Pakistan

Prayers, prizes for win over India

Thousands of Pakistanis will take part in mass prayer sessions for a win in the semi-final.

Afp March 29, 2011

LAHORE: Thousands of Pakistanis are to take part in mass prayer sessions on Wednesday, asking God to guide them to victory against India in the hotly anticipated World Cup cricket semi-final.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has promised each team member 25 acres of land if they beat India at Mohali.

"The Punjab government will give 25 acres of fertile land to each member of the team as a prize if they beat India," Sharif told journalists.

Pakistan have not beaten India in any of their four previous World Cup matches dating back to 1992.

Sharif said the whole nation will pray for Pakistan's win.

"Our team deserves appreciation from the nation for displaying outstanding performance in different matches of the World Cup and the whole nation will be praying for its success," said Sharif, an avid follower of the game.

Various organisations have announced special prayers for the team in the cities of Lahore, Karachi and Quetta, with thousands of people expected to attend.

COMMENTS (41)

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply Well at least the Honourable CM of Punjab, has just few hundred acre of prime agricultural land !! Not to sure if this was from his personal holdings, or state's property!!, not that it makes any difference as in pakistan, i suppose its one and the same if one is in the office!!! What is Mine remains Mine & What is State's becomes Mine!!! Perhap he will decide to donate these lands to the really needy farmers to farm and fend for their families!!!! That would be a gesture, and great PR execise for him!!!

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply @How, I have no intentions to learn Arabic. But thanks for letting me know the meaning of Inshallah. Insha Allah one day Pakistanis will learn Arabic and understand the true message of Koran. Due to lack of Arabic knowledge Pakistan is spiritually a bankrupt nation. What a paradox 99.99% Pakistanis are just parroting the Koran without knowing its meaning. Today Pakistan lost because God was not willing in her favor.

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FJ | 13 years ago | Reply What i don't understand is where their sense of responsibility was when ppl lost their homes in flood last year.... I am not against my team or giving them gift for appreciation but it should be reasonable..... was he going to give them land from his estate? what is so wrong with our politians... Cricket is a game treat like one

jacky | 13 years ago | Reply haha,,, this is the advantage of religious diversity, every god support us

How??? | 13 years ago | Reply @Raj: INSHA ALLAH means "God Willing"...so it is not dictating...it is just stating the reality that we can only win if Allah wills.......... So I am not in paradox.........you are..... due to lack of Arabic knowledge......... and mind you now that Pakistan has lost...I WILL not abuse God......but you seem to be in habit......

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply A slap in the face of the poor people of Punjab. Why are Chief Justices quiet about this cheap stunt by Shahbaz Sharif, which makes mockery of the victims of terrorism, and the affectees of flood. This land should belong to them, not already rich cricketers.

Inseeay | 13 years ago | Reply @Majid My heart goes out to what you said. And it's true...no matter what the results of today's match are, tomorrow, we will all go back to our normal lives and do stuff we normally do. But don't you think that if we get a chance or an avenue to be happy about something and that too with unity, we can atleast start to count our blessings and try to be content with whatever situation we are in? I hope I am not being derogatory.

MAJID ISLAM | 13 years ago | Reply no matter pak wins or loses,i will still have no hopes to get job,my brothers will still stay away from their family abroad ,so they can feed us.i will still fear going out of home after isha prayer because there is no security.i will still not be able to sleep at night because of load shedding.lack of sleep will contribute to depression and anxiety disorders.i will still pay taxes for the peaceful life of my rulers.i will still have to pay double fee of my university ,because democracy gave this gift to students.i will still get depressed when i will see asking my neighbour to me for 1000 rupees because he has to visit his sister,s home and got nothing to give her.i will still l live in inferiority complex because of being a middle class boy.winning a match will never change my life.its all about ego ,because its match with india.

shams Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Khadim E Ala dole out this charity from your own pocket, nation never voted to you for this. Like true businessman you have proven every thing can be brought with money like lotas

sunil vohra | 13 years ago | Reply He knows that Pak will lose so he would not have to fulfill his promise!!!

