Please forward your valued opinions on all (or any) of these issues at the naseer@telus.net .
Allhumdullilah, The Miracle has entered in the 8th Year of Publication on Feb 23, 2008 . At this occasion, we invited our readers to share their suggestions for the newspaper. At the same time, we also asked community members to share their views about the General Elections held in Pakistan , the second largest Muslim country and the country of origin of many of our readers. We received an overwhelming number of responses but due to space limitations, we are printing few selected opinions:
Congratulations from NDP
Jack Layton, Leader New Democratic Party of Canada
On the seventh anniversary of The Miracle's publication, I wish you hearty congratulations and extend my best to you and your team for the years to come. As you distribute your 200th issue, the NDP shares your pride and happiness. Being the first and only bilingual newspaper for the Muslim community in British Columbia , The Miracle is a true pioneer, providing the essential services of relating local, provincial and federal news and information to your readership. On behalf of the NDP, I also wish to extend my congratulations to the Pakistani-Canadian community for the recent elections in Pakistan . We wish Pakistan continues to hold fair and democratic elections in the future and that the voice of its citizens will be respected and heard.
Strong Voice of the community
Moin-ul-Haque, Consul General of Pakistan
On behalf of my colleagues at the Consulate General, I congratulate the management of Miracle for completing seven successful years of its publication. Over these seven years, Miracle has played a commendable role in keeping the community well-informed about the latest news and developments in the international arena, North America and as well as back home in Pakistan . While it was bold in articulating its views, it also kept a balance and objectivity in its reporting. I wish Miracle and its management continued success in future and hope that it will remain a strong voice of the Community and will also be instrumental in the positive projection of Pakistan .
Congratulations
MP Penny Priddy, MP Surrey North
It is with great pleasure that I extend my personal greetings to The Miracle on its 8 th year of publication on February 23, 2008 . It is encouraging to see the continuance of a publication dedicated to the South Asian community. I would like to congratulate the members of the Miracle team for their hard work and dedication to bringing important issues to the forefront. You can take great pride in your efforts to encourage community involvement and engaged citizenry. Please accept my warmest congratulations as you celebrate the 200 th issue of The Miracle.
Truly a Miracle
Gulshan Aalani , Surrey
Miracle Newspaper is truly a Miracle and InshaAllah will remain a 'Miracle' with our prayers. Miracle, a very first Muslim Newspaper was a major breakthrough for the Muslim community in Vancouver . It started as Black and White front page and later improved with the color, and since then has made a remarkable improvement in its settings, Graphic and Design that is very pleasant to look at and to read. Allahamdullillah, Miracle has provided a wonderful service to all the Communities with the variety of local and International News, interesting articles on different subjects, letters from the readers giving an opportunity to voice their opinions and participate in the daily community affairs, and of course Islamic educational articles that has proven the most beneficial to many acquiring Islamic knowledge, especially, the regular publication of the Hadiths/Gospel of Prophet Muhammad s.a.s that many started a collection of it and benefited a lot. May Allah always provide the good for and from the Miracle Newspaper. Amen.
Asam Ghani , Surrey
If any Pakistani really believes that this was a fair and transparent election, they should get a reality check. Pakistan has never had fair elections. There's just TOO MUCH corruption. Nobody on this Earth can fix the massive problems of the poor and middle class in Pakistan . Pakistan needs an outside TEAM of experts to come in and design and implement a plan that will improve its education system, justice system and economic system. I don't see this happening any time soon.
A remarkable moment
Intikhab Ahmed
It‚s a remarkable moment; the government of Pakistan has conducted free and fair elections. It is in the best interest of and future of Pakistan to stay on the course of freedom and democracy. In reality, the fact of the transparency of the elections is so clear that even the Pakistan Muslim league (Q) group, has embraced the defeat and promised to work with the new government. Now what we need is to keep the past governments economic policies, to bring foreign investments into the country. If Mr. 10% and Mr. Nawaz and his allies are sincere to Pakistan then they should immediately bring back looted money back into the country and pump into the economy, give confidence to the foreign investors, its time for politicians to smarten up, bring free health care and education up to grade 12. While these politicians were in exile, it was best time for them to learn, how to run a government, from other established democracies. These elections have wiped out many seasoned politicians; the defeated politicians were not performing well from the day one. The media have played a big role to expose their deeds. In the past these politicians were always part of the assembly, but did nothing to improve the lives of their constituents. Due to the transparency and fairness of these elections peoples have got rid of corrupt politicians, but how about in future? If new government will rig the upcoming by elections and bring back the bad apples in the assembly like MR.10%, the same vicious cycle will start again. The peoples of Pakistan , who stood fast to restore democracy & justice, they deserve a big hand of applause. This time I want to suggest the religious political parties to read the writing on the wall, people have lost their faith on these parties. Few months back in my letter to the editor, I suggested if Pakistanis are not willing to change by vote, then a bloody revolution is waiting at their door steps. Pakistanis have chosen a non violent/destructive path to the democracy, but few couldn't get out of violence and embraced undue death.
