very grim in the city. Mohammad Ali Jinnah Road, where the attack happened, was ablaze with burning cars and motorcycles, and covered in debris from buildings attacked by rioters. “We are using our maximum resources available to put out the fire which is still raging in the markets,” said city mayor Mustafa Kamal. Karachi has escaped most of the bomb attacks that have battered the northwest and other major cities. Monday's attack was the deadliest in Karachi since a suicide bomber targeted the homecoming of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto who was assassinated two months later — killing at least 139 people in October 2007. It was the third attack on Ashura commemorations in Pakistan this year. A suicide attack at a Shiite mosque in
Pakistani-administered Kashmir on Sunday killed seven people. Explosives wounded
17 people in Karachi on the same day. Police said two suspects were arrested at the
bomb site, and said a sketch of the bomber would be issued based on the discovery of
his severed head.
A spokesman for the paramilitary Rangers said one of their members died as he pinned down the suicide bomber, claiming that otherwise the blast would have inflicted
far more casualties.

10th procession of Muharram appears;

GBE Watch
speakers highlights unprecedented valour of Hussain Ibne Ali; deviation from the teachings of prophet and Imam cause of sufferings; time to identify elements creating differences among sects
GBE Report

By:Shamsuddin Muhammad
HUNZA, Dec. 28, 2009: As a part of Ashora-Muharram, like other parts of the region to commemorate the great sacrifice offered by Hussain Ibne Ali and his followers in
Karbala against tyrant Omayyad ruler Yazid one about fourteen centuries ago. The main procession appeared from lower Ganish marched and reached to Dorkhan at
1:30 P.M. Participants after offering prayers observed mourning. Speakers on the
occasion highlighted the unprecedented example of valour and sacrifice to save Islamic values.
Ali Muhammad, director Uswa schools systems speaking to the participants said that
today we gathered here to recall the heroic deed of our Imam against an evil forces. He claimed that few international powers are trying to create choas in the country. He said that Hussain Ibne Ali accepted death willing and rejected the demand of Yazid, a composition of vices. He alleged that the those fighting the state today are the descendants of those terrorists forces of Ibne Ziaad under the direction of Yazid who blocked the way of even drinking water to Iman and his followers. "We must recognize our enemy trying to create differences on sectarian lines," he added.
Other speakers including Ashraf Ali, Sherbaz Ali Khan also threw light on the tragedy.

They in their speechs described attributes of Karbala from with different aspects saying the tragedy evem after lapse of about fourteen hundred years in Karbala and
about fourty eight years after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)is still alive in
hearts of his follower. Shaikh Ali in his speech said that Imam (A.S) scarificed his and his own family andcomrades' lives at the altar of liberty and justice. A resolution was presented in the concluding session demanding arrest of culprits involved in murder of Syed Razi uddin Rizvi; assurance of safety of Shia communities in N.W.F.P; closure of offices of notorous Black water and security of routes of processions across the country.

The procession returned on the same route from Dorkhand. Ismaili boys scouts and volunteer corps offered their services to ensure security of route. Garelt Ismaili community facilitate participants with a tea as a gesture of brotherhood which was
greatly appreciated on various levels and this way Muharram was observed peacefully
in the region.

