ABBOTTABAD: Pakistan is at a critical stage and the biggest threat it is facing is internal extremism and sectarianism, said President General Pervez Musharraf here on Saturday. “The country is passing through the worst ever critical moment and is facing two major threats of religious extremism and sectarianism,” Gen Musharraf said at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul on Saturday. In an apparent reference to the Lal Masjid standoff, he said the government must think carefully about use of force against extremists. “We will be rational before using might, as we will have to face our own brothers and sisters.” agencies
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This is absolutely true. Its time for all Pakistanis to stand strong and united against these extremist forces. Are there any Guppies here from Islamabad? Please keep us updated regarding the events that might not be reported in the media.
Re: Internal extremism biggest threat to country: Musharraf
You know, when even religiously inclined people - your run of the mill maulvi, essentially - is coming on television telling you that the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa-type behavior is the very thing that the muslim must avoid...you KNOW that the nation is having a very big extremist vs. secular issue.
In fact, I wouldn't even say that its extremists against secularists. I would say it more like a schism between the biggest dumbarses to live in Pakistan vs. more sensible folk.
Re: Internal extremism biggest threat to country: Musharraf
PP saada dil isloo vich hai tey jaan michigan vich they pheprey chicago vich fraudia dey kool...
Damn I was in Chicago a few months back.. I would have dropped by had I known..
Oh well, I know you were there around the time they had the attack on Musharaf, I assumed you were still living there.
Re: Internal extremism biggest threat to country: Musharraf
the internal extremism is a threat...but Musharraf effort to make Pakistan "Roshan Khiyaal"...or "baihiyyai" in other words...is also responsible for that.......
Re: Internal extremism biggest threat to country: Musharraf
**Zakat on property
** SHORT cuts have become the hallmark of almost anything involving the prime minister and his closest aides. No surprise then that the most convenient way out of a complex problem is being sought yet again, this time in connection with additional zakat funds for poverty alleviation. The cabinet, it seems, is set to approve the imposition of zakat on real estate assets — a move that smacks of double taxation and fails to address the real issues impeding poverty alleviation. There is no honest talk of belt-tightening within a government that is more extravagant in its ways than the administrations of many developed countries. Nor has there been any effort to significantly reduce defence expenditure in a country which, in the words of the army chief himself, faces no external enemy. Instead of tackling root causes, expediency remains the government’s guiding norm.
Pakistani citizens already pay property tax on built-up real estate assets, and to subject the same to zakat as well is totally unfair to genuine investors and persons with fixed incomes. Instead of taxing holdings, it would be more appropriate and equitable to increase capital gains and capital value taxes on property, stock and commodity transactions. Not only would the revenues be higher, the burden of extra taxation would be borne only by the rich engaged in speculative trading. The government, for its part, believes that zakat on real estate is justified now that wealth tax has been abolished. This begs the question: in the old order, was any percentage of wealth tax revenues ever directed towards zakat disbursement? Also, what proof is there besides the government’s word that zakat collection accounts for less than half the amount supposedly disbursed every year? A detailed audit of zakat transactions over the last several years, supervised by the Public Accounts Committee and open to public scrutiny, is in order. On paper at least, 10 per cent of the proceeds of privatisation must be earmarked for poverty alleviation. According to the minister for privatisation, the sale of 61 state-owned assets netted the government over Rs360 billion between 1999 and 2006. Has any of this, let alone Rs36 billion, gone towards poverty alleviation? http://www.dawn.com/2007/04/16/ed.htm#2
Re: Internal extremism biggest threat to country: Musharraf
By the way, Zakat on real estate itself is controversial among scholars. Some say that there is NO zakat on real estate, others say that if any real estate has been bought for solely business purposes then Zakat be paid on it, but if forexample you take some real estate with intention of making a house later on, then no zakat over it.
So how will the government assess this?
I feel that there will be fierce opposition to this move.
Re: Internal extremism biggest threat to country: Musharraf
I just wanted to point out the contradictions in the govt. actions. If Mushy says there is no external threat, then he should be spending more on the welfare of the people than on the armed forces. That is not happening. So obviously he's bakwaasing again.