Democracy in Pakistan: the chasm – by Haris Gazdar: Source Economic and political weekly (With thanks to reader Hussain Bux Mallah for providing a link to this article) With the passing of the 18th constitutional amendment in April 2010, democratic Pakistan’s journey for political stability came within leaping
News & Views (Daily “Jang”) :By Khalid Wasti: (بحوالہ روزنامہ ” جنگ”) = وزیر اعظم نے اعلی بیوروکریسی کی ترقی کے لیئے مسودہ تیار کرالیا – (ایک خبر) سپریم کورٹ نے اسے مسترد کرنے کے لیئے بڑا بینچ تشکیل دے دیا – = قوم نفاذ قانون میں
Hating Zardari – by Shakir Hussain: Source: The News Whenever people ask me about the funniest Asif Zardari joke I’ve ever heard, my response is always, “That he is the most successful president in the 63 year history of Pakistan.” I can picture readers cringing,
God, Qazi Anwar and I – by Hakim Hazik: Extraordinary Rendition By: Hakim Hazik Source: Justice Denied We don’t need bread, we need ideology. We don’t need a country, we need a religion. We don’t want our children to go to school, get qualifications and live in prosperity. We
Short March to Despotism – by Asad Sayeed: Asad Sayeed’s timely article highlights the dangerous path being currently coursed by the country’s Judiciary where the mandate of 170 million people is not considered more important than the political vendetta of the establishment. Short March to Despotism For
Ahsan Iqbal says PML-N will not accept SC judgment: Claims invisible force trying to pit parliament against judiciary; an eye-opening interview with PML-N spokesman By Ahmad Noorani ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has officially stated that the judiciary can lose its respect and its role will become
well done, Ahsan Iqbal and PML-N: PML-N has decided to stand by the parliament rather than supporting the undemocratic judiciary that has already formed a five-member bench to review the 18th amendment petitions. The only way that democracy can survive in Pakistan is for the
What basic structure doctrine – by Feisal Naqvi: Source Monsoon Frog (and also Dawn) The 18th Amendment is less than a few days old and already it is under attack. Several petitions have been filed challenging the new provisions regarding the appointment of judges and more are
President Zardari’s Constitutional Reforms – by Anas Muhammad: Monday April 19, 2010 – President Zardari made history by signing the landmark constitutional reforms amendment bill into law. Zardari – after taking office 18 months ago – pledged to reform the constitution. He promised that all the anomalies that were
Are the institutions ready to clash? – by Shafqat Mahmood: Reality check Friday, April 23, 2010 The lines are being drawn on the 18th Amendment for the mother of all legal and political battles. Arrayed on one side is the entire political class, reflecting a rare and historic consensus
The Islamofascist mafia in action—again! – by Omar Khattab: Picture: Benazir Bhutto gazes towards a crowd of thousands of supporters at a campaign rally minutes before she was assassinated in a bomb attack December 27, 2007 in Rawalpindi The debate on the 18th Amendment is ISI’s smokescreen to
Text of President’s Speech (Signing of the 18th Amendment Bill): BISMILLAH IR RAHMAN-IR- RAHIM Signing Ceremony of Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment Bill 19.04.2010 Mr. Prime Minister Speaker National Assembly Chairman Senate Members of Parliament Leaders of Political Parties Excellencies Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen Assalam-o-Alaikum My head bows in gratitude
Madly in hatred for Pakistan’s constitution!: Premature warning Dawn Editorial, 18 Apr, 2010 Taken at face value, the comments made by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on Friday simply restate a known legal approach: “Judiciary supervises a regime of the rule of law and not the rule
Unrest among Sindhis on 18th amendment: HYDERABAD: A group of civil society leaders has made quite a critical evaluation of 18th constitutional amendment bill and said that Sindh remained the major loser once again because neither the issue of provincial autonomy nor of natural resources
Pakistani democracy delivers — by Wajid Shamsul Hasan: Why Pakistan needs strong institutions is amply demonstrated in recent events of monumental importance. However, these events did not get enough attention either because of indifference from analysts or their lack of comprehension about these issues. It is a
Strengths and pitfalls of the 18th Amendment – By Asma Jahangir: Our political leadership must make up its mind: either it commits itself to non-discriminatory policies on minorities or confesses to bigotry., writes Asma Jahangir. The much-awaited constitutional reforms may have sailed through the National Assembly and Senate but there
Parliamentary Theocracy – By Yasser Latif Hamdani: Source Daily Times The 18th Amendment reintroduces the requirement for the prime minister of the country to be a Muslim. Pakistan’s slide down the slippery pole of religiosity is quite clear Frederick Douglass — the great 18th century American
Sick and Tired! – by Agha Haider Raza: Over the past week Pakistan has read many different news items. From the passing of the 18th amendment to the bomb blast at the US Consulate, much is happening. Some may say the stories are for the betterment of
Ansar Abbasi Out LBW (Learn Before Writing!): Thanks: Pakistan Media Watch Poor Mr. Ansar Abbasi – he does not know how to quit while he is ahead. After his very poor showing on Friday, Mr. Abbasi has decided to have another go at writing his “news analysis”
Aik Zardari, Sab Per Bhari – by Abdul Qadir Hassan: Here is is a very interesting article by veteran right wing journalist Abdul Qadir Hassan (who is indeed not a proponent of the PPP or Zardari) in appreciation of President Asif Ali Zardari. AQ Hassan acknowledges that Zardari is
Presence of Mehmood Khan Achakzai in the Presidential Address: It was really heartening to see Mehmood Khan Achkzai sitting in VIP gallery of the parliament listening to the Presidential address. Although his party boycotted 2008 general election but his senators were a part of the Constitutional reforms committee.