Abdul Sattar Edhi

Abdul Sattar Edhi,  or Maulana Edhi, is a Pakistani philanthropist known for international 

humanitarian work. He is the founder and head of Edhi Foundation, a non-profit social 

welfare program in Pakistan. Together with his wife,Bilquis Edhi, he received the 1986 

Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. He is also the recipient of the Lenin Peace 

Prize and the Balzan Prize. In 2006, Institute of Business Administration Pakistan conferred a

 honoris causa degree of Doctor of Social Service Management for his services. 

In September 2010, Edhi was also awarded an honorary degree of Doctorate by the 

University of Bedfordshire.

Early Life

Edhi was born in 1928 in Bantva in the Gujarat, British India.

When he was eleven, his mother became paralyzed and later grew mentally ill and 

died when he was 19. His personal experiences caused him to develop a system 

of services for old, mentally ill and challenged people.

Edhi and his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947. He initially started as a pedlar, 

later became a commission agent selling cloth in the wholesale market in Karachi. 

After a few years, he established a free dispensary with the help from his community. 

He later established a welfare trust, "Edhi Trust".

Abdul Sattar Edhi was married in 1965 to Bilquis, a nurse who worked at the 

Edhi dispensary. The couple have four children, two daughters and two sons. 

Bilquis runs the free maternity home at the headquarter in Karachi and 

organizes the adoption of illegitimate and abandoned babies.

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Charity Work

Edhi Foundation runs the world's largest ambulance service and operates free 

old people's homes, orphanages, clinics, women's shelters, and rehab centers for 

drug addicts and mentally ill individuals.It has run relief operations in Africa, 

Middle East, the Caucasus region, eastern Europe and US where it provided aid 

following the New Orleans hurricane of 2005.

In November 2011, Edhi was nominated for a Nobel Peace prize by then Pakistani 

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.

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Travel issues

In January 2008, US immigration officials interrogated Edhi at the John F. Kennedy Airport

 in New York for over eight hours, and seized his passport and other documents. 

In January 2009, Edhi was refused entry to Gaza by Egyptian authorities.

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Honours and awards

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International awards

• Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service (1986)
• Lenin Peace Prize (1988)
• Paul Harris Fellow from Rotatory International Foundation, (1993) 
• Largest Voluntary Ambulance Organization of the World - Guinness Book of World Records (2000) 
• Hamdan Award for volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Services (2000) UAE 
• International Balzan Prize (2000) for Humanity, Peace and Brotherhood, Italy 
• Honorary Doctorate degree from the Institute of Business Administration Karachi (2006).
• UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize (2009)
• Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize (2010)

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National awards

• Silver Jubilee Shield by College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan, (1962–1987) 
• The Social Worker of Sub-Continent by Government of Sind, Pakistan, (1989)
• Nishan-e-Imtiaz, civil decoration from Government of Pakistan (1989) 
• Recognition of meritorious services to oppressed humanity during eighties by
•  Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Government of Pakistan, (1989) 
• Pakistan Civic Award from the Pakistan Civic Society (1992) 
• Shield of Honor by Pakistan Army (E & C) 
• Khidmat Award by Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences 
• Human Rights Award by Pakistan Human Rights Society 

Helicopter incident shows Pakistan Army is a professional institution, Indian General

ISLAMABAD, Nov 1 (APP): Indian Major General (retd) Jatinder Singh said Pakistan’s decision to return an Indian helicopter vindicated his view that its army is a professional institution. In a letter published in “The Hindu”, General Sharma said Pakistan allowed an Indian helicopter with four army personnel to return home five hours after the aircraft was forced to land in Skardu for violating Pakistani airspace.

“This action vindicates my long held view that the Pakistan army is a professional institution, not a rogue army as some sections of the media, service colleagues, and politicians would like to suggest,” he added.

He said, “Even if Pakistan had shot down the helicopter and shown it as a crash, thereby making us incur a loss of trained men and an expensive machine, we would not have been able to ascertain the truth, considering the sparsely populated terrain of Skardu.”

He said the terrain precludes the use of radars for monitoring and charting the flight path from India’s side of the border.

The incident speaks volumes for the speed in decision-making, communications set-up and the maturity of the Pakistani army hierarchy, Jatinder Singh added.

Some of the achievements of Imran Khan by Muhammad Waqas Khan

i am really glad to quote some of the achievements of Imran Khan for you guys, some of his achievements are short listed down here

have you ever listen about the free treatment ov cancer in Pakistan..

way back in the 90s imran khan made a committee ov 50 doctors from America to design a project for a cancer hospital, out ov these 50 doctors 49 ov them told him that you won't succeed, but he made them wrong by giving his dream a soul or life i should say!!! im talking about (Shaukatkhanum memorial Hospital)...

