Liberal MP and Defense Critic Ujjal Dosanjh has agreed to meet with the Pakistani community of the Lower Mainland in the next two weeks to discuss his comments against Pakistan and the backlash it has created. Visit www.pakcan.com for updates.

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Assalam Alaikum and Ramadan Mubarak. By now you may have received a response from Rogers. After reading the following facts, please kindly call and email Rogers at:

Telephone: 416.935.4656 (w), 416.371.2917 (c), 416.935.3796 (a)
EM Form: www.iwantMuslimtv.com

Rogers Cable collects $70 a month from customers. Rogers pays an average of 50 cents to other networks. All cable operators — Comcast Cable (America’s largest), Time Warner Cable, Cox Cable, Dish Network, Adelphia Cable, Globecast Satellite, Wow Cable, Buckeye Cable, Shrewsbury Cable, Verizon Cable — have agreed to pay 2 cents to Muslim TV. Bridges spends the first penny creating media jobs in Canada for Muslim youths.

From YOUR $70 a month, Rogers Cable wants to pay ZERO for Muslim TV while it pays 50c to networks that label us “Muslim Militants” and “Islamic Terrorists”. All of the above cable operators have found 2 cents as minimal and negligble cost. If Rogers pays ZERO, by contract all other operators will pay ZERO. As you can imagine, this will be the immediate end of Muslim TV.

Rogers Cable is the ONLY cable operator that is trying to kill the Muslim TV. Please ask Rogers Cable to STOP trying to destroy the Muslim voice. Please do not let Rogers Cable kill the only channel that is giving Canadian Muslims a voice in mainstream media. Thank you.

Jazzak Allah Khair,
Imam Abdullah El-Amin
Executive Director
Council of Islamic Organizations
Toronto, Canada

Follow the link to watch the entire interview:

Click Here

Many of you have heard of the attempts being made by Bridges TV, an American Muslim TV station, to launch on Rogers Cable in Canada. Below is a letter written by Raza Mirani and the response from Rogers Cable:

Hello Aivy:
As President of Pakistan-Canada Association in Vancouver, I would like
to encourage Rogers Cable to provide Bridges TV to the greater Canadian
community. A channel, such as Bridges TV, will allow Canadians to
become educated about Islam and gain a better understanding into a religion
that has been so mercilessly misrepresented by the mass media and individuals
claiming to be working in the name of Islam. I can see no greater example
of the power of television then bringing understanding and education to
people. Please put Bridges TV on your cable system or provide a rational
why you are not allowing it to enter the Canadian market.

Sincerely,
Raza Mirani

———————————————————————————————————-
Dear Mr. Mirani

Thank you for your email. We understand how passionate the Muslim community is about having this channel made available on Rogers.

Rogers is very interested in carrying this channel. However, at the present time the financial conditions demanded by Bridges TV are not possible for Rogers.

As a result we have been unable to reach an agreement with Bridges TV but it is our intention to continue discussions in the hope that we can reach a fair agreement.

Regards,
Aivy Reinfelds

In a report aired by CTV on Friday September 22nd, Liberal Minister and Defense Critic Ujjal Dosanjh said ‘Pakistan is harboring terrorists.’ In other words Mr. Dosanjh is claiming that the Government of Pakistan is purposely providing shelter to known terrorists. As members of the Pakistani Community in Canada a comment like this from an elected Canadian member of parliament should be considered unacceptable and an explanation should be given by Mr. Dosanjh to clarify his comments and offer an apology. You are encouraged to write, e-mail, call Mr. Dosanjh’s office asking for an explanation of his comments. He can be reached at the following:

Constituency Office
6408 Fraser Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V5W 3A4

Phone: (604) 775-5323
Fax: (604) 775-5420
Email: dosanu1@parl.gc.ca

Parliament Hill Office
Room 278, Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Phone: (613) 995-7052
Fax: (613) 995-2962
Email: Dosanjh.U@parl.gc.ca

The first day of Ramadan will commence on Sunday, September 24, 2006. First Taraweeh will be on Saturday, September 23, 2006. May Allah (SWT) bless us all and accept our fasting and prayer.

Siraat and the Canadian Muslim Union invite you to an evening marking the
5th Anniversary of September 11 with poetry, performance and short films
on Monday September 11 at 7:30 pm at the Our Town Cafe on Broadway and
Kingsway (kitty corner from Kingsgate mall) followed by a Candlelight
procession and Vigil at Thornton Park at Main St. Skytrian Station. Short
Films will include BBQ Muslims by Zarka Nawaz and My Mountain by Yasmin
Karim.

Sh. Inayatullah Raja passed away. May Allah have mercy on him, forgive him his sins/shortcomings and accept from him all the good he put forth in this world. I also ask Allah to grant his entire family patience and to grant his wife Shifaa (recovery) from her illness. Please do remember Sh. Inayatullah in your duáas as that is the best thing we can do for him. For those who are able, please also offer your support (moral especially) to his family in Surrey.

Click here to download

The Board of Executives and Trustees of Pakistan-Canada Association wish to congratulate all members of the Pakistani community on the signing of the contract to purchase the property at 12059 88th Avenue in Surrey. Our collective vision of a Pakistan Community Center is now in sight and the task of creating a vibrant, energetic, inclusive and self-sustaining place for Pakistanis begins. Help us build this center by becoming a PCA member or by making a donation to this project, either financial or time. If you have a skill that can be of benefit and wish to volunteer some time please contact any member of the PCA Board of Directors or Trustees. Thank you all in advance for your dedication to this project and for your willingness to make a strong and lasting contribution to the Pakistani and Canadian community.