A People-to-People Movement
(Marine Captain) Muhammad Suleman Mahtab,
Vice Chair, International India-Pakistan Peace & Prosperity Network (IPPN)
International India-Pakistan Peace & Prosperity Network (IPPN) is very pleased to see that elections-2008 has been held peacefully in Pakistan . It is good to observe that two mainstream political parties have won those elections and losers have conceded their defeat. It is also good to see that so-called sectarian parties, the sponsors of extremism, have been badly beaten. It would set up a good precedent if the President resigns from his office, as he had already lost on moral and constitutional grounds. IPPN reiterates its belief on Musharraf's position as, indeed, cause and part of trouble, not the solution. To bring this great change, we must recognize the sacrifices of political workers, judges, lawyers, media, peace & human rights activists, overseas Pakistanis and their friends abroad, and above all the civic society of Pakistan . The winning parties are now responsible to stabilize the troubled country, provide relief to the poor people of Pakistan and control the menace of suicide bombers. It is imperative to review national policy on so-called `war on terror` that is responsible for loss of thousands of innocent lives since 2001, and give a strong message to the US and its allies that they should not intervene in the internal affairs of Pakistan. Finally, we would like to see Pakistan as a peaceful, prosperous & progressive country in South Asia . IPPN and its over 60 member international NGOs congratulate the people of Pakistan for their faith in democracy, commitment to the rule of Law, and voting for a clear ‘no-confidence vote' against the dictator and his sponsored party. We sincerely hope that Armed Forces and Civil Services of Pakistan will now refrain from playing any political role in the country and assist the new government in establishing rule of law and economic well-being of people of Pakistan .
Allah has protected Pakistan
Nizar Ramji
First of all accept the fact that it has been no one but Allah who has protected Pakistan since the separation and not any leader. That is the only reason we have been protected in Pakistan . Historically, Geographically and to some extent economically, it is Pakistan that is the only bridge between Eastern and Western Hemisphere .
We never had any substantial leadership in Pakistan to date and to hope for one would be very naive. As far as fair or unfair is concerned, also accept the fact that those words do not apply to Pakistan or Pakistanis. This is not a generalization but a fact. At this sensitive time in Pakistan , it would be prudent for any responsible lover of Pakistan to exercise caution so as not to fuel any controversies that are going to arise from this episode in Pakistan . As you know majority of us function more on emotions.
Well-done Pakistan
Zaheer Ali Manki , Surrey
It has been a long time since any good news came out of Pakistan . Even before the elections doubts were being cast that the election will be rigged and violence will spoil the elections. The people of Pakistan deserve big congratulations in showing the kind of political maturity in conducting very fair and transparent elections in a relatively peaceful environment. The nation as a whole has proven that given a half decent opportunity, it can exercise its franchise of Democracy. World media is now singing praises for this nation. Well-done Pakistan . As a nation I don't think we are out of the woods yet. All the gains could be lost if Musharraf chooses to play dirty and not resign. And then there still is the task of finding a consensus between the two emerging major parties about the selection of a universally acceptable Prime Minister. It is my hope that the two parties work together in a spirit of cooperation in the best interest of the country. God knows people of Pakistan have suffered a lot in fighting a proxy war for someone else. Stay away from the Americans, stop being their stooges. There are nations who have shown the way. Pakistan Paindabad.
Role of President Musharraf
Afzal Bashir Bajwa, Surrey
Musharaf's spirit will prevail at least though not Musharaf himself, if Mr. Zardari (chairman of the winning party) continues to meet Americans inside of the American Embassy in Islamabad even after winning. Slavery has become an element of our blood and mind set of our typical class of politicians. I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Zardari will be ready to hand shake with Musharaf because that was their hard earned policy and the same became a reason of BBs killing. All these stuffed tigers were successfully able to show some kind of contrast against the present rulers but they were all pre-poll cheating slogans and they are no different than the ousted sheep.
