Joyless Eid

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Farzana Mumtaz

Id al-Fitr is being celebrated by Muslims worldwide with much religious fervor and zest .  Pertinently, Id al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎‎ ʻĪd al-Fiṭr, “festival of breaking of the fast”) and  is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). As a matter of fact, the religious Eid is the first and only day in the month of Shawwal during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality.

We are celebrating Eid this year in the backdrop of one after another  tragedies  that have shaken the nation of Kashmir frequently , and definitely this  time our most happy festival has  come on the occasion of grief.  The Kashmir conflict has taken more deadly turn and valley is virtually now a killing field .

Just few days before eid , three militants were killed in a gunfight with forces in an overnight encounter in New Colony Kakapora.   The killings triggered massive protests and clashes in which one civilian was killed and dozens injured. One of the dead militant was 14 year old and civilian just 22.

Sane opinion on ground zero is that intimidation and cruel measures can no longer be an answer to quell the political sentiment of Kashmir and time has come to recognize Kashmir as political problem and offer political solution. The painful situation in Kashmir has also been termed by many intellectual voices of India as a blot to “Indian democracy.

 

 

 

Mehvish Khan, a journalist stated – “It is indeed a moment for somber reflection and prayers on this Eid for lasting peace as we are facing sorrow times . We share the agony and the pain of those who have lost their loved ones and pray that the Almighty bestow His choicest Blessings on them.  We should celebrate Eid with simplicity and pray from the core of heart that peace, happiness returns to sorrow hit valley of Kashmir .”

Gulzar Ahmad, a commoner stated – “ We are celebrating the festivity of Eid in the backdrop of continuous killings .The dance of death is happening everywhere in the Valley of Kashmir . It is high time that for the sake of humanity all stakeholders start brainstorming to solve the deadly political issue of Kashmir.On this Eid the grief of pain hit valley of Kashmir has multiplied.”

Without an iota of doubt, Eid Fervor this time around is dampened in Kashmir among killings, sufferings, maiming, blinding and suffocation.

INTERNATIONAL QUDS DAY

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By Javeed Ali

Javeedaliofkashmir@gmail.com

 

International Quds Day is an important day for humanity. It is the day to express our solidarity with the oppressed people and demonstrate the resentment against the oppressors.  It is the day which breaks the back of Zionist forces and their allies. It is the day of persecuted ones against the tyrants. It’s a day of remembering Quds (Jerusalem), the entire Palestine, and the catastrophe and calamity that was brought upon them with the creation of the State of Israel.

 

Quds Day was founded by the revolutionary leader of Islamic Republic of Iran late Imam Khomeini (R.A.) and laid the solid foundation for the freedom struggle of Palestine which is illegally occupied by Israel. It is commemorated every year on the last Friday (Jumut-ul-Vida) of the holy month of Ramzan and is also designated as Youmi Quds. Quds Day was initiated by Imam Khomein (R.A.) in 1979 after he established Islamic system in Iran.

The Israeli forces are killing, bombarding and torturing the innocent Palestinian people in a planned manner. Palestinians are struggling against the forced and illegal foreign occupations since last 6 to 7 decades and Israel is using every possible oppressive method to suppress the voice of helpless people.

