How Constitutional, Political, Cultural and Economic rights are violated in Gilgit and Baltistan?, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

How Constitutional, Political, Cultural and Economic rights are violated in Gilgit and Baltistan?

By Dr Shabir Choudhry

16 Sep 2009

A comment was made earlier that we are here to look at ‘legal’ acts of Pakistan in Gilgit Baltistan. Since Gilgit Baltistan is not legally part of Pakistan, and article 257 of Pakistani constitution makes that clear; so any action they take is extra constitutional and illegal. I want to say that we are here to examine ‘illegal’ acts of Pakistan and oppose them, as they are illegal and undemocratic.

It is generally agreed that democracy is a form of government where people can democratically elect their rulers and hold them accountable for their actions. In other words it is a government of people and for the people - a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation in which free and fair elections are held. In all democracies a right of political expression, a right of speech and freedom of press is essential. Furthermore political pluralism, equality before law and respect for human rights of all citizens is must.

But in Pakistan and especially in areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan, this rule does not apply. Here it is a government of bureaucrats and for the interest of the bureaucrats. Their main aim is to protect and enhance their interest and interest of the establishment they represent. By establishment I mean bureaucrats - civil and military, secret agencies, top army elite, political elite which has always been there in one form another for many decades.

http://newageislam.com/how-constitutional,-political,-cultural-and-economic-rights-are-violated-in-gilgit-and-baltistan?/current-affairs/d/1756

India’s Muslim Taliban join Hindu Taliban to oppose Valentine’s Day, Islam and Pluralism, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Pluralism

India’s Muslim Taliban join Hindu Taliban to oppose Valentine’s Day

By Manoj C G

Feb 10, 2009

“Valentine’s Day promotes unethical male-female relations. The celebration of Valentine’s Day is nothing, but giving open license to the youth to indulge in immoral acts. We oppose it strongly. We believe that such activities will erode moral and family values,” SIO chief K K Suhail told The Indian Express.

He said that market forces were promoting Valentine’s Day to reap benefits. “Some state units will be organising solidarity and brotherhood days, wherein they will be raising issues like the Israel’s oppression of Palestinians in Gaza and strive to spread the message of universal brotherhood. We will basically try to raise awareness,” Suhail adds. In cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, the SIO plans to observe February 14 as anti-Valentine’s day.

Jamaat leaders said its opposition to the Valentine’s Day celebrations would be put in action by the SIO as such celebrations were prevalent among youngsters. “We are against such western invasion of our society as it affects family bonds and undermines India’s culture,” the outfit’s political secretary Mujtaba Farooq said.

http://newageislam.com/india%E2%80%99s-muslim-taliban-join-hindu-taliban-to-oppose-valentine%E2%80%99s-day--/islam-and-pluralism/d/1192

Turkey's head scarf ban prevents advance of Islamist agenda to undermine pluralism, Islamic World News, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic World News

Turkey's head scarf ban prevents advance of Islamist agenda to undermine pluralism

Traditional Muslims often bristle at such criticism by downplaying the social pressures faced by women who reject the hijab. This, however, is a gross misrepresentation of reality. Even women, who supposedly opt for it, do so because they are rarely if ever exposed to an alternative exegesis on the issue, which does not regard the hijab as a requirement. Women's "choice" in the matter can be considered authentic only if they are exposed to other narratives on modesty, which do not entail the covering of the hair.

Turkey as a modern state and last bastion of secular Islam must continue to uphold its tradition of the separation of religion and state. The headgear or hijab is a political tool and a threat to Turkey's long secular tradition. Currently, there is tremendous pressure on secular women to cover up according to orthodox requirements, even in large cities. The present government has also attempted to eliminate the secular dress code in government offices. It has taken a slower, steadier path, careful not to jolt the establishment too quickly while at the same time floating an occasional trial balloon for social reforms to advance the Islamist agenda.

http://newageislam.com/turkey-s-head-scarf-ban-prevents-advance-of-islamist-agenda-to-undermine-pluralism--/islamic-world-news/d/936

A catalyst for Muslim renaissance, Islamic Ideology, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Ideology

A catalyst for Muslim renaissance

P.K. Abdul Ghafour | Arab News

Instead of relying on a single variable, Ibn Khaldun used a multidimensional analysis incorporating a number of variables including the moral, social, political, economic, demographic and historical. This makes it a powerful model capable of answering the questions raised above. Since Ibn Khaldun’s model is 600 years old, Chapra has introduced a number of changes into it, taking into account the changed realities around the world.

The most important factor in the rise or fall of a civilization, Chapra says, is the human being himself. The Qur’an clearly states: “God does not change the condition of a people until they change their own inner selves” (13:11). Human beings are themselves the architects of their fate. They are not only the end but also the means of their development. Unless they possess the right kind of moral and mental qualities, it will be difficult for any country to accelerate development. Toynbee was presenting the same idea when he said that, “Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.”

Human beings do not, however, operate in a vacuum. There are a number of factors that influence them and affect their performance. The most important of them is their own motivation and ability, Chapra explains. According to him, justice plays a big role in motivating people while their moral strength along with their proper upbringing, education, health, training, socio-economic and political environment, and access to finance improve their performance. Islam has laid maximum stress on these requisites to bring about a revolutionary change in society.

http://newageislam.com/a-catalyst-for-muslim-renaissance/islamic-ideology/d/362

Philippines Supreme Court halts Manila’s deal with Muslims, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Philippines Supreme Court halts Manila’s deal with Muslims

Govt welcomes court’s move as Catholics protest territorial deal

Under the territorial agreement, an existing autonomous region for Muslims in the south of the largely Catholic country would be widened and they would get broad political and economic powers. But the agreement’s hasty conclusion on the eve of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s annual state speech last month and its generous provisions to the MILF on mineral wealth prompted some analysts to dismiss it as political window dressing. “I think it was all teed up as a bone on the eve of Arroyo’s state of the nation address. I think it was strictly done for that purpose,” said Scott Harrison, managing director of risk consultancy Pacific Strategies and Assessments. MILF officials, already in Malaysia for the signing ceremony, were dismayed at the Supreme Court move. “I don’t know what will happen next,” Mohaqher Iqbal, the MILF’s chief peace negotiator, told reporters.

http://newageislam.com/philippines-supreme-court-halts-manila%E2%80%99s-deal-with-muslims/current-affairs/d/439

INDIA’S MANDATE IN KASHMIR IS CLEAR FROM THE TURNOUT IN RECENT POLLS, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

INDIA’S MANDATE IN KASHMIR IS CLEAR FROM THE TURNOUT IN RECENT POLLS

Don’t get fooled by crowds in the Valley

By K Subrahmanyam

At the drop of a hat a crowd can be collected in India. Once that crowd goes beyond a critical size, violence and destruction of public property are routine happenings. There is a degree of permissiveness that has imbued our law enforcement culture in respect of such defiance of public order. For politicians of most parties, calling for bandhs and rallies with inevitable violence has become an inherent part of their political culture to demonstrate their power to inflict loss of lives and damage to public property.

Such disruptions, from Parliament to the streets, are projected as indications of the political machismo of the parties. In that sense, India, as Gunnar Myrdahl termed it fifty years ago, is a soft state. Therefore large crowds and destruction of public property and casualties in police firings should not be allowed to influence our long term perceptions at this stage of the political development and constitutional evolution of this country.

http://newageislam.com/india%E2%80%99s-mandate-in-kashmir-is-clear-from-the-turnout-in-recent-polls/current-affairs/d/674