Fall of the mighty tree in Pakistan
R.C. Puri
In the very recently conducted polls, the people of Pakistan have sent out extraordinarily unambiguous message through the most keenly contested and watched elections in that country. They strongly yearn for the restoration of the peoples' rule, called the democracy. In the process, they have given a crushing defeat to the political forces linked with Parvez Musharraf. Consequently, the PML (Q) (mockingly called the King's Faction), which led the ruling coalition until the poll process began, has been terribly humiliated by the slain leader Benazir Bhutto's PPP and Mr Nawaz Sharif's PML (N). These winning parties must now learn the lesson from the fate of the PML (Q) and MQM, who have been painfully humbled in the recently held elections, by the public at large. The return of the Martial Law rule in Pakistan is no solution to the national problems, for the simple reason that the administration of the States are best run by the peoples' governments and not the defense forces. Only the elected representatives of the people can be aware of the primary concerns and aspiration of the common people and provide the viable and pleasing solutions. The military can behave in dictatorial fashion only. It cannot be the government of the people, by the people and for the people in any case, which is the authentic definition of the term ‘ democracy .' Even the PML (Q) and MQM need to learn a lesson from the current election results and work hard to win over the peoples' trust and confidence. To be the favorite of the ruler is no qualification for captivating the mass interest and inspiring the vote bank. For the attainment of this objective, they need to muster the mass support by moving into the common people and understanding their primary concerns, requirements and aspirations. They need to win over the confidence of the general masses. Only then, they can make possible their return to the corridors of the political and administrative power. They need to conduct themselves only as the servants of the people and not their masters. Only thereafter, they will be able to feel successfully the nerve of the community and the nation, as was squarely accomplished by Quaid-e-Azam at the times of the formation of Pakistan . Nevertheless, like the other progressing countries of the world the state of affairs in Pakistan too has undergone a drastic change with the rise of the awareness in the voters. Vanished are the days when the people were so many simpletons and gullible that they could be easily swayed away by the radical clerics in the name of the religion or the crooked politicians on the strength of their false slogans that were seldom meant to be implemented. At this time, the electorates are shrewd enough to be obstinate for the transparency in the matters of administration and the concrete outcomes of efforts of the ruling party and feel no shyness in overthrowing the government, where it fails to come up to their expectations and aspirations. Therefore, let the current rulers of Pakistan read this straightforward and unambiguous writing on the wall that too shall be heartlessly dumped into the garbage can of inconsequentiality, unless they are serious and succeed to deliver the goods effectively to the nation.
Time for a change of guard
Farrukh Alam-PCA President , Vancouver
I have been a strong supporter of President Musharraff for the past few years.I strongly believe he cared for Pakistan and always fully believed in Pakistan . His accomplishments speak for themselves whether we look at Pakistan 's economic growth or its importance in the world today. His support for war on terrorism has placed Pakistan in the forefronts. Pakistan is definitely a hot topic at the global level. As long as it stays in the media whether it is due to good news or bad news it will always be good for Pakistan in the long run. World will eventually have to deal with its problems. President Musharraff has definitely kept Pakistan in the global media. He also gets credit for reforming judiciary and freedom of press. He definitely gets credit for holding free and fair elections except for few minor incidents where locals may have tried to manipulate the results. He has also accepted results as fair and has announced to work with the winning parties. Having said all this, I believe time has come for a change of guard in Pakistan . President Musharraff has made many mistakes in the past few months. He did establish good Judiciary but could not handle judgments handed down by the supreme court. He gave press freedom to ask questions, but did not like their questions and forcefully shut T V stations and tried to curb freedom of press. People of Pakistan have spoken and their opinion should be fully respected. If supreme court is re established and opinion is rendered against President Musharraff then he must go. If 2/3 of the Parliament and Senate impeach him, he must go. The process must be peaceful and according to the constitution of Pakistan . We must remain civilized and should never forget all the good things President did. We should be generous enough to forgive him for any of his shortcomings. Only history will tell, how important President Musharraf was to Pakistan and rest of the World. As far as result of election are concerned the biggest loosers are the one who supported President prior to the elections i.e Q league and its allies. Even bigger losers are the ones who did not participate in the election. Now they will have to wait for 5 more years in order to participate in decision making. The biggest surprise was the seats for Muslim League N. Peoples Party was expected to get 36% of the vote even when Benazir was alive. They did not get any votes due to sympathy after her death. Nawaz Shariff got all anti Musharraff votes and was the biggest winner in this whole scenario. Another thing to note in this election was defeat of the decision makers. 56 out of 63 ministers who had served under Shaukat Aziz lost elections. Future of democracy will depend on the new leadership and how they will handle their power. I hope they have learned some lessons from their past. Civilian government must understand army is a vital part of Pakistan and has its due respect. On the other hand army's job is to protect Pakistan and not enforce its will on people of Pakistan whenever it wants. Civil and army can work hand in hand as long everyone looks at interests of Pakistan before their own. May Allah Bless Pakistan and its People
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