Author Archive
Then they came for Barelvis – by Imran Qadir Bhatt: Picture source: Daily Times Let us be honest with one another. We are a nation who has been taught distorted histories. We have been inculcated with absurd notions of religious pride. For us the source of honour and pride
Haunting acquittals – by Babar Sattar: The Lal Masjid brigade brought life to a standstill in Islamabad. Its vigilante missions caused harm and nuisance. But that paled into insignificance when over a hundred lives were lost in the security operation executed to regain control of
Hijacking a faith: How an extremist Deobandi ideology rules the Barelvi majority? – by Fawad Manzoor: Picture source: BBC Urdu First Deoband Madrassa was established in 1866 in India. If we look at the history, Deoband is fairly new sect of Islam. Deoband sect slowly worked to make it stronger and they were very active
Rana and Mian, the extremist Deobandis of Punjab – by Muhammad Amjad Rashid: The sad incident of terror attacks on Data Darbar has brought out the true faces of the people claiming to be defenders of the democratic system, such as Shahbaz Sharif and especially Rana Sanaullah. Apparently, Shahbaz Sharif and Rana
Update 3 July 2010: Two more Shias killed by extremist Deobandis of Sipah-e-Sahaba in Karachi and Quetta: The ongoing series of target killing of Shia citizens by extremist Deobandi (wrongly labelled as Wahhabi) terrorists of the Sipah-e-Sahaba / Taliban continues unabated. In the latest episode of this series, two Shia men were target killed in Karachi
Ziaists are terrorizing the democratic space – by Junaid Qaiser: Due to General Zia Ul Haq’s long dictatorship — it was undoubtedly, the darkest period in the history of Pakistan’s polity — Pakistan has become the land of turbulence and crisis. Today, we are facing insurmountable problems like terrorism,
Will the Barelvi majority in Pakistan stand against terrorism? – by Tanveer Qaiser Shahid: Barelvi Muslims constitute the majority of population in Pakistan. According to an estimate, Sunni Muslims in Pakistan are divided into 60% Barelvis, 30% Deobandis and 10% Ahle Hadith. It is a fact that, in Pakistan, Taliban and Sipah-e-Sahaba are
Sipah-e-Sahaba’s attack on Lahore’s Data Darbar, at least 37 killed, 175 injured: گنج بخش فیضِ عالم مظہر نورِ خُدا ناقصاں راپیرِ کامل، کاملاں را رہنما Extremist Deobandis of the Sipah-e-Sahaba have once again attacked the Data Di Nagri (Data’s city), Lahore. This time their target was the sacred shrine of Hazrat
Jamshed Dasti, the rapists’ protector: Is this Benazir Bhutto’s PPP? – by Abdul Nishapuri: I have previously expressed concern about the bad old ways of the Pakistan People’s Party, which were particularly evident in the manner in which party tickets for various seats of national and provincial assemblies were allocated to candidates who
An open letter to Asif Ali Zardari – by Javed I. Sheikh: I would like to share this letter posted almost one year before at another forum. Mr. President, Sir, 1. As one of the most senior founder members of the Pakistan People Party and Ex-General Secretary of the PPP District
The un-sharif Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court – by Fawad Manzoor: Cat is out of bag. It has always been said that Khwaja Sharif (Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court) is the “bookie” from Raiwind. He himself admitted in his books that he (and his sons) took money from
On Ahmadi massacre in Lahore – by Ayesha N. Rashid: My article about Lahore incident was originally published in Pak Tea House, which I am reproducing below for the interest of the LUBP readers. Regards, Ayesha Armed with grenades, machine guns and suicide vests, Pakistani terrorists killed 86 Ahmadi
The politics of Shaheen Sehbai and the tomato juice bath – by Fawad Manzoor: Skunk is a small animal found in the wild. It looks beautiful from distance. It has beautiful white stripe going through middle of his body all the way through its tail. One of the defense this animal has against
Is the Pakistan Army a security risk for Pakistan? A historical perspective: Here is thought provoking excerpt from a recent article written by Nazir Naji (in daily Jang, 28 June 2010). In the main, it is not politicians such as Feroz Khan Noon, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto,
The fake degrees issue (part ii) – by Fawad Manzoor: This country has over 70% population which is illiterate (almost 120 million out of 170 million). Then the ones who are literate are all not graduates. I don’t have figures but I would assume there aren’t more than 20
Maulana Muhammad Ishaq – an eminent Ahle Hadith scholar: Related article: Religious tolerance in Islam: an excellent lecture by Maulana Muhammad Ishaq Link to Maulana’s book on unity: Wahdat-e-Ummat – Maulana Ishaq- part 1 Wahdat-e-Ummat – Maulana Ishaq part 2 In these times when sectarian and faith based
An Ahmadi mother’s story – by Zaheeruddin Babar: ’دعائیں سن کر دل کو ڈھارس ہو رہی ہے‘ ظہیرالدین بابر بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، اسلام آباد انیسہ منور کی آنکھوں میں آنسو نہیں تھے لیکن کانپتے ہوئے ہاتھ اور لرزتی ہوئی آواز ان کے غم کو
Provincialism in Quaid’s Pakistan? – by Tasbih Fayaz: Unfortunately, our country has gone through loads of rampant corruption, nepotism and maladministration. Such curses always lead to complete breakdown of law and order in the state. Pakistan is undoubtedly the second largest Muslim nation in the world, yet,
