NEW - Vedic/Hindu Calendar for 2013

NEW - Vedic/Hindu Calendar for 2013
Shri Ramapir Mandir/Temple in Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Picture of Tamil Hindus in Karachi, Pakistan (NEED Help)

By Sanjesh Sunny (Karachi City, Pakistan)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Pakistan : Poorest hit hardest by floods

By Gopinath Kumar (Executive Editor)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
PAKISTAN (ACN News) : Local authorities in Pakistan decided against providing adequate flood protection to regions with high numbers of minority groups, according to a key Church figure, who says that the "poorest of the poor" are the worst victims of the current crisis.

The Church source, who cannot be named, described a deliberate failure to shore up key sections of the Indus River overlooking areas in the south-east Sindh province with a high density of tribal communities - minority religious groups made up of Christians and Hindus.

Speaking in an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, he said local government figures in Sindh province conspired with prominent land owners to bolster the river bank running through their property and others deemed important at the expense of other regions which were left vulnerable to flood waters.

The Church source, a long-time key figure in the Sindh region, went further to claim that gravel and other minerals were taken from poor areas to shore up the river bank in areas earmarked as a priority for flood protection.

"It was not just incompetence on the part of the authorities to protect the poorest of the poor from potential floods, it was their deliberate intention that they should suffer if floods were to take place," he said. 

He spoke of his shock travelling around the region to find the river "unbelievably full" and yet big canals nearby were "relatively empty" leading him to suspect that the flood waters were diverted to areas of low importance.

"Charities and other organisations have to step up their efforts to help the disadvantaged people because they are the ones who have suffered most from these floods.

They have been ignored for far too long," the source said.

He said a high concentration of minority groups was the one common denominator in many of the regions worst affected by the floods including areas around Jacobabad, Sibi, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Thatta and Ranipur.

In a country 95 per cent Muslim, the Sindh province has a disproportionately high number of minority groups with tribal communities, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs able to practise their faith more freely than elsewhere.

Pakistan : Italy to press UN for religious minority protection

By Mohammad S.Solanki
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Rome, (AKI) - Italy will present a resolution to the United Nations that protects the rights of Pakistan's religious minorities, Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said in Rome on Monday. He made the announcement following a meeting with Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's minister of minority rights, who is a Catholic.

"The subject of religious minorities is extremely important," he said. "We can't forget that in Pakistan over the last few months there have been murders of Christians that have shocked Europeans, including in Italians."

Two people, including a policeman, were injured late Sunday during a bomb blast at a Christian church near Mardan in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkh, Dawn News reported.

Sectarian assaults have especially targeted Pakistan's minority Shia Muslims. Earlier this month more than 70 people were killed during a suicide bombing in the western city of Quetta at a Shia rally.

Of the 95 percent of Pakistanis that are Muslim, 75 percent are Sunni and 20 percent Shia.

Frattini also said he will travel to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad next month to discuss millions of euros in aid Italy has pledged to give the south Asian country following deadly flooding.

Frattini on 9 Sept. announced that Italy will grant flood- devestated Pakistan 80 million euros in relief.

Of the aid, 20 million euros of funds will come in the form debt relief, 10 million euros as direct emergency relief and 50 million euros in credits.

Pakistan is struggling to juggle the need to manage emergency rescue efforts and fight a deadly Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency.

Around 1,800 people in Pakistan have died in recent flooding which has reportedly affected 21 million people.

The country's government has been the target of criticism for alleged corruption that has hampered relief efforts.

'Hindus most discriminated in Pak, Bangladesh'

By Purushottam Singh (PHP New York)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
(PHOTO : Congressman Edward Royce)
USA : An American Congressman has slammed the alleged ethnic cleansing of Hindus in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan and said that Hindus have been discriminated much more than any other ethnic group in these countries.

Speaking at the Capitol Hill reception hosted by the Hindu American Foundation, California Republican Ed Royce said he had nothing but "feelings of humility and empathy for a people who have been subjected to -- despite the tolerance of their own religion and despite the way in which Hindus have treated and accepted others -- more discrimination than just about any other ethnic group."

