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The Nation:

Who is responsible for Mardan?
April 17, 2017/ 1 Comment
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Who is responsible for Mardan?
Sarmad Iqbal
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Not them.

The snarling, swirling, berserk mob did kill Mashal - sticks wielded by their arms cracked his skull, and their blood-soaked feet stamped out the last vestiges of life. But responsibility extends beyond the confines of factual action and reaction. When the mob charged the university hostel, it was little more than a feral animal, overwhelmed by primal instinct, individuals fused into one throbbing, screaming entity. Its virility questioned, its honour threatened, and its very existence in jeopardy. Rallied by visions of a glorious duty to which there is no second. What reason is left in that maelstrom of guttural frenzy? Very little. Conscience? None.

Like the froth that forms on a stagnant pool stirred up with a stick, the mob is the residue of a decaying body – a symptom, not the cause. While our justice towards them will be swift, perhaps it is time we looked at the person who wielded the stirring stick, and more importantly, who allowed the pool to stagnate in the first place.

The instigators are not hard to find, for they are not trying to hide at all. Their murderous diktats, delivered in sonorous slogans, are printed boldly on walls and banners. They build mausoleums for the terrorist Mumtaz Qadri and raise his pre-teenage son to the status of a saint. They are not hard to find at all, if we are really looking. A state that has weaponised religion is harder to spot – behind a clean shave and a crisp uniform fundamentalism becomes patriotism, and objections become treasons.

Over the next few days and weeks these instigators will be denounced - directly by some and in veiled innuendos by most. Condemnation will rain down and strict actions proposed – and rightly so. Theirs is the provocative whisper in the ear of the ‘believer’, the threat of vigilante violence, and the promise of heavenly debauchery.

But responsibility, as we have noticed, extends beyond the confines of factual action and reaction. The real responsibility for Mardan, dear reader, lies with you. Your cowardice and timidity has given space to a narrative that will consume us all.

Don’t take offence, don’t raise your voice in indignation – I know you are humane, a voice of sanity. Your heart quickened with disgust at the horrific images in Mardan just like the rest, and your denunciation was as scathing as they came. But what use is your denunciation that echoes in empty chambers you have built for yourself? A war rages in the streets, and you are content at wrinkling your noses from your ivory towers.

Ideas are nurtured by blood and sweat, revolutions built on sacrifice. In the tussle over the religious extremism one side is out in droves going toe to toe with law enforcement and staring down any official who dares oppose it. The other laments in plush living rooms with like-minded individuals, leaves Facebook statuses to be read by carefully curated audiences and hides behind the veil of anonymity. Is this the extent of moderate Pakistan’s outrage, a social media condemnation and token tributes to Mashal?

There is yet strength in your numbers that you do not know. Stand on an intersection, block the parliament road, call your local representative, anything. Put your bodies on the line, and make your presence be felt. Politicians are creatures of pragmatism; like a fungus, they grow towards the path of least resistance. A backlash from the right-wing keeps them from acting as they should to tackle this problem; a backlash from the moderates and the left-wing is needed to push them into action. 50 madrassah students, 25 motorbikes, and a tree whittled down to sticks is all that is needed to block a street and get the government’s attention – and religious seminaries have done so since time immemorial to great effect. Tolerant, rational Pakistanis number in millions, yet outside of a few trembling candle vigils threatened by a stray gust of wind when was the last time moderate Pakistan protested this brutality, when have they marched on government or come out in numbers? When have you?

“This doesn’t affect me” you’ll say, “I have my own safety to think about” you’ll add. And that is undoubtedly true – nothing about this endeavor is safe. But if safety was the prime concern the great advancements of liberal and tolerant thought – from upheavals like the French Revolution to campaigns like the Civil Rights Movement – would never have happened. At some point personal safety needs to be put aside for your ideals. Change – real, hard, implausible change, doesn’t come easy.

Let’s look at the other objection – that this doesn’t affect you. Well, it was true when they burned a poverty-stricken Christian couple over a brick kiln in Kot Radha Krishan; you weren’t poor nor Christian. It was true when they killed Ahmedis in their mosques in Gujaranwala; you weren’t an Ahmedi cleric, you are a middle-class Sunni. What about now? When a young, educated, bright student, just like you is so many ways, was butchered by his fellow students in a university – is it still too far away, is it still not your concern?

