Pakistan

Sorry, Palestine; we are powerless

Written

3 years ago

May 20, 2021 01:51 AM

Faheem Ahmad

A recent picture I saw spoke to me. It was of a Palestinian child, martyred by Israeli brutality.

Faheem Ahmad

The child asked me what was the use of Pakistan being a mighty atomic force, of the fabled wealth of Arab nations, of Iran’s revolutionary guard, of Turkey’s great history and of Muslim unity, when my life can be sniffed out this easily. The image of the child was not the only one that asked these questions. I saw pictures of women running for their lives, of innocent people left at the mercy of the cruelest force in the world. And each image seemed to beseech, what happened to your faith, your self-respect.

To each question, I felt like replying, you unarmed Palestinians are indeed better than all of us.

I fear the day we Muslims will show up before Allah, and he will ask, why did you not help these people? I fear that these victims of terror will stand beside God and ask him to question us over our silence, our failure to help. I am afraid that our Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will be there to witness the Palestinian children accuse us of cowardice and of complicity.

Would Allah be satisfied with our reply that we had to follow global laws? That we did not have the economic might to face off with Israel? Or that we were cautious because we did not want to become a victim ourselves? Of course not. On that day, in front of our God and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) we will stand ashamed at our behavior.

So what can we actually do? Take up arms and march towards Palestine? We will be stopped, incarcerated or sent back at the very first border we will hit. The solution lies in truthfully examining the reasons that have rendered the Muslim Ummah completely useless.

We will have to acknowledge that Muslim countries have weak political structures that allow incompetent rulers to reach the pinnacle of power. We will have to admit that the division of the nation into borders and countries, which could have been our very strength, has made us selfish, helpless and even cowards. These rulers, lacking courage, are neither able to do anything themselves except issue empty statements, nor will allow their people to do anything. In fact, openly and in secret, Muslim countries are always out to scheme against one another.

Our enemy would be foolish to not attack this fragmented lot. And the enemy is anything but foolish.

It is time to put illogical religious fanaticism, empty emotional slogans and hollow condemnations to bed. Practical steps are required, ones that are based on what our religion tells us. Perhaps we need to once again revise history. How did Salahuddin conquer Jerusalem? Through the power of his belief, unity, learning through past mistakes and flawless planning. We would do well to remember that great nations are not built on emotions, but on self-accountability, planning and struggle.

If the Muslim world really does want to be free of the pain that is being inflicted on it, then it simply needs to take two steps. One, the establishment of an ideological system inside Muslim countries. Two, unity. I know this will not be easy. In fact it will be exceedingly difficult. But I see no other solution.

New life needs to be breathed into the Muslim Ummah. For that, a deep internal cleanse will have to take place before we can stand united under a flag. If we do not adopt this solution, we are condemning ourselves to a hundred more years of meaningless condemnation.

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Faheem Ahmad

Faheem Ahmad is an associate producer at GNN

Entertainment

Mathira opens up about Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s abduction incident

Actress and model says meeting girlfriends at 4 amis inappropriate; such meetings should not occur at that hour

Published

10 hours ago

Jul 26, 2024 07:21 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Lahore: Prominent host and model Mathira on Friday opened up about the recent abduction of renowned dramatist Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar.

In an interview with a YouTuber, Mathira expressed, “What happened to Khalil-ur-Rehman was entirely wrong and should not have occurred,”.

Mathira revealed that, while she lacks complete details, she heard that Khalil-ur-Rehman was kidnapped and assaulted after meeting a woman late at night. She stressed that it was inappropriate for him to meet a woman at such a late hour.

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When discussing her own safety practices, Mathira stated that she would never attend a project meeting scheduled late at night, preferring to attend such meetings in the morning or during the day. She added, "I wouldn't even leave the house at night for my father."

Without mentioning Khalil-ur-Rehman by name, Mathira commented, "Meeting girlfriends at 4 amis inappropriate; such meetings should not occur at that hour."

A few days prior, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar reportedly went to meet a woman in Lahore at night, where he was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted. He was purportedly abducted under the guise of discussing a drama project, tortured, and had money stolen from him.

Following the incident, the police filed a case against the responsible gang and arrested the main suspect, Amina Urooj, along with other individuals involved in the kidnapping of Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar.

Regional

Punjab govt to usher skilled, empowered youth population: Adnan Afzal Chattha

Chattha observes that to bridge the skills gap in a rapidly evolving job market, the government intends to boost the skill development of youth, marginalized communities, and women from rural areas

Published

12 hours ago

Jul 26, 2024 05:27 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Lahore: CM Task Force on Skills Development Chairperson Adnan Afzal Chattha said that following the vision of the Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the government would usher a skilled and empowered youth population.