The influential lawmaker, who was presented with HAF's Friend of the Community Award for his campaign against discrimination and human rights violations of Hindus in Bangladesh, said that "as someone who has been to Bangladesh, Pakistan, to Central Asia, to South Asia and talked with many of the victims," he deplored the kind of human rights abuse they had undergone in these countries.

"There are two million Hindu Americans here in the United States, and many of them have shared their own stories with their neighbours and us in the United States," he said, and noted, "So we have some inkling of what they went through."

Royce said one could just fathom the level of ethnic cleansing that had taken place in Pakistan when one considers "the fact that Pakistan was once 25 per cent Hindu."

"To think about the loss of life that has occurred and to think about the ethnic cleansing that still goes on," he said was a tragedy of enormous proportions, and added, "To think about the use of intimidation against Hindu women used and still used in those societies where there is a small minority yet of Hindus in Pakistan."

Royce said the same kind of blatant human rights against Hindus were occurring in Bangladesh and Bhutan and spoke of his familiarity "of what the Bangladeshi Hindu population has been through."

"It cries out for the international community to step in," he said. "I can share with you that I've made many trips to India [ Images ], but I've also in these trips gone to Bangladesh and Pakistan and raised these human rights issues with those governments because it is unacceptable -- it's absolutely unacceptable -- the inhumane, intolerant way in which Hindus are treated when they are a minority in these countries in South Asia."

Royce lauded the HAF to "trying to galvanise here in the United States, not only the rights of Hindus here in the United States, but also equally importantly, the safety, the security of Hindus throughout South Asia in the face of the kind of intolerance that we see being advanced through Islamist extremism."

"And, my fervent hope is that we can learn from the lesson of what has befallen other victims and begin to take the action necessary to cut off the support for the Deobandi schools, for the madrassas, which are turning out the next generation of those who are going to teach hate."

Royce said it was also imperative that "we've all got to pressure the government of Pakistan to put an end to those textbooks which teach the concept that hatred should be visited upon the Hindu minority or spread the message that only one religion should be practiced in that country."

"And, it's also my hope going forward that we can further our humanitarian efforts to assist those victims of the type of ethnic cleansing that is going on today," he said.

Punjab govt goes after Hindu mythology cartoons, Pakistan

By Mohammad S.Solanki (PHP Managing Editor)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
(Photo : “Amar Chitra Katha” was a Hindu mythology series that aired on a foreign television channel. PHOTO: PUBLICITY)
LAHORE: The Punjab government has formed a committee which will present a report on the airing of cartoons depicting Hindu mythology and if they can be banned in Pakistan.

The committee is headed by Punjab government spokesman Senator Pervaiz Rasheed and comprises Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Cultural Wing President and MPA, Farah Deeba, MPA Khawaja Imran Nazir and other officials.

Even though Indian TV channels are currently off-air in Pakistan, several cable operators are broadcasting Indian content to meet the demands of their clientele.

A meeting of the committee was held in Lahore, which discussed ways to get these cartoons banned in Pakistan.

Deeba, who attended the meeting, told The Express Tribune that participants had discussed “cartoons which glorified mythology characters such as Hanuman had a bad impact on the minds of the young children.
She said that “these cartoons were in contradiction with the teachings of Islam and young kids could not differentiate between what’s true and what’s not so these should be banned.”

Deeba said that the meeting was attended by bureaucrats and the information, culture and youth affairs department secretary was also present.

However, banning Indian cartoons is not in the Punjab government’s control. According to Deeba, “We have taken our notes but cannot ban these cartoons on our own as this is a federal subject. We will however approach the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority through the federal government to seek a ban on such cartoons,” she said.

According to the 1998 census, 1.6 per cent of Pakistan’s population is Hindu.