There are more dn 52 cancer hospitals in The Great Britain, where you will have to pay millions for your treatment, and in Pakistan there are just two or three cancer hospitals, where you will get free treatment, and btw the chairperson ov all ov them is Imran Khan....and one more thing he is also the chancellor ov one ov the world best university (Bradford University)...

he is also the chairperson ov NUML university Islamabad, NUML college ov Sciences....

some ov the achievements ov imran khan are short listed here...

In 1992, Khan was given Pakistan's civil award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz

In 1983, he had received the President’s Pride of Performance Award

Khan is featured in the University of Oxford's Hall of Fame and has been an honorary fellow of Oxford's Keble College.

On 7 December 2005, Khan was appointed the fifth Chancellor of the University of Bradford, where he is also a patron of the Born in Bradford research project.

In 1976 as well as 1980, Khan was awarded The Cricket Society Wetherall Award for being the leading all-rounder in English first-class cricket.

In 1983, he was also named Wisden Cricketer of the Year

In 1985, Sussex Cricket Society Player of the Year

In 1990, Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year

Khan is currently placed at Number 8 on the all-time list of the ESPN Legends of Cricket.

On 5 July 2008, he was one of several veteran Asian cricketers presented special silver jubilee awards at the inaugural Asian cricket Council (ACC) award ceremony in Karachi.

On 8 July 2004, Khan was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Asian Jewel Awards in London, for "acting as a figurehead for many international charities and working passionately and extensively in fund-raising activities.

On 13 December 2007, Khan received the Humanitarian Award at the Asian Sports Awards in Kuala Lumpur for his efforts in setting up the first cancer hospital in Pakistan. In 2009, at International Cricket Council's centennial year celebration, Khan was one of fifty-five cricketers inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame......

The fastest bowler in the history of cricket

The fastest bowler in the history of cricket, Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar has made some sensational claims in his autobiography 'Controversially Yours'. Shoaib Akhtar, who holds the record for the fastest delivery in cricket ever clocking 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph), is no less controversial with the Rawalpindi Express admitting to ball tampering & also bragging that Sachin Tendulkar chickened out during the Faisalabad Test.

In his book Shoaib has said, "I bowled (Sachin) a particularly fast ball which he, to my amazement didn't even touch. He walked away! That was the first time I saw him walk away from me-that, too, on the slow track at Faisalabad."

Taking a dig at veteran Indian batsman Rahul Dravid, the former Pakistani stump-wrecker has said that The Wall and Master Blaster are not match winners.

"I think players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid weren't exactly match winners to start with, nor did they know the art of finishing the game," Shoaib said.

In his autobiography, Akhtar has also alleged that he was cheated by Shah Rukh Khan and former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi.

He states, "Shahrukh and I talked about my not being happy with the money settled on me. Shahrukh and Modi got me to agree. I should have never listened to Modi and Shahrukh."

Akhtar, who retired from cricket following the 2011 World Cup, has also shockingly revealed that he tampered with the ball claiming, "everyone tampers with the ball. I did so too. Tampering should be legalised."

'Controversially Yours' shies away from little in Akhtar's life. It maps his journey from an economically deprived, yet happy childhood, into an adolescence driven by his quest to break into Pakistani cricket. Born flat-footed, suffering whooping cough, Akhtar describes the blood, sweat and tears that took him to breaking the 100 mph barrier, playing as Pakistan's 'Rawalpindi Express'.

Comfort stayed elusive. Akhtar describes the severe class discrimination marring Pakistani cricket, the arrogance of the Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB), his humiliation and his failures - including ball-tampering and even attacking teammates with a bat.

Alongside, he takes on Pakistani and international players, coaches, selectors and the media. Taking a dig at Shoaib Malik, Akhtar has stated in his book that the Pakistani all-rounder was PCB's stooge. "Shoaib Malik doesn't deserve to be captain and was made captain because he was a stooge of the PCB Chief Naseem Ashraf," states Akhtar.

Not just this, the former Pakistani pacer also goes on to claim that legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram attempted to finish his career. He states, "Wasim Akram threatened to walk out with half the team if I was included in the team. General Tauqir Zia backed Shoaib against Wasim."

How can Muslims Claim to be peaceful when Islam is spread by Sword ???

How can Muslims Claim to be peaceful when Islam is spread by Sword ???

It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force.

According to the Quran, "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256), thus, no one can be forced to become a Muslim. While it is true that in many places where Muslim armies went to liberate people or the land, they did carry the sword as that was the weapon used at that time. However, Islam did not spread by the sword because in many places where there are Muslims now, in the Far East like Indonesia, in China, and many parts of Africa, there are no records of any Muslim armies going there. To say that Islam was spread by the sword would be to say that Christianity was spread by guns, F-16's and atomic bombs, etc., which is not true. Christianity spread by the missionary works of Christians. Ten-percent of all Arabs are Christians. The "Sword of Islam" could not convert all the non-Muslim minorities in Muslim countries. In India, where Muslims ruled for 700 years, they are still a minority. In the U.S.A., Islam is the fastest growing religion and has 6 million followers without any sword around.