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply Allah should listen to the prayers of Indian Muslims as well. If Indian Muslims are praying for Pakistan's win then Allah should punish them for treason.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply @Well Well Well......your post is full of paradoxes, on one hand you are advising me not to abuse GOD, on the other hand you are saying "Finally INSHALLAH Pakistan will win….if we play to our potential ..India will lose……!!!!!" Please do not dictate GOD to fix it in Pakistan's favor. No Pakistani politician is as good and sincere as late VP Singh. One thing is sure GOD has kept Pakistan within her auqat in the international arena. GOD is truly supreme, cricket is just a game.

Sameer | 13 years ago | Reply @Optimist, even Prophet PBUH and his people lost a war. So what do you expect from Pakistani praying?

Modasar | 13 years ago | Reply Trust me despite all prayers of these people, Our team will lose as they did in T20 Semi-Finial against Aussies in 2009. This time i hope im wrong and Pakistan wins.

Waqar | 13 years ago | Reply 25 acres x 14 players? 350 acres to build shelters would accomodate a significant number of Pakistans' homeless flood victims. They are more deserving SIR !!!

Saifullah | 13 years ago | Reply It is a good offer made PM ... We really need to motivate our boys for this. Inshallah Pakistan will win.

Ali Hasan | 13 years ago | Reply So in a country ravaged by floods, where every inch of land needs proper cultivation to provide food for the needy, we'll be providing 275 acres (11 x 25 acres) of the remaining cultivable land ("fertile land") to these rich folks who already make a fortune through various means. So these players get to sit on this land and become feudals? Because I know that Shahid Afridi isn't about to turn into a farmer anytime soon. Or would they sit on these pieces of land and sell them to some developers? Or maybe use a whip to have a poor farmer break his back trying to produce some wheat that'll be hoarded by the Shariff family using the cricketers. But then I won't blame Shahbaz Sharif for this anyway, for a feudal will always think like a feudal. As for the rest of us, being cricket fans should never surpass the human inside us. Khadim-e-Punjab, Sharif Sahab, may God give you some sanity, and a little bit of morality to look beyond your shameless little bubble in Raiwand. It's a game that won't last more than 9 hours.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply A slap on the face of poor people of Punjab. Why are Chief Justices quiet about this cheap stunt by Shahbaz Sharif, which makes mockery of the victims of terrorism, and the flood affectees.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply Well... this proves the mindset of someone who considers himself mughal shehanshah... These are professional cricketers, paid handsomely for their contributions. Shahbaz Sharif has no authority to give State owned land or money to anyone at his whims. May I ask how much land he has given to poor peasants, and affectees of terrorism and flood.

Optimist | 13 years ago | Reply What is this Stupidity about prayers. Did they not pray before the 4 world cup matches Pakistan lost to India OR other matches Pakistan lost to any other team before this? Allah Almighty (SWT) also favours India and right now India is beating Pakistan in all fronts whether economic, democracy, sports or any other front. Point being, just prayers are not good enough, good action is required as well!

TightDhoti | 13 years ago | Reply What about giving some support and money to victims of terrorism who happen to victims of drone attacks or civilians or policeman, or is monetary rewards only available to soldiers?

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply Shahbaz Sharif sahib!!! Is the 25 acres of fertile land from the spacious Raiwind Estate??? Salams for 2011.

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply @Nadeem Ahmed: Yessir!!! You have scored a BULLS-EYE. Those soldiers have given their lives so that we may live. It makes me think that tomorrow when the sun rises it will be without its morning glory in some homes. May ALLMIGHTY ALLAH give those Shaheed the choicest place in Jannat Ul Firdous. Ameen. Salams for 2011.

Abdul Mannan Lodhi | 13 years ago | Reply Shahbaz Sharreef is a good administrater but our leaders should be more careful when awarding prizes out of the national money.He has awarded previously also to people money out of proportion.Similarly ROTI scheme has also harmed the national economy.We should be looking after the long term interests of the people instead of short term benefits for ourselves.We all pray for the victory of our team but game is after all a game and one of the teams has to lose.If Pakistan wins we have reasons to rejoice.But winning cricket match is not all that is desireable.We need to compete the other nations in other spheres as well which will have lasting effect on the pretige and honour of our beloving country.We should try to have better governance than the other nations.Our economy better and value of our rupee better than others.Our leaders should be more honest and less corrupt than others.Our country must be more developed and advanced.Our country more peaceful and having better human rights conditions where all the citizens have equal rights and means to earn their livelyhoods.And where we can preseve our freedom and sovereignty. A country whose citizens are not killed by drone attacks on them.If we can achieve these objectives we shall have a better Pakistan even if we lose the cricket match.