Eminent artist and former principal of Lahore’s National College of Arts Salima Hashmi questioned the decision to form a committee for this purpose.

“Why doesn’t the government make a committee to know the root cause of militancy and why doesn’t it set up committees to find reasons of young children becoming suicide attackers?” she questioned.

Hashmi said that in India the number of Muslims was greater than the number of Muslims in Pakistan, so if Muslim children in India were not affected by mythology cartoons, why would children in Pakistan be affected? Hashmi told The Express Tribune, “Isn’t there anything constructive that they can work on? Why waste time on setting up such committees and inquiring into such matters which are not pertinent in the current situation?”

Daily Inspiration from Pakistan Hindu Post (PHP)

By Dr.Radhe Shyam Kumar (PHP Islamabad)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
(Photo : Sarada Devi worshipping at her Udbodhan residence in Calcutta, India)
Many think of God only after receiving blows from the world. But
blessed indeed is he who can offer his mind, like a fresh flower, at
the feet of the Lord from his very childhood. One should practice
renunciation in youth.
  Sri Sarada Devi (1853-1920)

India To Renovate 11th-Century Shiva Temple In Laos

Source: news.oneindia.in
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
 (PHOTO : Wat Phou temple complex in southern Laos)
VIENTIANE, LAOS : India has agreed to renovate the Vat Phou or Wat Phou temple complex in southern Laos as part of deepening cultural and historical ties which have existed between the two countries for more than 2000 years.

Wat Phou is a ruined Khmer temple complex in southern Laos. It is located at the base of Mount Phu Kao near the Mekong river in Champasak province. There was a temple on the site as early as the sixth century. The summit of Phu Kao is a Linga, a symbol of Shiva, thus giving it the more popular name, Lingaparvat.

“It is an ongoing restoration project which started in 2009. The work restarts again after the end of rainy season in Lao. It will take seven years for completion of the project. It will also help us to understand common cultural heritage of Lao,” said Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Vijaya Latha Reddy.

Nepal Detaining Tibetan Refugees, Handing Them Over To China

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
(PHOTO : -Tibetan Refugee Women in Thubten Choling near Junbesi, Nepal- photo image ©Arie van der Velden 2002)
NEW DELHI, INDIA : In yet another sign of increasing Chinese influence, Nepal is detaining refugees from Tibet and handing them back to Chinese authorities.

Tibetan agencies in Kathmandu have brought the matter to the notice of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu but highly placed government sources said New Delhi is not inclined to take up the matter officially with Nepal.

“The Indian embassy as well as some other embassies in Kathmandu are aware of the matter. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is trying to help us. We faced a similar situation in 2003 but it was sorted out. However, it started all over again in June this year,” Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office secretary in Kathmandu Trinlay Gyatso said.

Ayodhya Verdict Due Soon, RSS Weighs Options, India

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
 (PHOTO : Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat in 2009)
NEW DELHI, INDIA : Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has said his organisation’s response to the Allahabad high court verdict on the Ayodhya title suit would be strictly “democratic.” The Sangh was ready to explore legal options like an appeal in the Supreme Court, if needed, he said.

“Our response will be after the verdict comes. Of course, the aspirations of the Hindu society is that there should be a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi. Our response to the verdict will be according to those wishes. We will try to ensure that a Ram temple is constructed there,” RSS chief Mohan Rao Baghwat said.

Mr Bhagwat, who was interacting with journalists at the Indian Women’s Press Corps, indicated that if the verdict was not favorable, the Sangh could explore the option of appeal in the Supreme Court. “Further legal options will also be available. This is only a high court verdict. There is also the Supreme Court,” the RSS Sarsanghachalak said.

250,000 Sindhi Hindus Forced To Migrate By Floods, Pakistan

Source: Daily Times - Amar Guriro
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
(PHOTO : Sindh_flood during 2010 )
KARACHI : 250,000 Hindus of Sindh, who left their native villages and towns and shifted to relief camps after the flood, could not celebrate the religious festival of Janmashtami (the birth of Lord Krishna). The celebrations comprising special foods, prayers, visits to temples, religious rituals, recitation of bhajans and fasting, which are supposed to be an essential part of the festival, are impossible to arrange at the relief camps.