I understand. I know you are scared, so am I. But think of this; “Mashal” means torch in Urdu – the burning standard that lights a darkened path and leads the way for the rest to follow. Think of that, and put some steel in your will. This is your responsibility.

http://nation.com.pk/columns/17-Apr-2017/who-is-responsible-for-mardan

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Aleppo battle: Rebels burn Syria evacuation buses

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Several buses sent to transport the sick and injured from two [SHIA] government-held villages in Syria's Idlib province have been burned by rebels. The attack apparently halted the latest efforts to evacuate besieged areas.

Pro-government forces say people must be allowed to leave the mainly Shia villages of Foah and Kefraya for the evacuation of east Aleppo to restart.

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... Buses were preparing to evacuate people from both eastern Aleppo and the government-held villages in Idlib province on Sunday. A number of buses did succeed in entering Foah and Kefraya

According to the UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which earlier reported that Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had been holding them up. However, six buses were attacked and torched on the way, the SOHR said.

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Syrian state media said "armed terrorists" ... attacked five buses, burned and destroyed them. A reporter for AFP news agency said armed men forced the drivers of the buses to get out before opening fire and setting the vehicles alight.

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126 Shia residents killed; 68 children among dead http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/syria-bus-convoy-blast-death-
toll-rises-to-100-transfer-of-people-resumes/story-I1hTZEofqy4MrFp8YyoToN.html

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.... Syrian state media said buses entered eastern Aleppo around noon local time, under the supervision of the International Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Some 1,200 people were due to be taken out of the former rebel enclave in return for a similar number moved out of the two government-held villages, Foah and Kefraya. Pro-government forces had reportedly demanded that a group of people needing medical treatment also be allowed to leave the two areas. Reports said a new agreement was reached in the early hours of Sunday but delays meant thousands of civilians remained stranded.

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Originally posted by DREAMTROVE:
Careful, this could turn into a hate thread real fast.

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Everyone here knows that's exactly what SIGs' thread here is. A hate thread. It isn't the first, and it's far from the last. Hey SIG, it's OK if they only kill Jews isn't it?

Hey I know, why don't you get a one stop shopping migrant thread going as well. We've read some of your thoughts on that subject as well. They fit right in with your bigoted agenda here.

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Originally posted by G:

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First, I don't believe in God. That needs to be said.

It is correct that the middle east is a mess. In my opinion, it would be correct to blame religion for that. It is correct to assign criticism to Sunni madrasas for creating extremists. It is just as important to be accurate when describing Al Quad and DASH extremists. They are not Sunni. They have left the fold. Much of their ranks are filled with criminals who have records, and who know nothing of Islam, just hate. When you attack the Sunni faith you only create more. Being smart is part of the strategy of winning. Let's keep the billion who are not extremists fighting with us.

It is also worth noting, the Shia are playing a big or bigger role in destabilizing the middle east, and Europe. Yet we hear no such thing from SIG, only silence on this. Hence the title of the thread. It doesn't say Shia and Sunni does it? That is why I challenged her here. The discussion is a necessary one, but SIG will always spin it due to her hate and agenda. Iran, Russia and Assad good. The rest of us, bad.

It is also worth noting, Sunnis make up 90% of the Muslim population. I want them on our side as we deal with Iran. This is important to get right. Trumps rhetoric only inflames the situation. And SIG, well she's always on the wrong side of logic.

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Originally posted by THGRRI:

Everyone here knows that's exactly what SIGs' thread here is. A hate thread. It isn't the first, and it's far from the last. Hey SIG, it's OK if they only kill Jews isn't it?

Hey I know, why don't you get a one stop shopping migrant thread going as well. We've read some of your thoughts on that subject as well. They fit right in with your bigoted agenda here.

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First, I don't believe in God. That needs to be said.

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It is correct that the middle east is a mess. In my opinion, it would be correct to blame religion for that. It is correct to assign criticism to Sunni madrasas for creating extremists. It is just as important to be accurate when describing Al Quad and DASH extremists. They are not Sunni. They have left the fold. Much of their ranks are filled with criminals who have records, and who know nothing of Islam, just hate. When you attack the Sunni faith you only create more. Being smart is part of the strategy of winning. Let's keep the billion who are not extremists fighting with us.

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It is also worth noting, the Shia are playing a big or bigger role in destabilizing the middle east, and Europe.

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Yet we hear no such thing from SIG, only silence on this. Hence the title of the thread. It doesn't say Shia and Sunni does it? That is why I challenged her here.

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The discussion is a necessary one, but SIG will always spin it due to her hate and agenda. Iran, Russia and Assad good. The rest of us, bad.