Blithe | 13 years ago | Reply Shahbaz, you make Pakistan sound like a bananna republic!

Akhtar | 13 years ago | Reply Thank you Mr Shahbaz Sharif. . Kepp up the good work!

Well Well Well..!!!!! | 13 years ago | Reply @Raj: you say that "If GOD is democratic INDIA will win due to five times more prayers." Do not try to abuse GOD by saying such things....!!!! You are not the one to decide and dictate GOD and not the one to term GOD this thing or that.....GOD is supreme and he is not dependant upon numbers game or democracy.... Your comment clearly shows the biggest flaw of democracy...i.e. in democracy even an undeserving person can win just because sheer numbers....Just like VP Singh was never a great intellectual/politician and brought more controversies but even then he became PM...because he had numbers to support him.............!!!! Moral: Democracy supports Idols...who may or may not be worthy of making it big....!!!!! Finally INSHALLAH Pakistan will win....if we play to our potential ..India will lose......!!!!!

Why??????? | 13 years ago | Reply Honorable CM might have been better off to actually announce distribution of these 25 x 14 = 350 acres of fertile land amongst the landless peasants of Punjab...So that they could contribute to Pakistan by their own efforts on their own land....!!!! What CM saheb has done is more of a publicity stunt than praise......in anticipation of impending elections.... If two weekly off days are bad for poor nation like Pakistan (as claimed by the same CM) then how wasting of such fertile lands in the hands of Cricketers can be justified...????? Will the Cricketers start sowing crops and leave Cricket after becoming champions??? If not then the lands will be wasted due to less interest and effort..... Why not just announce cash prize and that is it......?????????

ArifQ | 13 years ago | Reply These politicians never learn, one would have thought they have learnt their lesson not to treat Pakistan as their personal fiefdom, but lo and behold CM Punjab confirms the stereotype image of drunk with power. CM Punjab, are you dishing out this land from your personal property in Raiwind, if yes then please go ahead, if not then you are corrupting the system. These players should be proud to play for their country and that too for such a big occasion, any monetary benefits should be secondary, then again this may be an alien concept for people like Shahbaz Sharif.

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply If GOD is democratic INDIA will win due to five times more prayers.

Jeddy | 13 years ago | Reply Just because I never qualified for the team - means I cannot get my 25 acres of land. Whose land is it - that the Chief Minister is giving away?

Ajay | 13 years ago | Reply @Nadeem Ahmed: Shows how bankrupt they are in their minds

No BS | 13 years ago | Reply Is this from CM Sharifs own pocket? Or is this money going from my hard earned tax money?

Images | 13 years ago | Reply Yes u made it

abc | 13 years ago | Reply Wow..Give them 25 acres of land to produce tax free income.. For what? To do their jobs. What about the people who do their jobs every single day? Idiotic moves, first Rehman Malik now this.

loyal to Pakistan | 13 years ago | Reply Does this land which Shabaz is giving away belongs to him or the people of Pakistan?I bet ya he cant give single paisa out of his pocket.Whadda shahenshah

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Nadeem Ahmed: True, time your people get their priorities right!!!

Tribal | 13 years ago | Reply even the soldiers are fighting because its their duty and they're getting payed. Heroes are the people dying on street for no reason.

Saad Siddiqui | 13 years ago | Reply Thats not fair ! I love my team , but tell this dear "khadim -e- punjab" to give these gifts to needy and poor they are in much need of it

Nadeem Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply These cricketers are already making enough. Our real Heroes are those brave sodiers and officers, who are sacrificing their lives for our beloved country. Yesterday, more than dozen officers and jawans laid their life, but nobody has praised their sacrfice. Shame on our leaders, media and people. They have turned this country into gamblers, terrorists and criminals hideout. Squares of land for players and whole one week off from work, only a nation led by beggars can afford it.

Rohail | 13 years ago | Reply Not me.

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