Pakistan Hindu Foundation (PHF), a representative body of Pakistani Hindus, has estimated that floods have severely affected 250,000 Hindus living near the Indus River and forced them to leave their native places.

The last national census stated that with a population of 3 million, Hindus are the biggest religious minority in the country while a majority of them are peasants, living in different districts of the Mirpurkhas division. “Around 0.6 million Hindus live in the northern districts of Sindh while 250,000 were displaced from Kashmor, Jacobabad and Shikarpur, and have been shifted to camps,” said PHF president DM Maharaj.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Pictures of Baba Sada Rama Festival in Punjab, Pakistan

By Krishna Jaipal (PHP Lahore)
Sunday, September 12, 2010

Dear Gopinathji,
           Hope you will be fine there, Please see an file of Hindu Religious Festival of Baba Sada Ram in Rahim Yar Khan on night of 11-September 2010.
There We are Distribute 200 CDs 1000  prayer Paper and 500 Pictures.
With Regards
Rameshji
(Pakistan)

13-year-old Hindu Dalit girl abducted, forcibly converted to Islam by Pakistani mullahs

By Mohammad S.Solanki (Islamabad City)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Karachi : An incident involving forced religious conversion of a 13-year-old Hindu girl belonging to a Dalit community has surfaced in Lyari Town of Pakistan.
The girl- Poonam- was kidnapped from the neighbourhood in Lyari Town on Wednesday, and the neighbours informed her family of her presence at a Madrassa in the town, the Daily Times quoted the girl's uncle, Bhanwroo, as saying.

He said that when the family went to the Madrassa, they found out that "she was very scared and under the influence of maulvis. She told us they will not let her go, so she will stay with them as a Muslim."

The family tried to lodge an FIR of kidnapping at Chakiwara Police Station, but the policemen refused to register the case.

Commenting on the issue, SP Lyari, Khadim Hussain Rind, said that lodging an FIR would not make any difference, as it would be cancelled during proceedings of the court.

--ANI

Appeal for Donations by Pakistan Hindu Council

By Gopinath Kumar (Executive Editor)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Dear PHP Reader's
 
Pakistan Hindu Council, a social and non-political organisaction of Pakistani Hindu’s appeals for
 
“THE DONATION AS MAXIMUM AS POSSIBLE TO HELP AND REHABILITATE THE FLOOD AFFECTEES THROUGH PAKISTAN HINDU COUNCIL”
 
CURRENT ACCOUNT NO:-00470101002822-7
M.C.B. BANK LTD.,
KMC BRANCH, MARACHI.
BANK CODE NO:- 033
INTERNATIONAL DONOR’S BANK SWIFT CODE:- MUCBPKKA.
 
All Hindu’s are requested to help our Hindu brother’s suffering from worst flood, ever in the history of Pakistan .
 
For more details please visit  www.pakistanhinducouncil.org

In Pakistan, Muslims And Hindus Pray Together Against Floods

Source: www.abna.ir
Sunday, September 12, 2010
ABNA, PAKISTAN : In times of adversity, religious differences are forgotten. In a rare demonstration of communal harmony, Muslims recited the Quran while the minority Hindus gathered for special prayers and chanted hymns from the Bhagvad Gita, reports said.

The town has been protected by a temporary embankment erected by the locals. According to religious leaders, the calamity has brought people from different faiths closer so that they can face the tragedy.