The first Qiblah Muslims prayed towards is Al-Aqsa mosque or  “Bait-ul-Muqqadas” (Holy place) which is now in Jerusalem (Quds). Most of the prophets of Allah were appointed in this city. This is one of the most blessed places in the world and was the first Qiblah (direction) of Islam. Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) with Ahlulbayt (A.S.) and companions used to say their prayers facing towards its direction. Prophet Mohammad (SAWW)  offered his prayers facing Bait-ul-Muqqadas for thirteen years when he was in Mecca then for seventeen months after emigration to Medina. The foundation for Bait-ul-Muqqadas has been laid by Prophets of Allah Almighty and they used to spend their sacred life there besides offered their prayers there also. Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) has said that Masjid-ul-Haram in Mecca is the first mosque that was constructed in the world and then Bait-ul-Muqqadas was the second mosque which was build 40 years later after the establishment of Masjid-ul-Haram.  According to the Holy Quran and Islamic traditions, Al-Aqsa Mosque is the place from which Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) went on a spiritual night journey  (Shabi Meraj) during which he rode on Buraq, who took him from Mecca to al-Aqsa.  Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) tethered Buraq to the Western Wall and prayed at al-Aqsa Mosque and after he finished his prayers, the Angel Jibril (A.S.) traveled with him to heaven, where he met several other prophets and led them in prayer. There are traditions regarding Bait-ul-Muqqadas  1. Whosoever visits Bait-ul-Muqqadas with lot of zeal and religious fervour then he or she will enter the heaven. 2. If anyone will offer two Rakats of prayers in Bait-ul-Muqqadas then his sins will be pardoned, his heart will always stay attached to Allah Almighty and he will keep reciting the eulogy of Allah Almighty. 3. Whosoever gives alms to destitute people in Bait-ul-Muqqadas will save himself from the fire of hell. It is well established fact that Quds is an important part of Islam and its liberation from the Zionist Israel is paramount for Islam. Therefore, whole Muslim Ummah leaving apart their sectarian differences should unite under one umbrella and fight for the Palestine freedom struggle with greater energy. Quds Day is a unique opportunity for us to unite under one platform and we should provide all the resources available to us for the just cause of Palestine.

 

Quds Day is not only aimed for Palestine but it is also meant for all the oppressed nations. It is the day to oppose all the oppressors including the notorious oppressors America, Israel and their allies. It is the day to reenergize ourselves to fight against the falsehood.  It is the day which demarcates between the right and wrong. The righteous ones do support Quds Day rallies whole heartedly but the hypocrites oppose it by tooth and nail as they prove their friendly relations with America, Isreal and other Zionist forces. They don’t permit Quds Day demonstrations and always create hurdles  and try to sabotage it. At times, they attack it through their paid mercenaries like they did in Quetta, Pakistan on 3rd September, 2010 when 60 participants of Quds Day rally were martyred in a suicide attack by terrorists.  Moreover,  the Nigerian Army who are subservient to the Zionists and to prove their loyalty to masters, perpetrated a bloodbath of peaceful participants in the Quds Day rally at Zaria, Nigeria  on 24th July, 2014 which claimed the lives of 33 peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters including the three sons of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. So it is crystal clear now that the Israel along with its master America and their collaborators are the biggest enemies of Islam and anything which goes against their stand, they thwart it with all their available resources. It is very unfortunate for the Muslim World that some Arab countries are hand in glove with the America and Israel to persecute Muslims all over the world. Recently Donald Trump, the President of US was conferred accolades in the holy land of Hijaz despite the fact that the US policies are always formulated against Islam particularly against the oppressed people of Palestine.

 

Supreme leader of Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamanai has predicted in 2015 that “God willing, Israel will cease to exist in next 25 years”. He further said that America is Grand Satan (Shaitan-i-Buzurg) which is evil to humanity and Islam. He further reiterated to chant slogans like “Marg Bar America”, “Marg Bar Israel” (Down with America, Down with Israel) on Quds Day and it should reverberate the atmosphere throughout the world.  He stated that these slogans are not against the people of the respective countries but against the policy of the concerned authorities.  Israel along with its masters America with full backing and support from Pro-Zionist Arab countries started crises in Iraq and Syria through the the ISIS (Daesh) terrorists to trammel the freedom struggle of Palestine. The Resistance Movement of Lebanon Hezbollah who had earlier defeated Israel in 2006 had made a blueprint to liberate Quds and Palestine from the clutches of Israel but it was impeded by Israel and its associates  who orchestrated a civil war in Syria and turmoil in Iraq.

