Pakistan Headlines 13/02/2016

Headlines:

• Jihad Against American Occupation Will Expose the Hypocrites
• Lip Service to Poverty Under the Dark Shadow of Democracy
• Reject Ground Operations in Syria to Secure American Hegemony
• Democracy has Made Health into a Luxury

Details:

Jihad Against American Occupation Will Expose the Hypocrites

At least 10 people, including four security personnel and a girl, lost their lives in a suicide attack on a convoy of Frontier Corps (FC) near the district courts in Quetta on 6 February. Some 35 people, 15 Frontier Corp personnel among them, were injured in the attack. The condition of three of the personnel was said to be serious The Khurasani group of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ever since the American invasion of our region, the Muslims have been burying their dead. The American occupiers ignited a war between Muslims in order to secure their occupation. Ever since Musharraf complied to demands from America to "do more," Muslims of the tribal regions and armed forces have been locked in a war of Fitna. To fan the flames of the bloody war, the Americans supervise attacks upon the security personnel through the easily infiltrated loose Taliban network.  This is on the one side. On the other, the traitors in the military leadership neglect the duty to eradicate the American occupation and herd our armed forces to shield the foreign invasion from the tribal resistance.

The Khilafah "Caliphate" will expose the hypocrites by adopting a war stance against the American occupation. Only then will the Muslims of the armed forces and fighters of the tribal regions be led by a righteous Khaleefah, using the combined Muslim forces to end the occupation of Afghanistan and rid the Muslim Lands of all kafir domination. Allah (swt) says,﴿يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكمْ عَلَىٰ تِجَارَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ط تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ذٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ط يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِى جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ﴾ “O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammadﷺ), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of 'Adn - Eternity ['Adn (Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success.” [Al-Saff: 10-12]

Lip Service to Poverty Under the Dark Shadow of Democracy

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has constituted a Judicial Commission to investigate the situation in Thar in the wake of continuing deaths of children because of malnutrition and waterborne diseases. The two-member commission headed by Justice retired Ghulam Sawar Korai has been tasked to complete its inquiry in 15 days. Latest reports from Thar put the death toll of children at 173 since Jan 1 because of waterborne diseases and malnutrition. The commission will look into reasons for children’s death, impact of measures taken by the government, point out shortfall in efforts/policy within 15 days and suggest measures for improvement. The commission started its work on 8 February.

Whilst Democracy exists, such judicial commission are just lip service. Child death statistics and required measures have been known for decades but the situation continues to worsen. The cause of democracy, which is a system that only secures the interests of the ruling elite and their entourage, ensures a massive concentration of wealth in the hands of the few and neglects the masses. Throughout the world, including the Western world, there is a huge disparity in wealth between the haves and have nots. As long as Democracy exists, the Muslims are condemned to a miserable life.

The misery that Democracy has brought us was inevitable because it contradicts what Allah (swt) has revealed. Allah (swt) warned all of humankind, ﴿وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا﴾ “Whoever rejects My Message (the Qur’an) for him is a life of hardship.” [Surah Ta-Ha 20:124]. Through numerous ayat and hadith, Allah (swt) has given guidance on all aspects of the economy, for truly Islam is a complete code of life. The Islamic economic system alone ensures that there is circulation of wealth in the society and that wealth does not accumulate in the hands of a few. Allah (swt) revealed, ﴿كَيْ لاَ يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْ﴾ “Lest the wealth circulates solely among the wealthy from amongst you.” [Surah Al-Hashr 59: 7]. Nothing short of the abolition of Democracy and the return of the Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) on the Method of the Prophethood will give the deprived their right.

Reject Ground Operations in Syria to Secure American Hegemony

The government has avoided informing the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs whether or not it has decided to join the 34-nation coalition led by Saudi Arabia which is reportedly planning a ground operation in Syria. At a meeting of the committee held on 9 February, its members expressed concern over the possibility of Pakistan’s involvement in the Syrian conflict. On February 4th 2016, a Saudi military spokesman said that the kingdom is ready to send ground troops to Syria. Saudi Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri day told the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia has taken part in coalition airstrikes ISIS since the U.S.-led campaign began in September 2014, but could now provide ground troops.

Fearing the return of the Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) on the Method of the Prophethood, which is the demand of the Muslims of Syrian, US Secretary of Defence, Ash Carter warmly welcomed Saudi Arabia’s offer to send troops to Syria. He said, “That kind of news is very welcome.” Followers of the events in Syria would have not failed to notice that the different countries involved in Syria are directly aiding and abetting America in the fight against Assad’s opponents. Russia, Iran and Hizb-e-Iran are openly collaborating with Assad’s forces against the Islamic opposition. Now that the tide on the ground has turned, Washington wants Saudi Arabia to intervene and disable those Islamic groups that refuse to work with America. In this way, America – without deploying substantial ground troops – is inching closer towards preserving Assad’s regime.