A Message of Peace on 9/11 from Hindu American Seva

Source: www.hinduamericanseva.org
Sunday, September 12, 2010
 Photo : HASC logo
WASHINGTON, DC : (Press Release) “As Hindus, we believe in what Mahatma Gandhi repeatedly emphasized, the Vedic statement ‘Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah’ meaning non-violence is the foremost duty, to the extent that it supersedes all other duties,” emphasizes Anju Bhargava today, September 11. She is a key member of Hindu American Seva Charities and also a member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Explaining the value of ahimsa, Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati said, “A human being, as any other living organism, has an instinct to survive. Being endowed with free thinking he/she can recognize the same instinct in all living beings; a value is born: ahimsa. Therefore, the Vedas state that not hurting is the primary value. All others, like non-stealing, non-cheating and so on, are derivatives of ahimsa because each one of them would hurt the victim. If people practice, with care, ahimsa, abiding peace and harmony will prevail in the world.”

Increasingly, Hindu Americans and people of all faiths are remembering other things that happened on September 11 and also altered the course of history, but for the best.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement started in South Africa on September 11, 1906, the launch of the modern Non-Violent Resistance Movement, which inspired America’s Civil Rights movement.

It was on September 11, in 1893, that Swami Vivekananda, the first Hindu saintly leader to come to America addressed the first World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, saying:

“Brothers and Sisters of America. It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome, which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.”

This year, 9/11 even more significant. Based on the lunar calendar, it happens to be the Hindu holy festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, when Hindu Americans across the world will observe festival through prayers, as a day of the birth and renewed remembrance of Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. For the Hindus, it is a day to take fresh spiritual resolve and pray for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all undertakings. This observance and prayer for the removal of obstacles is especially relevant now as the country faces difficult challenges ahead.

Hindu places of worship and spiritual centers will also invoke these values through prayers and service, such as YogaSeva as a way of healing. And, in honor of the 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Service, Hindus will organize service projects to strengthen their communities and build stronger bonds, and offer prayers for peace. HASC is continuing to partner with Corporation for National and Community Service to organize the Hindu American Call to Service (seva), bringing together members of the dharmic religions (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain) and collaborating with all faiths.

Daily Inspiration from Pakistan Hindu Post (PHP)

By Dr. Radhe Shyam Kumar (PHP Managing Editor)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Great Ganesha who is the gateway for seekers into the world’s most ancient faith. He is the inner authority, the guardian, the one who grants access to the spiritual mysteries of the Sanatana Dharma. All Hindus worship Him, regardless of their sectarian or philosophical positions. He truly binds them together in His love. This great God is both the beginning of the Hindu religion and the meeting ground for all its devotees. And that is only proper, inasmuch as Ganesha is the personification of the material universe. The universe in all of its varied and various magnificent manifestations is nothing but the body of this cheerfully portly God.
   Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)

Friday, September 10, 2010

10-Sep-2010 Satsang at Rahim Yar Khan organized by HRF-PHP-HAF

By Krishna Jaipal (PHP Lahore)
Friday, September 10, 2010

Dear Gopinathji,

           Hope you will be doing fine, today 10th September 2010, We are conduct a Satsang at sub district of Rahim Yar Khan (Khanpur) there are try to many people are join this satsang but we are able to 160 peoples participation. There we are distribute 50 CDs and 200 Prayers Paper and 100 Krishna Picture and 30 Books of Hinduism. Today We are start  a new campaign in Rahim Yar Khan that Change the name from Muslim and Christian name like Bashir, Jamil, jamis,Nasir,Akber,Shahbeer to convert into Hindu name from Bashir  to Basar lal, Jamil to Jamal ji,Nasir to Nersing Ram, Shahbeer to Shobraj and some other names.

          Tomorrow  on 11th Evening  we are going with Print Material,Books and Cds to Baba Sada Ram Religious festival there number of participation is more than 500 people. and we will be distribute the material , books and Cds under the banner of Pakistan Hindu Post and Hindu American Foundation.

          Many Of Hindu Man and Women also are well wishing, and prayer for us for this very good work of knowledge about or Religion Snatan Dharam, and many many Thanks to us(PHP,HAF,HRF). Hare Rama Foundation Pakistan are very Thankful to you. please see an attach files about satsang.