 

23rd June, 2017 (Jumut-ul-Vida) is the day of remembering Quds (Jerusalem), the entire Palestine, and all the oppressed people of world including Kashmir, Yemen, Bahrain, Burma, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria  and so on.  All the Islamic Scholars and Imams of the Masjids should highlight the issue of Masjid Al-Aqsa which is under the illegal and forced occupation of Jewish forces in their Jumma-tul-vida sermons and organize special prayers for the liberation of  Palestine from Israel. After Friday prayers, peaceful demonstrations should be held all around the globe to press upon international community to liberate Palestine from the illegal occupation and give befitting reply to Israel that Palestine is not alone.  Everyone with with heart should participate in these rallies as it the religious obligation to confront the oppressor and stand with the oppressed people.

 

I want to conclude with the slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free”.

WHEN DARKNESS DESCENDS

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Badee Uz Zaman

 

There was a cry outside- a loud agonizing cry. Some uncanny mourning silence fell over the clamorous ambiance of the room. Khan Sahib, who otherwise was a man of cool and compact behavior, immediately got off his fluffy praying rug –his lips were absolutely moisture-less as he peeped into the dark emptiness outside through the crack of the window only to discover a vast stretch of night and nothing else.  His wife- Nasreena was still struggling with the microscopic buttons of the remote control of their brand new television set and her trembling hands were unable to press the red button on it. Then she tried to reach out to the wall socket so that she could pluck out the power lead from it. But as she got up, she staggered and stumbled of asphyxiation before her hands could even move. She was lying there facing towards the roof decked with immaculate designs of ‘Khatemband’. The perennial beads of precipitation were dripping from it. Nasreena started to read the ‘Ayat Ul Kursi’ written in a spherical design around the caricature of Holy ‘Kabba’ crocheted with dark black thread on the green background of a rug- hanging from the wall painted with white synthetic colors.

Qasim, their only son wasn’t home yet and the situation outside was very dangerous and deadly, that’s at least what the white collard guy on TV news channels would continue to speak every evening.

Khan sahib brought her a tumbler filled with water and Nasreena was able to drink only a couple of drops from it, they both stood there frozen no one speaking a world, only their eyes exchanging the words of hope in a language known to them only, and she continued to recite the ‘Ayat Ul Kursi’…

The silence was finally broken by the ringing of the phone. Breathing became impossible for them and the air in the room seemed to be absent for a moment and no one found the courage enough to answer the phone which continued to ring for an eternity. Khan finally managed to put his hand on the receiver but before he could pick it up the ringing stopped leaving the room again in the ambiance of deadly silence. He checked the caller ID, and the call was made from the local dispensary. As he declared this in a creaking voice, Nasreena started to beat her chest and Khan was sobbing with hiccups. He dialed back the number, without will and life and waited for someone to tell them the news. After only two or three rings, someone picked up the phone; breathing became completely impossible for him and he was about to give a loud cry but instantly his eyes sparkled as he heard the voice of his son. “I was coming back to home but Qadir kak’s foot skidded into the pothole and I drove him to the dispensary, I’ll be back in ten minutes ”, said Qassim.

 

Low Class of Higher Education!

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Farzana Mumtaz

A lively and powerful  education system is the cornerstone of a civilized society and a progressive nation. In view of the crucial importance of the higher education sector for the overall development of the country, we find  it very important to highlight the most essential lacunas that are hitting the same in our state especially valley of Kashmir  , which need immediate attention in our effort to improve the status and quality of higher education and to ensure that the steps taken are the right ones.

First and foremost, the quality infrastructure is missing in higher education sector of Kashmir . Recently,  officials in the Higher Education Department stated that  around 41 colleges were sanctioned during the past eight years under various centrally sponsored schemes and state plan, however the construction work is yet to be completed on 23 Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) in the state.