The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.

1. Islam means peace.
Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).

2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace.
Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against criminals and antisocial elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace and justice.

3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary.
The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book “Islam at the cross road” (Page 8): “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated.”

4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years.
Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers.

5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians.
Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.

6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India.
The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword.

7. Indonesia and Malaysia.
Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, “Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?”

8. East Coast of Africa.
Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, “Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?”

9. Thomas Carlyle.
The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book “Heroes and Hero worship”, refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam: “The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can.”

10. No compulsion in religion.
With which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam because the Qur’an says in the following verse: “Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error” [Al-Qur’an 2:256]

11. Sword of the Intellect.
It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur’an says in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125: “Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.” [Al-Qur’an 16:125]

12. Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984.
An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam?

13. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe.
Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such large numbers?

14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson.
Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, “People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born”.

Nasa reveals bacteria that can live on arsenic instead of phosphorus.......................

The bacteria, christened GFAJ-1, appear to incorporate arsenic into their DNA, lipids and proteins, forcing a rethink of how life might look on other planets.......................

For the past week, websites have been buzzing with rumours that Nasa was about to unveil something big, something to do with extraterrestrial life – maybe even a real-life alien. Had they found evidence that we are not alone?

The reality is nowhere near as epoch-making, but is a fascinating discovery that if confirmed will force a rethink of life on Earth and have implications for how we identify it on other planets.

A bacterium discovered in a Californian lake appears to be able to use arsenic in its molecular make-up instead of phosphorus – even incorporating the toxic chemical into its DNA. That's significant because it goes against the general rule that all terrestrial life depends on six elements: oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus. These are needed to build DNA, proteins and fats and are some of the biological signatures of life that scientists look for on other planets.

Christened GFAJ-1, the microbe lends weight to the notion held by some astrobiologists that there might be "weird" forms of life on Earth, as yet undiscovered, that use elements other than the basic six in their metabolism. Among those who have speculated is Prof Paul Davies, a cosmologist at Arizona State University and an author on the latest research.

"This organism has dual capability – it can grow with either phosphorus or arsenic," said Davies. "That makes it very peculiar, though it falls short of being some form of truly 'alien' life belonging to a different tree of life with a separate origin. However, GFAJ-1 may be a pointer to even weirder organisms. The holy grail would be a microbe that contained no phosphorus at all."

In a research paper published in the journal Science, Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a Nasa astrobiology research fellow in residence at the US Geological Survey, described a bacterium she found in California's highly salty and arsenic-rich Mono Lake. It is a strain of the Halomonadaceaefamily of "gamma proteobacteria".

Although the microbe grew better when fed phosphorus, Wolfe-Simon successfully grew it in the laboratory on a diet that was very low in phosphorus and high in arsenic. Wolfe-Simon was surprised to find that the microbe appeared to have incorporated the arsenic molecules into its DNA, in place of phosphorus.

Davies said that GFAJ-1 "is surely the tip of a big iceberg, and so has the potential to open up a whole new domain of microbiology".

Wolfe-Simon said the discovery was about more than the contents of Mono Lake. "If something here on Earth can do something so unexpected, what else can life do that we haven't seen yet? Now is the time to find out."

Arsenic and phosphorus are chemically similar. In fact arsenic is toxic precisely because biological cells cannot always tell the difference. They use arsenic instead of phosphorus, but because the arsenic-based compounds are less stable in water, cells are unable to function properly and die.

Zita Martins, an astrobiologist at Imperial College London, said the research indicated the breadth of life on Earth. "The thing people have to remember is that it has been known for a long time that we have organisms we call extremophiles – organisms that live in so-called weird conditions. In that sense, life as we know it is not only the normal organisms but also organisms that live in conditions of extremely high temperature or really low temperature or acidic conditions. These are conditions you'd think that no organisms could grow. In that sense, this discovery could fit into that category ... because it is an organism that lives in conditions that are toxic."

The discovery could have implications for the way scientists look for life on other planets. "For future space missions that try to detect life, if we are just concerned about the elements we should follow, we always included carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur and phosphorus," said Martins. "Now we have one more element we should follow."

But she said that planned missions to look for signs of life, mainly to Mars, were not following individual elements but rather the more complex molecules that form the building blocks of life, such as amino acids and nucleic acids.

Some researchers are not convinced that the study proves the microbe is incorporating the toxic element into its proteins and DNA. Steven Benner, an astrobiologist at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution in Gainesville, Florida, told Science that this conclusion was "not established by this work"