With Regards,
Ramesh Jaipal

Raw Material distribution to 50 Hindu Flood Affected Families By HRF,PHP and HAF in Pakistan

By Gopinath Kumar (Excutive Editor)
Friday, September 10, 2010

Dear Gopinathji
           Hope you will be fine there, Please see an attach file of Flood relief material distribution in Rahim Yar Khan (sub District Sadiq abad) in Hindu Families. we are go there urgent with out plan because we are received many phone calls and we will go there with the raw material for 50 Families for one week. We are very Thankful to HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION and PHP for this kindness.
             In Pakistan more largest Festival organized in 17-18-19 September in Tando Allah Yar  for this religious festival we are again organize some material who is save in our hand and some we will new publish, the money is earning from sale of Cd's We are collect the 7000 Pak Rupees from sale out the Cd's 700 hundred Cd's we sale in 10 rupees. because if we are distribute free than many people are want who thy don't have CD player in his home.after discussion with our friend  we are distribute Cd's in 10 rupees, and 300 with out any fee or contribution, this money(7000) we are publish prayer paper  5000.
 For more detail Please feel free contact with us...
With Regards,
Ramesh Jaipal

Pictures of Sri Krishna Janamastami Celebrated by Karachi Hindu Community, Pakistan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjesh <sanjeshsunny@gmail.com>
Date: 2010/9/9
Subject: Krishna Janamastami Celebrated Karachi Hindu Community
To: "Pakistan Hindu Post (PHP)"

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.

On 2nd of September 2010, at Swami Narain Temple at Karachi people
more than 5000 thousand people come at this temple. People were very
happy to celebrate Krishna Janamastami all the people enjoyed well.
They did pooja at 12am at night all people wearing colorful cloths.
Small children wearing Krishna Dress very beautiful colors dress.

Sanjesh Sunny
Karachi (Pakistan)

Final Report of Shri Krishna Janmashtami in Pakistan

By Mohammad S.Solanki (Islamabad City)
Friday, September 10, 2010

Dear Gopinath Ji
                         Hope you will be fine there, We are Thankful to Pakistan Hindu Post and also you.  The expenses which we did here in the festival have increased from the amount which you sent us. We are sent you a picture of Krishna Janam Ashtmi Please see an attach file .
                                   the  detail of expenditure is as under :

1-    20,000 Prayer Paper of Hinduism 1000 @1400 x 20      =                    28,000
2-    1500 Cds 01@ 40 X 1500                                                  =                    60,000
3-    1000 Book of Hinduism 01 @10 x 1000                           =                    10,000
4-    6000 Picture of Krishna  1000@ 4000 x 6                        =                    24,000
5     250 Kg sweets for Bhandara in 2000 paket 250 @240  =                    60,000
6-    50 kg coconet for peshad                                                    =                       4800
7-    Apple & Banana 50 Kg                                                        =                       3800
8-    sweet Dish for break Fast 2 Big Pots 02 @ 4000            =                       8000
9      Baners Stage, Welcome, Side bener 3 Pice                    =                       4310
10     Transport Carriage for Temple                                          =                       1000
                                                                                                                               203,910
        203,910  @ 84 = 2427$

Total Expenditures                                                                2427$
Received for Krishna Janam Ashtmi                                    1700$
Request for increase                                                             727$

We don’t have digital Camera for pictures if you would like for helping us is camera than Total expenses are round about 1000$, If Bill required than I will send to you after scaning the bills of Ashtmi Expenditures

Note: that We thought that 2000 People will be come there by the flood Situation  but  in Krishna Jannam Ashtmi round about 5,000 People will come there.


after the distribution of printing material and CDs  We have save these Material which was we will distribute The 40 annual Festival of BABA SADA RAMA on 11-Sep 2010 in Rahim Yar Khan .
 500 Cds   
10,000 Prayer Paper
500 Book of Hinduism
2500 Picture of Loard Krishna
                                                                                                With Regards
                                                                                                Ramesh Jaipal