Pertinently, the officials said the government has started different under graduate courses in all these colleges however the students are taking their classes in make-shift arrangements in adjacently located government Higher Secondary Schools (HSS) or rented accommodations, thus making ridicule of higher educational standards.

Lack of quality research and laboratories are also direly impacting the picture of higher education system in our part of the world. We also do not have the compact libraries as well in many higher education institutes .

Vocational Education system which is the crucial aspect of Higher Education is missing . In this regard, the lack of quality vocational courses in the premier educational institutions of the Kashmir Valley is adding to the unemployment problem of Kashmir. Even the top level colleges  of Kashmir lack proper vocational courses. The infrastructure related to vocational courses in the higher educational institutes of valley is also unimpressive and craves for uplifting.

Mehvish Khan, assistant editor Only Kashmir stated – ” The higher education system in Kashmir is in dire straits as it lags desired quality. We do not have vibrant higher education infrastructure in place as a result we are suffering immensely. The quality chain of arts and crafts, engineering , medical colleges is absent in the state especially in the valley of Kashmir. Even the present Government run degree colleges do not have the quality infrastructure that we could Bank upon .The need of the hour is to upgrade the basic infrastructure of higher education and revamp our entire higher Education system.”

Mehvish Khan adds – ” We need a concrete policy and vision to move ahead in the right direction with reference to higher education so as to achieve the desired success .

Ground realities suggest that Higher Education Sector in Kashmir is in dire need of reforms as it currently presents bleak outlook.

 

 

Qatar Crisis

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The Qatar crisis that has erupted few weeks back is taking the politics of Middle East to new crisis and also impacting the global polity with changing equations.

As a matter of fact, The 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis occurred recently as a result of several countries abruptly cutting off diplomatic relations with Qatar. These countries included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt. The severing of relations included withdrawing ambassadors, and imposing trade and travel bans.

 

On ther hand, UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other countries have criticized Al Jazeera and Qatar’s relations with Iran, and accused Qatar of funding terrorist organizations. Qatar denied that it supports terrorism, given that it has assisted the United States in the War on Terror and the ongoing military intervention against ISIL.

 

Saudi Arabia’s actions were verbally supported by United States President Donald Trump. Many countries in the region, including Turkey, Russia and Iran, called for the crisis to be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

The move has brought new equations with Qatar, Iran, Turkey and Russia on one side and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE ,Bahrain etc on the other side of the divide .The Qatar crisis is bound to leave its own impacts on global polity .

 

Toothless Tigers

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News Kashmir Exclusive

A nation, society or state cannot progress any further unless it does not have an efficient governance and accountability and to ensure the same powerful commissions and bodies are required.

As a matter of fact, most of the of the bodies, commissions constituted in Kashmir to fight corruption, ensure action against human rights violations and envisage transparency are most of the times either lying headless or for the most of times just  toothless tigers and have been thus more often than not  lying  dormant for a long time .

 

Importantly, often the case is that a number of  constitutional bodies in the state of Jammu and Kashmir  are defunct  because the government  does not appoint their heads and members. Most of the times the vacancies gets created after the term of the statutory heads and members gets expired and are not immediately filled .

Pertinently , the valley of Kashmir on account of lingering political conflict has seen many human rights abuses but most of the times headless and powerless State Human Rights Commission has in a way ensured no justice to victims of injustice.  Resultantly, the word Inquiry has remained  the most abused word in the Kashmir lexicography in the past 27 years of blood drenched history   . In the past three decades every  Government  year after year has ordered  countless inquiries  to probe the violation but these inquiries yielded no fruitful results and have met the same ill fate as was met by inquiries conducted on  previous killings and  atrocities  .

On the otherhand, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir the menace of Corruption is  eating into the very vitals of our society since long. Corruption has been termed by rationale  voices as  mother of all vices. Unfortunately, the malevolence of corruption is very much out of control in the J&K State.