During a visit to Punjab Skills Development Fund’s (PSDF) head office, Chattha observed that to bridge the skills gap in a rapidly evolving job market, the government intends to boost the skill development of youth, marginalized communities, and women from rural areas.

By aligning with the Chief Minister’s vision, the Task Force aims to create sustainable employment opportunities, drive economic growth, uplift the socio-economic status of the youth, and provide high-quality human resources for international placement, especially in GCC regions.

In the meeting, it was discussed to focus on programs for skill development, which included the Chief Minister’s Skilled Punjab Development Program, Chief Minister Skills Development Program for Transgenders, and Empowering Women by Way of IT Training Across Punjab.

Moreover, he also mentioned the Chief Minister’s focus on developing the ecosystem of international accreditations, targeting global job placements, resulting in a higher remittance flow and improved living standards which he emphasized would come from globally recognized certifications in IT courses by industry leaders such as Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, etc. Hence, improving the country's freelance landscape and increasing opportunities for the workforce in the global market.

The Chairperson appreciated the PSDF's exemplary track record of imparting training and skill development among the youth of Punjab, stating: "PSDF's dedication to excellence and innovation, combined with its strategic public-private partnerships, plays a pivotal role in equipping Punjab's youth with the skills necessary for a prosperous future. By leveraging these strengths, we can create a truly future-ready generation”.

Special focus on internationally recognized certifications in Hospitality, Healthcare workers, and IT along with developing soft skills components including language and personal grooming will be the areas to drive manpower export growth potential for the youth of Punjab.

These combined efforts will provide opportunities for over 30,000 people. For 14 years, PSDF has been a beacon of hope and progress for Punjab’s youth, leading the charge in skills development with remarkable achievements.

Ends/

Entertainment

Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and Aya Nakamura to perform at Paris Olympics opening

While the official line-up remains a closely guarded secret, three performers are widely speculated to be part of the event

Published

11 hours ago

Jul 26, 2024 05:42 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Paris: Renowned stars are set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which will take place along the Seine River on Friday.

While the official line-up remains a closely guarded secret, three performers are widely speculated to be part of the event:

Lady Gaga

One of the top-selling artists globally, Lady Gaga, known for her extravagant showmanship and vibrant costumes, is anticipated to perform. Born Stefani Germanotta, she is famous for her infectious electropop beats and dramatic performances. Lady Gaga won an Oscar for "Shallow," a song she co-wrote for the 2018 film "A Star is Born." In the film, she also performed the iconic "La Vie en rose" by French legend Edith Piaf, whose songs are expected to be featured in the Olympic ceremony. Recently, Lady Gaga was spotted arriving at a hotel in Paris ahead of the event.

Her expected appearance at the Olympics coincides with a busy year. She announced her return to the studio to work on a new album and is also set to appear as Harley Quinn in the upcoming "Joker" movie, premiering at the Venice Film Festival in late August. Reflecting on the power of music, Lady Gaga once said, “Music is one of the most powerful things the world has to offer. No matter what race or religion or nationality or sexual orientation or gender that you are, it has the power to unite us.”

Celine Dion

Canadian superstar Celine Dion is rumored to make a comeback after battling a rare illness, as highlighted in a recent documentary. She has been seen taking selfies with fans in Paris throughout the week. Sources suggest she might perform Piaf’s stirring love anthem "Hymne A l’Amour" at the ceremony. If she performs, it will be her second Olympic appearance since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Dion, who revealed her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022, has vowed to return to the stage despite her condition. She told NBC in June, “I’m going to go back onstage, even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands, I will. I will.” Over her decades-long career, Dion has sold over 250 million albums and won two Grammys for her rendition of "My Heart Will Go On," the theme song from the 1997 film "Titanic."

Aya Nakamura

Franco-Malian R&B sensation Aya Nakamura, 29, is currently the most listened-to French-speaking singer in the world, with seven billion streams online. Known for hits like "Djadja" and "Pookie," Nakamura has faced criticism from right-wing activists over her potential Olympic performance.

The backlash followed reports that she had discussed performing a song by Piaf with President Emmanuel Macron.

Although neither party confirmed this, Macron publicly supported Nakamura for the Olympic ceremony. Critics from far-right and conservative circles have accused her of "vulgarity" and disrespecting the French language in her lyrics.

Born Aya Danioko in Bamako, Mali, she moved to the Paris suburbs as a child. In a 2020 interview, Nakamura stated her music explores “feelings of love in all their aspects” and emphasized, “I have made my own musical universe and that is what I am most proud of. I make the music I like, even if people try to pigeon-hole me.”