Lesson from great sacrifice


Gilgit-Baltistan Echo

www.gbecho.blogspot.com
The concept of endurance of hardships and sacrifice are among the basic theme of mythological movements since creation of the world. Sacrifices enables a noble cause find its way with along lasting impact. Historical records elucidate the notion that certain pious personalities offered both their material and personal belongings to attain the favor of God almighty; Quranic and Biblical narration about Abraham, a holy messenger of Lord, bowed his head before the command and offered his dearest belonging in terms of a son. Valour either physical or moral, some times is considered a virtue in itself for the it provide a guarantee to other
virtues like unity, tolerance, piety, steadfastness and willingness to offer difficult and sacrifice for a worthy cause. There are innumerable examples of great sacrifices against oppression, usurpation, devil designs and in the way of prevalence of virtue. The greatest among those all was that of Hussain ibne Ali,grandson of Muhammad, who laid his, his family and has companions' lives for the sake of the preservation of values of Islam. The battle was a fine show of struggle between wicked and pious, usurper and deserved forces. Truth is always victorious whether it wins or loses in all cases. According to a thinker,"there is no religion higher than truth and no man better than the one who gives his life to preserve the truth." The tragedy represents an absolute sacrifice for the prevalence of truth will serve a realm of light for generations.
Imam (A.S) accompanied by close relatives, around 128, some of the women and children from their families set on a journey full of dangers in order to avoid any
confrontation . On the other side, the armed forces of Yazid one, a successor of
Umayad dynasty, were led by Umar ibn Sa'ad. The discord between two major tribes:
Banu Hashim and Banu Umayya came to surface when Muawiya, the then governor of Syria defied the authority of Ali Ibne Abi Talib, appointed by Arabs unanimously and revolted against him following assassination of Hazrat Usman, the third caliph. Ali Ibne Abi Talib accepted the caliphat, though enjoyed earlier support of a substantial portion in terms of Imam, on request of the Islamic community in crucial times. This annoyed Omayyad who kept plotting against Banu Hashim as a parallel rival power within the nomenclature of Islamic world. Historian are greatly agree that Muawiya followed deviation from Islamic values, gradually. In order to implement his plans, he appointed Yazid as a heir, thus establishing a monarchical hereditary rule against the democratic Islamic pattern gained prosperity since Muhammad (P.B.U.H). Yazid wanted to get allegiance of Hussain Ibne Ali as an authentic seal in order to justify his illegitimate claim on office of caliphat and when failed used state power against him to clear the way. Hussain Ibne Ali (A.S) after receiving many invitations from people of Koffa, decided to leave Mecca and delivered a speech that became immortal, saying that he did not want the sanctity of Haram to be violated, since his opponents had crossed every norm of tolerances and were ready to violate all tenants of Islam and Arab's traditional ethical codes. Imam (A.S) on a journey with his family and few of followers had no hope of a victory over arrogant Yazid rather he headed to avoid any confrontation for the good of Islamic Ummah. And finally Imam (A.S) along with the companions sacrificed to save Islam thus drawing a line between virtue and evil. Muslims commemorate the heroic deed of Iman (A.S) and promise to abide with the values he established for rest. When we today observe around us, the situation is so profound. We are no mere confine to observe the day and forgot the essence of this great sacrifice. Imam (A.S) gave us an unprecedented message to stand against usurper,wicked and evil and devote our lives for virtue.
Globally, today Islamic community faces magnitude of challenges ranging from trust deficit to cooperation to eradicate poverty, ignorance, barrier of suspicion and fear in form of the alleged nature of Islamic resurgence and fundamentalism by certain extremism groups backed by a specific school of thought, and effective cooperation in the field of science and technology. There are reservations of Islamic world on current war against terrorism even in liberal circles. Some analysts termed it a part of great game to paw the way for the colonization in the face of new patterns for greater control over natural resources. At the same time, the tendency of US confrontation by militant groups resulted in new measures to counter freedom movements against occupiers like in Kashmir and Palestine. The hidden factor that helped such move to exploit the situation to benefit politic are certain fundamentalist militant groups that dragged US first to Iraq then Afghanistan and now want to Pakistan as an instrumental either intentionally or unintentionally. Tyrannically, the fall out of resentment to a state inhuman
policies resulted into attacks like that in World trade center,prestige of America on September 11, 2001 when thousand of innocent died with out any sin. No one can
justify such moves as they served to hit the ego of two fundamental powers and expelled the world in chaos and turmoil.Militants,who were utilized against USSR as mercenaries in Afghanistan through a US sponsored jihad have back fired. And in the
game, many innocent lives of common masses have been lost during war against terror. Today, United Nations is unable to play its role according to its charter for it gets a large share from super powers that dictates it according to their own
interests.Consequently, the vision of nations gathered in 1945 to ensure safeguarding
of human rights in the hands of occupiers has failed largely, Most of the Islamic world that dictates of so-called justice and humanity, an essential engine to harness levels socio-economic development is being hampered self interested reigns. Power will continue to play the role of a supreme arbitrator of international conflicts as long as the spirit of Karbala is not infused in the world.
On state level, the devil of sectarianism, nepotism, pied corruption on various levels, ease for elite and subjugation of poor, rising unemployment, starvation, social injustice and enlarging gulf between poor and rich serves to weaken the vary fabrics of society.
In the context of our feudal society, Islam could hardly able to bring scholarships like Alkandi, Yaqoob, Tusi, Ibne Rushed and Bu Ali Sceina and has been deprived of a
progressive, humanistic spirit and relegated set of rituals and values. A comparative study of religious movements reveals tat many of the religions have bit smilar ethical and moral codes with different key-notes. Like, key note of Hinduism is loyalty, Jainism has care, Christianity- love,justice of Islam, and meditation and Knowledge of Buddhist school of thought. Justice, one of the most important factor with in society is the main code in Islamic society. Majority of existing states and groups are production of sense of injustice either imaginary or real and served a main cause of change. What really prevails in Islamic world is bit different from the basic key not. Social jusitice, that most of the today's Islamic parts of the world dictates can hardly be observed for a law is nothing but a piece of paper. Law is scant and previals for weak; applies the rule of law where mighty is powerful and many state institutions consider themselves above the law.
The essence of heroic deed of Hussain Ibne Ali in Karbala reminds us that challenges
in the Yazid's era to preserve values of Islam were dangerous to be encountered by
arms alone with a sense that, through manifestation of a conscious sacrifice to give
new life to faded body politic of Islam. The great sacrifice of Karballa thus give us for an unwavering faith, steady struggle,preservation of Islamic values, love, brotherhood, hatred to greed, compassion, tolerance,opposition to injustice and oppression, unity defy evil and after all human welfare in society.The sacrifice of Hussain Ibne Ali portrays a wide range of ideal human qualities coupled with virtues of bravery, faith and compassion as immortal legacy of the life of any Imam. The application of such qualities will help cope challenges confronting by the oppressed with the hand of oppressors using sensitive social conscience.









The writer is a free lance researcher, writer and editor of blog: Voice of Hunza;
Gilgit-Baltistan Echo and alshams. He can be contactedat:jaashams@gmail.com