Exploiting Pakistan's immense capabilities to secure the American agent Bashaar al-Assad of Syria is open treachery. The regime knows this well and so is cautious and evasive in declaring its position, whilst leaving the door open to debate through raising the subject of the coalition as well as many statements regarding fighting extremism locally and globally. The need of the time is the mobilization of the Muslim armed forces in support of the Muslims of Syria in their noble goal. Instead, the current rulers are confirming their hypocrisy and war upon Islam and its people, following the judgements of the clear enemy America. Allah (swt) said, ﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُواْ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُواْ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُواْ أَن يَكْفُرُواْ بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا﴾ “Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges, etc.) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shaitan (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray.” (Al Nisa: 60)

Democracy has Made Health into a Luxury

The Dawn reported on 11 February that six multinational pharmaceutical companies have increased the prices of medicines by 15 per cent without approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), triggering a controversy over the drug pricing mechanism in the country. According to a senior official, the move has led to an artificial shortage of medicines. He said the companies which had increased the prices were GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Sanofi-aventis, Abbott Laboratories, Novartis, Otsuka and Reckitt Benckiser. The medicines produced by the companies, he added, were used for the treatment of cardiac ailments, blood pressure, weakness, fever and as painkillers. Some of them were recommended to women during pregnancy. He said that because patients were already suffering due to the high cost of drugs, a 15pc increase in their prices would only compound their problems. The pharmaceutical companies, he explained, had directed their staff to charge customers as per the new rates, causing a shortage of many life-saving drugs and creating space for ‘mafia’ to move in and take advantage of the situation by fleecing patients. Some pharmaceutical firms had directed their staff to retrieve unsold stocks from the market and update the prices, the official said. “The companies have increased the prices on their own,” said Dr Mohammad Aslam Afghani, the Drap’s chief executive officer. “Drap had no role in this move.” He explained that Drap’s drug pricing committee had not raised the prices. “The multinational companies increased the prices after claiming that the Sindh High Court had granted them permission and later they got a stay order from the court,” he said, adding that Drap would challenge the decision and have the stay vacated.

Democracy has converted patients into customers and health into a luxury. Democracy has privatized health care and drug research to benefit a small elite, who now profiteer from the misery of millions. By privatization, both medical drugs and medical care is now unaffordable for most of the world and even for many within the Western world. Medical insurance companies were formed to help make medical payments, but they themselves have added to the problem, allowing the private hospitals to raise their prices further. Medical debt is now cited as the single biggest factor in 62% of all personal bankruptcy in the United States. Fifty million Americans do not have health insurance, as they cannot even afford that. Approximately 18,000 of this fifty million die every year because they do not have health insurance, so cannot afford treatment. This is whilst a small elite represented by medical facility providers, drug companies and health insurance companies profiteer immensely from the misery of millions, through privatization of health, drug patency laws and insurance laws, all secured by Democracy, the “Best Revenge” of the gray-suited men on the masses.

This pitiful situation in the world is a far cry from the time of the Khilafah "Caliphate", where the state supported a strong predominately public health sector, in accordance with the commands of RasulAllah (saw), for example during the Ghazwah Khandaq he came across wounded soldiers and he ordered a tent be assembled to provide medical care. Public hospitals, or “Bimiristan” (Abode of the Sick) were a great relief for the people. They served all people regardless of their race, religion, citizenship, or gender. The al-Mansuri Hospital, established in Cairo in 1283, had accommodation for 8,000 patients. There were two nursing attendants for each patient, who did everything for his/her comfort and convenience and every patient had his/her own bed, bedding and vessel for eating. This hospital treated in-patients and out-patients giving them free food and medicine. There were mobile dispensaries and clinics for the proper medical care of the disabled and those living in the remote areas.  Knowledge was free without restrictions or patenting, either of process or product, allowing reverse engineering as well as explosive innovation and development. Medical faculties had a strong representation within university as well as allied facilities for clinical research in hospital and out-patient settings. Muslims doctors preceded the world in medical research by decades if not hundreds of years in fields as diverse as ophthalmological surgery to cardiac care. With world leading health care centres, medical personnel and medicines, rulers of foreign nations used to migrate to the Khilafah "Caliphate" for treatment as the favoured destination, setting a strong precedent for the concept of medical tourism.