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It is also worth noting, Sunnis make up 90% of the Muslim population. I want them on our side as we deal with Iran. This is important to get right. Trumps rhetoric only inflames the situation. And SIG, well she's always on the wrong side of logic.

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Originally posted by THGRRI:
Zero credibility SIG. You have zero credibility. I'll not debate facts with someone who knowingly presents lies as truth.

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Originally posted by 6STRINGJOKER:

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Originally posted by THGRRI:
[who cares]

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Every single thing you accuse others of doing is what you do yourself every day in here.

Although I will cut you a break and not accuse you of lying. You believe it sure enough. You're just easily manipulated.

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Originally posted by DREAMTROVE:

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Originally posted by 6STRINGJOKER:

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Originally posted by THGRRI:
[who cares]

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Every single thing you accuse others of doing is what you do yourself every day in here.

Although I will cut you a break and not accuse you of lying. You believe it sure enough. You're just easily manipulated.

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That's his MO, and he knows he's doing it.

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Again, making up false quotes and attributing them to me. It shows you can't post without lying. Really, that's what it says about you. As I said, dumber than a box of rocks.

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Your posts are poison. They are designed to distort and destroy the truth. For the past few years you've been on Russias' side in everything. Yet you deny it. Zero credibility SIG. You have zero credibility. I'll not debate facts with someone who knowingly presents lies as truth. -THUGR

Syria: Bombing hits bus convoy carrying civilians evacuated from besieged towns under deal between regime and rebels.

Car bomb ‘concealed in aid van’ targets families stranded at transit point during planned evacuation A car bomb has hit a convoy of buses carrying civilians evacuated from besieged towns in Syria, killing dozens of people as they waited to be taken to safety.

Volunteer rescue workers from the White Helmets said they recovered at least 100 bodies from the scene. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group later put the death toll at 112.

The blast hit the Rashidin area on the outskirts of Aleppo, where dozens of buses carrying mostly Shia Muslim families from pro-government villages were waiting to enter the city.

Photos that were too graphic to publish showed a huge fire raging next to bodies, including those of children, scattered on the ground next to charred buses with blown-out windows.

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Two men arrested in France suspected of plotting ‘imminent’ terror attack days before the presidential election



Two men have been arrested in France on suspicion of planning an “imminent” terror attack, five days before the country's presidential election.

The suspects, aged 30 and 24, were picked up by the French intelligence service, the General Directorate for Internal Security, in the southern city of Marseille, police sources said.

France's internal intelligence agency, which had been looking for the two suspects for more than a week, had warned main candidates in the election that there was a threat to their security, campaign officials said.

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Originally posted by THGRRI:

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Originally posted by DREAMTROVE:

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Originally posted by 6STRINGJOKER:

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Originally posted by THGRRI:
[who cares]

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Every single thing you accuse others of doing is what you do yourself every day in here.

Although I will cut you a break and not accuse you of lying. You believe it sure enough. You're just easily manipulated.

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That's his MO, and he knows he's doing it.

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Again, making up false quotes and attributing them to me. It shows you can't post without lying. Really, that's what it says about you. As I said, dumber than a box of rocks.

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no moron, it would only be apparent to you the poster and the person you are supposed to be quoting. Quoting someone means only one thing, and that is that you are quoting someone. Only uneducated people think quoting someone means whatever the poster intend it to mean, and miraculously the rest will understand and be able to follow along.

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Then follow the link and read about "LITTLE more than a decade ago King Abdullah II of Jordan sounded a warning that America’s toppling of Saddam Hussein in Iraq would lead to the emergence of an Iranian-influenced “Shia crescent”—code for Iranian expansion—from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia. His words were dismissed as alarmist. Now, though, that vision might be coming about.

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Originally posted by G:
Obvious fake news sites that have a decidedly anti-Hillary and anti-Dem slant, which begs the question: Why do pro-Trump/Russia sites hate Sunnis? What's their angle?

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Originally posted by G:

Obvious fake news sites that have a decidedly anti-Hillary and anti-Dem slant, which begs the question: Why do pro-Trump/Russia sites hate Sunnis? What's their angle?


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Iran is a key ally of Russia. One of a few. Iran (Shiite) is at war with Sunnis in the Middle East. This war is one of the reasons Sunni states turned a blind eye to the madrassas teaching extremism. They need religious zealots to fight the Shiite. We all know, including the Sunni States, this has been a mistake.

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For example, does anyone know that Sunni extremists bombed Christian churches in Egypt during Easter week?

