Lahore attack on the Sri-Lankan cricket team- Who did it?

By Majed Iqbal- Once again Pakistan is placed onto the international centre stage following the attack on the Srilankan cricket team. The immediate response from the international community and commentators seemed to implicate ‘extremists' operating in Pakistan without even a shred of evidence; an approach no different to the Mumbai attacks where India was the judge, jury and executioner in pointing the fingers at Pakistan and building a case of declaring it a failed state and a sponsor of Terrorism.



Both the US and India, helped by many other countries have actively used any semblance of any issue to declare Pakistan as an unstable state requiring international intervention.

India spearheaded a campaign to convince several countries to sever sports relations with Pakistan and put tremendous pressure on Sri Lanka not to send its cricket team to play here.

The latest attack on Pakistani soil raises many questions on who could be behind the attacks and why against sri-lankans? Pakistan has had conducive relationships with this country and was instrumental in bringing it to the international cricketing stage.

ASIAN LEADER Article- America uses Pakistani Airbases to strike at Pakistan’s Citizens

The following article was published in the Asian Leader newspaper exposing the collaboration of the Pakistani government with America in using Pakistani soil to launch strikes both within Pakistan and Afghanistan; something which the Pakistani government ha s been in denial about for years.



The article challenges the notion about the independance of the newly democratically elected government of Pakistan. Who is calling the shots? is is islamabad or Washington?

Read the full article on the blog here. Alternatively, access the newspaper online on the Look Asia Website

POEM- '3/3'

POEM- '3/3' By Poet 786

That was the day we shall remember forever
When they said the Giant will arise again never

When the skies over the Ummah became clouded
When the Qur'an was in a dark cloth shrouded

The light of the world was now extinguished
The darkness could no longer be distinguished

They claimed the sun shall never set in their Empire
They declared our defeat & fulfilled their evil desire

They had eventually rid themselves from the "Sick-man"
They began to carve out our land handspan by handspan

Our body ripped into pieces as the predators attacked
Awaiting like vultures our rulers watched and backed

America uses Pakistani Airbases to strike at Pakistan’s Citizens

By Majed Iqbal- What has been speculated by many and under denial for years by the previous Musharraf government and now the new Zardari government has now come to surface. Pakistani soil and airspace has and is still being used by America to launch strikes both in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.



The US was secretly flying unmanned drones from the Shamsi airbase in Pakistan's south western province of Baluchistan as early as 2006, according to an image of the base from Google Earth.

The image, that is no longer on the site but initially obtained by The News, Pakistan's English language daily newspaper, shows what appear to be three Predator drones outside a hangar at the end of the runway. The Times also obtained a copy of the image, whose co-ordinates confirm that it is the Shamsi airfield, also known as Bandari, about 200 miles southwest of the Pakistani city of Quetta.

Britney's 'breakdown' 'inspired' 50 Cent album

By Majed Iqbal- 50 Cent, a rapping phenomenon from US, who is trying all he can to stay on the rap media scene has used the events of Britney Spears 'breakdown' as 'lyrical' material for his new album.



He wrote a new LP "Before I Self Destruct" after watching Britney Spears' head-shaving meltdown- these scenes were showcased internationally when Britney appeared at a local hair dresser asking for her hair to be sheared off.

50 Cent has admitted that he was morbidly fascinated by the previously clean-cut star's downfall. He told OK! Magazine, "She was the greatest show on earth last year.....She was going through her issues in public... It was great to watch her spin out of control because it makes the average person feel better."

Unfortunately we live in an era and a time where ideas like Freedom give rise to selfish and materialistic pursuits- no matter if it causes happiness or misery to an individual or even society at large.

Will you be my Valentine.....Please?

By Majed Iqbal- It's that time of the year again when the Majnu's of this world- yes that Aashiq crowd whose diet consists of a Bollywood movie a night come out and confess their love to ‘the one'.



