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Pak will be flexible, says Musharraf
Pak Muslim League to celebrate 2005 as inter-faith harmony year
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Sikh leaders flay threats to Bhatti
London, December 25 Sikh leaders in Britain have called on protesters to withdraw death threats against Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, writer of the controversial play ‘Behzti’, who is currently in hiding following the threats. 
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Pak will be flexible, says Musharraf
Islamabad, December 25 “Perceptions that I sold out on Kashmir and backtracked on our stated positions, I have not done anything of that sort. I am not the kind to back track but I am the kind to back track when the other side is backtracking,” he said, addressing a dinner reception of Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee here on Thursday. “While we stand by our original stand that is the 1948 UN resolutions, we have not moved an inch from that, but what I said (earlier), we will be flexible, if the other side also showed flexibility. We are prepared to leave our stated positions if the other sides also leave its stated positions. That is the flexibility we have shown,” he said. His remarks came ahead of the commencement of the Foreign Secretary-level talks here on December 27 and 28 to kickstart the second round of Composite Dialogue process under which they would discuss Kashmir, peace and security and set the calendar for official-level meetings on six other issues. “We stand by our commitment that Kashmir has to be resolved with honour and dignity. We will never leave the honour and dignity of the state of Pakistan,” he said, adding the issue has to be resolved in accordance with the “wishes” of the Kashmiris. On restoration of democracy, he said the federal and provincial assembles were functioning and “this is the essence of democracy”. “In spite of all this there is political disharmony and we need to harmonise... We are trying our best... I am trying my best,” he said without directly referring to his government’s talks with self-exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and other political parties. Musharraf claimed that under his rule Pakistan enjoyed real democracy as people, women and minorities had been empowered at the grassroots level and at provincial and national tiers.
— PTI |
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World needs message of Jesus: Pope
Vatican City, December 25 The Pope celebrated Christmas midnight mass in St Peter’s Basilica attended by some 10,000 people and watched by tens of millions live on television in more than 70 countries, including several predominantly Muslim nations. The 84-year-old Pope, who has difficulty speaking because of his illness, lessened the strain this year, limiting his sermon to a mere eight paragraphs — the shortest of his 27 Christmas seasons as Pontiff. No longer able to walk, he sat slightly bent on his wheeled throne in festive gold vestments and appeared very pensive at times. ‘’Look upon us, eternal Son of God, who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. All humanity, with its burden of trials and troubles, stands in need of you,’’ he said, breathing deeply between his words. The short sermon recounted the Christmas story of the child Jesus born of the Virgin Mary in a manger and lying helpless in swaddling clothes. ‘’You are born on this night, our divine Redeemer, and, in our journey along the paths of time, you become for us the food of eternal life,’’ the Pope said. During the solemn mass, attended by representatives of some 150 governments, the Pope also read a prayer so that ‘’peace, announced by the angels on this holy night is enjoyed by all the humanity that God loves’’. Christ’s birthplace of Bethlehem was not far the Pope’s mind or that of the worshippers inside Christendom’s largest church. One of the prayers was for the Middle East. Later on Christmas Day he delivered his twice yearly ‘’Urbi et Orbi’’ (to the city and the world) blessing and message. He is also due to say a year-end mass of thanksgiving on Dec. 31, celebrate the Church’s World Day of Peace on Jan. 1, and the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6. Despite all the tradition, there were some novelties at the Vatican this Christmas. For the first time, the most trendy and high-tech conscious Catholics did not have to sit at home to watch the Christmas midnight mass on television. — Reuters
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Pak Muslim League to celebrate 2005
Islamabad, December 25 “I would like to announce that Pakistan Muslim League would like 2005 to be the year of inter- faith harmony and peace and promote the policy of live and let live all over the world,” he said addressing a function organized by PML to join Christian brethren in celebrating Christmas. Welcoming the Christian priests and the community, Chaudhry Shujaat extended warm greetings, goodwill and Merry Christmas to them on his own behalf and of the party as well as Muslims in Pakistan. He said Islam and other religions believe in peace that guarantees equal opportunities and rights to everyone irrespective of caste, colour, creed and religion. Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, in his speeches several times, also assured all communities in the country, of equal rights and opportunities as citizens of Pakistan, he added. “I strongly feel and believe that the concept of minority in religion should be abolished gradually in Pakistan,” the PML chief said. “We are all Pakistanis irrespective of religion and want to promote this concept from the PML platform,” he added. The PML president also talked of uneasiness among Jews, Christians and the Muslims, he witnessed during the recent presidential election in the USA. “This state should end, failing which I apprehend that the extremists whoever they may be, will try to exploit the situation, and that may even lead to a clash of civilizations,” he stated. The ruling party secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said the PML envisaged tolerant, democrat and moderate Pakistan where people from all religions enjoy their rights.
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Sikh leaders flay threats to Bhatti
London, December 25 In a statement, The British Sikh Consultative Forum (BSCF), the national body of Sikh organisations said it did not support any form of threat to the author. “We unequivocally appeal to anyone who may have made these threats to withdraw them. They have no endorsement from the Sikh community,” the statement said. “We understand the high tensions on all sides of this unfortunate incident and regret that matters went beyond the process of dialogue and reason. “We hope that further progress on the balance between liberty to offend and right to dignity can proceed within the law and with civility. Behzti (dishonour) written by the Sikh writer was closed by Birmingham Repertory Theatre after violent demonstrations against a rape scene in a Gurdwara. Subsequently, Bhatti went into hiding following receipt of death threats. Bosses at the Birmingham Rep decided to abandon the three-week run of the show last week on safety grounds because faith leaders said they could not ensure there would not be a repeat of the violence. The Birmingham Stage Company later offered to put on Behzti but was also forced to abandon the plan following a request by Mrs Bhatti.
— PTI |
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Islamabad, December 25