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Deadly Bombing in Kabul Is One of the Afghan War’s Worst Strikes

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:

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This camera man and anyone with him are cunts. That wounded man is looking straight into the camera and nobody is helping him.
Either that, or they paid somebody to lie down and look hurt and pose for the camera after the fact.
Either way, it makes for great news stories, doesn't it?- SIX

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Seizing of Philippines city by Islamist militants a wake-up call for Southeast Asia

... over the next few hours the militants took control of most of the city, attacked the police station and stole weapons and ammunition, and set up roadblocks and positioned snipers on buildings at key approaches. The assault has already led to the death of almost 180 people and the vast majority of Marawi's population of about 200,000 has fled.

The seizing of the city by Maute and its allies on the island of Mindanao is the biggest warning yet that the Islamic State is building a base in Southeast Asia and bringing the brutal tactics seen in Iraq and Syria in recent years to the region.

Defense and other government officials from within the region told Reuters evidence is mounting that this was a sophisticated plot to bring forces from different groups who support the Islamic State together to take control of Marawi.

The presence of foreigners - intelligence sources say the fighters have included militants from as far away as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Chechnya and Morocco

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alongside locals in Marawi, has particularly alarmed security officials.

... Defense and military officials in the Philippines said that all four of the country’s pro-Islamic State groups sent fighters to Marawi with the intention of establishing the city as a Southeast Asian ‘wilayat’ – or governorate - for the radical group.

Mindanao - roiled for decades by Islamic separatists, communist rebels, and warlords – was fertile ground for Islamic State's ideology to take root. This is the one region in this largely Catholic country to have a significant Muslim minority and Marawi itself is predominantly Muslim.

It is difficult for governments to prevent militants from getting to Mindanao from countries like Malaysia and Indonesia through waters that have often been lawless and plagued by pirates. ...

The Combating Terrorism Center, a West Point, New York-based think tank, said in a report this week that Islamic State is leveraging militant groups in Southeast Asia to solidify and expand its presence in the region. The key will be how well it manages relations with the region’s jihadi old guard, CTC said ...

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Terrorists Raid Iran Parliament, Mausoleum; Gunmen, Suicide Bombers Leave At Least 12 Dead

errorist attackers raided Iran’s parliament and opened fire at the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini a few kilometers south of the capital on Wednesday morning, in near simultaneous assaults that killed at least 12 people, Reuters reported citing local media.

The first assault took place at 10.30am local time when the parliament was in session. Four gunmen walked into the parliament buildings and began shooting at visitors. Parliament is in lockdown and the police are reported by state media to be still hunting the gunmen. A bomb blast was subsequently reported at Iranian parliament killing one and injuring several, officials said as cited by local media.

In a second incident half an hour later, at least two people opened fire at the shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini. Several people are reported to have been injured there. One of the shrine attackers is reported to have killed himself by detonating an explosive vest. Another was shot dead.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, AMAQ, a news agency close to the group, said. “Fighters from Islamic state attacked Khomeini’s shrine and the Iranian parliament in Tehran,” the news agency said.

"The atmosphere is tense. It is a blow to Rouhani. How can four armed men enter the parliament, where a very tight security has always been in place," said a senior official, who asked not to be named.

The attackers killed seven people and wounded several others, Tasmin said. The news agency also said there were unconfirmed reports that the attackers had taken four hostages inside the parliament building, although according to a subsequent report by Iran's PressTV all terrorists at the parliament had been killed.

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Van crashes into crowd in Barcelona

BARCELONA - A van plowed into crowds in the heart of the city near the famous Las Ramblas avenue, in what police said they were treating as a terrorist attack.

One person confirmed dead, at least 32 injured in Barcelona attack: police

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Home-made bomb injures 29 on packed London commuter train

A home-made bomb on a packed rush-hour commuter train in London engulfed a carriage in flames and injured 29 people on Friday, but apparently failed to fully explode, in Britain’s fifth major terrorism incident this year.

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Originally posted by SIGNYM:
OH LOOK, KPO!

Your "moderate rebel" buddies just set off another bomb in London. Aren't you so glad you've supported "moderate rebels" across the globe?

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Home-made bomb injures 29 on packed London commuter train

A home-made bomb on a packed rush-hour commuter train in London engulfed a carriage in flames and injured 29 people on Friday, but apparently failed to fully explode, in Britain’s fifth major terrorism incident this year.

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MORE AT http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-security-london/blast-report
ed-on-london-underground-train-metro-newspaper-idUSKCN1BQ0S1

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