Yes, were talking about Valentines Day when romance is in the air and a day on which postal services are jammed with delivering cards and letters, or playing the role of a 'cupid', forwarding messages of 'true love'.

Youngsters will be making Valentine's cards, and lots would be collecting money from their pocket money to buy gifts for their so called loved one. And there is that air of anticipation and anxiousness of receiving an anonymous card from a secret admirer!

At schools, colleges and Unis people boast about the number of admirers they have. It's all about the ratings game! So the more you have the bigger the player the lad is or the more ‘pulling power' the girl has. Others will be hiding their faces with humiliation in the realisation that nobody showed any romantic interest in them.

So what's the harm in all this some may ask? After all, is it not a day for girls and guys to indulge in a bit of fun?

Iran ready for dialogue with US?

By Dr Mohammed Zahid- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he would welcome talks with the US as long as they were based on "mutual respect". Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran, he said Iran would welcome change from the US as long as it was "fundamental".



"The new US administration has announced that they want to produce change and pursue the course of dialogue. It is quite clear that real change must be fundamental and not tactical. It is clear the Iranian nation welcomes real changes and is ready for dialogue in a climate of equality and mutual respect" Mr Ahmadinejad said at a rally in central Tehran attended by tens of thousands of people.

Ahmadinejad's remarks come a day after US President Barack Obama said he was looking for "openings that can be created where we can start sitting across the table face-to-face".

"I think there's the possibility, at least, of a relationship of mutual respect and progress," Mr Obama said, but "it's time now for Iran to send some signals that it wants to act differently."

Picture Story- Thousands protest against Military action in Swat- Pakistan

By Majed Iqbal- Thousands gathered together in Swat to protest against the Military action in the area which has seen hundreds of lives lost. The protest demanded that the government withdraw the army from the area and lift the curfew which has made life difficult for the residents.



Despite the Governement PR on convincing the Pakistani population that the country must fight Americas war on Terror to root out 'extremism', demonstrations like theses have clearly profiled the sentiments of the people in the heart of the 'conflict' zones that they no longer buy the lies sold to them.

Zardari's government has seen no change from that of Musharraf's and continues to pursue American Policy blindly despite the peoples resentment and displeasure.

BBC and Sky's ‘impartial' coverage of Gaza come under raps!

By Majed Iqbal- Sky News and the BBC came under heavy criticism on their refusal to broadcast an emergency appeal for Gaza by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella group of humanitarian charities including Oxfam, Save the Children and the Red Cross, in spite of renewed pressure from the public on the grounds that it would jeopardise their neutrality.



The decision added further to fury to many in Britain who believed that the coverage of the Gaza massacre by the BBC and Sky news amidst many other Western news Corporations leaned more favourably to viewing the whole events through Israeli lenses with considerable airtime offered to people to speak with this angle.

More than 10,000 people protested in central London against the BBC's refusal to air the DEC aid appeal for Gaza which was followed by incidents in the week where BBC buildings in London and Manchester were occupied by protesters.

John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York said "This is not an appeal by Hamas asking for arms but by the Disasters Emergency Committee asking for relief"

North West Women's conference addresses the future of Gaza

By Majed Iqbal- While international pressure seems to have produced a ceasefire in Gaza, feelings of outrage have not dissipated easily left by the international silence by leading powers whilst the aggression was taking place in Gaza. Bitter taste can be felt resounding in many countries and seemed no different for the Muslim community in the UK.



Beyond the Gaza episode and the alleged ceasefire by Israeli forces, debates and discussions continue to look at a viable alternative to achieving territorial integrity and liberation for the Palestinians and mapping out the main obstacle in the way of achieving this.

To discuss these issues over a 150 women attended a one day Conference which looked beyond the ‘ceasefire', evaluated the practical steps that could have prevented such atrocities and mapped out a future political set up to ensure stability and peace for the region

The women's chapter of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir organised the conference in Longsight, Manchester opening a robust debate on the Gaza issue.