After dropping a bombshell in the year 2005 by ranking Jammu and Kashmir as country’s second most corrupt state, Transparency International (TI) (a Berlin-based international corruption watchdog and a non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to curbing corruption in various countries), had at time  dubbed the state as ‘alarmingly corrupt’ and concluded that levels of corruption have increased despite state’s disappointing ranking.Even today not much has changed and J&K is considered much corrupt .Commissions, bodies constituted to fight corruption too are toothless.

Bilal Bashir Bhat, a young journalist states – “ A society cannot progress in right direction unless it does not enforce the concept of accountability and ensure justice. All this can be ensured when we have efficient, powerful commissions and bodies who are not just paper tigers but have the power to act against the wrong elements, but unfortunately in the state of Jammu and Kashmir  the defunct nature of these commissions, statutory bodies  means lack of regulation, vibrancy, transparency in the system as a result negatives remain embedded .We need to strengthen all the commissions and bodies to move in right direction.”

The need of the hour as per opinion on ground is to ensure that our commissions, bodies constituted become powerful, enforcing, efficient and not toothless tigers .

 

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Following CMs wish, J&K Bank appoints widows of slain private security guards

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Gives Cash Certificates worth Rs 19 Lacs to their kids

Srinagar, Jun 08: In a significant move, J&K Bank has granted jobs to the widows of two private security guards Javaid Ahmed Bhat and Muzaffar Ahmad, who were killed last month by unidentified gunmen while manning the cash van in Kulgam. Both these guards were employees of a private security firm working under an arrangement with bank.

Notably, soon after the fateful incident Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had expressed hope that the bank would take a sympathetic view of the families of the slain guards.

Today, Chairman and CEO Parvez Ahmad also gave Cash Certificates worth Rs 4.75 Lacs to each of the four kids of slain guards amounting to Rs 19 Lacs. The amount has been contributed by the bank staff for the welfare of the two families.

On the occasion, the Chairman Parvez Ahmed expressed his heartfelt condolences to families of the slain personnel and prayed for better future of their families and children.

He said, “In line with the wishes of the chief minister to take a humanistic view of the economic condition of these families and its impact on their children, we immediately appointed the wives of slain security guards as Banking Attendants.”

“I hope and pray that such incidents never happen again with anyone else here. For, killing of a person actually devastate families in the process”, he added.

J&K Bank Chairman Inaugurates Ramadan Night Market

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Srinagar, Jun 08:  J&K Bank Chairman & CEO, Parvez Ahmed and IGP Kashmir Muneer Khan inaugurated Ramadan Night Market amid huge rounds of applause in presence of a large audience here at Kashmir Haat (Exhibition Ground).

 

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Secretary Tourism/ Education Farooq Ahmad Shah and Secretary Cultural Academy Dr Aziz Hajini besides senior management of J&K Bank and other police officials. A large number of locals also participated in the inaugural event.

Chairman visited food stalls, handicraft kiosks, apparel boutiques and kids play zones at the event, organized by J&K Department of Culture.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Parvez Ahmed said, “This is a very good initiative to start a culture of evening markets which can boost the income of shopkeepers and vendors here. These types of markets can be replicated at many other places so as to inspire and encourage people to develop a habit of night shopping”.

 

“After a hard day at work, such markets provide a space for social interaction among families besides creating avenues of entertainment for kids and youth”, he added.

 

The evening market will remain open during the month of Ramadhan. People will be able to purchase different artifacts, handicrafts showcasing the local products of the state. There are also stalls with live sessions of artisans and interactive sessions like painting and art for kids as part of promotion of art and culture of the state.

 

Special arrangements have been made for families wherein they can enjoy their meals and let their kids play in the arena.

 

A musical program was also held on the occasion. The Academy of Art, Culture and Languages will be conducting concerts showcasing different types of qawallis.

 

One of the main features of the night market is the mega lucky draw wherein different household appliances and motorbikes will be distributed among the winners every Saturday.