The nexus between state and religion and the embrace of insanity – by Sherry Rehman: The nexus between state identity and religion is always a dangerous link. When citizens are massacred and abused on the status of their religious identity, then the slide into bestiality is no longer a heartbeat away. It is firmly
Four Shia men killed by the Sipah-e-Sahaba laid to rest in Karachi: Photo source: Shaheed Foundation Four Shia men laid to rest: Riots erupt during funeral processions By Atif Raza Source: Daily Times KARACHI: Riots were reported in various areas of the city on Sunday during the funeral processions of four
Salam: A documentary film by Dr Babar Awan to clarify misconceptions about Islam and Quran: In April 2008, Senator Dr Babar Awan announced his intention to make an international documentary on the Holy Quran in response to a controversial film released by a Dutch parliamentarian. Senator Dr Babar Awan said the documentary was being
Differentiating between journalism and ‘churnalism’ – by Azeem Daultana: First published on Pak Tea House Apropos “Information Minister vs journalists” by Usman Manzoor published in The News International of May 27, 2010, the reporter has desperately tried to use the space of this newspaper to establish the now
Is Osama in Pakistan? – by Fawad Manzoor: CIA Director Leon Panetta: Source AP/Dawn If it is assumed by CIA director that Osama is in Pakistan then why dont they convey it to Pakistani agencies to capture him. Even if they dont convey us to capture him
The fake degrees issue – by Fawad Manzoor: Choudhry Nisar aka PML-N leader in the national assembly aka Raiwind brother aka industrialist seems to be getting his wish. Judiciary is the new tool for establishment and army to destabilize young democracy in Pakistan. For last sixty years
The mysterious connection between Malik Riaz of Bahria Town and jihadi terrorists: A call from Hunza – by Abdul Nishapuri: Related articles: The car race tragedy in Malik Riaz Hussain’s Bahria Empire Shame on PPP govt for rewarding Lal Masjid terrorists: Jamia Hafsa allotted 40 times larger land than the original site Many of our critical readers know that
Lest we forget: update on Attabad lake disaster: Photo Source: GB Times Lake inundates more areas Source ISLAMABAD, Jun 26 (APP)- The water outflow from Attabad lake in Hunza has reached to 15300 cusecs as more areas in upper Hunza Gojal submerged with rising level of the
The captain is however a principled man – by Kashif Naseer: Source: Kashif Naseer ka blog کپتان مگراصول پسند بہت ہیں لاہور کے سیاسی منظرنامہ پر ضمنی انتخابات کا شوربہت سی نئی تلخیوں کے ساتھ تھم چکا ہے۔ واقعات بتا رہے ہیں کہ لیاقت بلوچ جو چاہتے تھے وہی ہوا
Bulleh Shah (actually Sultan Bahu) in Germany – by Riaz Ahmed Syed: بلھے شاہ جرمنی میں ….سفارت نامہ…ریاض احمد سید محترمہ کی خواہش کے احترام میں نام نہیں لکھ رہا ،تاہم راقم انہیں پچھلی چار دہائیوں سے جانتا ہے۔ اندرون شہر صدیوں سے آباد خالص لاہوری خاندان کی یہ چشم و
Now Pakhtuns’ targeted killings in Balochistan – by Jan Assakzai: Source: Pakistan Press google group First published in: The Frontier Post, 20 June 2010 As it were not enough for the problems of Balochistan, Pakhtuns’ targeted killings have started in Baloch-dominated areas of the province. This menace has the
Summer in Lahore – by Abdul Nishapuri: The mercury level is on the rise in Lahore (45-50 Celsius at the extreme); the ongoing loadshedding has further increased miseries of the heat-stricken Lahorites who spend up to eight hours a day without electricity. To beat the sizzling
PML-N = PML Na-ehl (disqualified) – by Abdul Nishapuri: Question 1: Which political party claims to be a torch bearer of principled politics and the rule of law in Pakistan? Answer: PML-N Question 2: Which political party has the highest number of members of national and provincial assemblies
Are you ashamed of being secular? – by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla: LUBP Exclusive on BB’s birthday Social media is playing a vital role as a medium of communication which promotes critical thinking, sharing of new ideas and tolerance for dissenting opinions. Critical thinking includes identification of prejudice, propaganda, deception, distortion
Happy birthday Benazir Bhutto – By Wajid Shamsul Hasan: Benazir Bhutto’s daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari sets flowers on her mother’s grave in Larkana. Photo: APP. Photo Source: Express Tribune A tribute to Benazir Bhutto By Wajid Shamsul Hasan It was the longest day of the year and happiest
Sciences ends in the world of Islam – by Nadeem Paracha: Science ends here Source: Dawn, 20 June 2010 I am itching to get my hands on a recently published book, God Created the Universe by Fatehulla Khan. After reading the review of the book, I can safely assume it
Two Shia brothers killed by the Sipah-e-Sahaba terrorists in Quetta; Pakistani media continues to ignore the Shia genocide – SFP News: Picture source: Samaa TV June 20, 2010 In a yet another incident of target killings of Shia in Pakistan, two brothers were killed and their cousin critically injured in a terrorist attack in Quetta. Hassan and Hasnain (aged between
On opinion survey and President Zardari’s popularity – by Abbas Ather: Here is a critical article by veteran columnist Abbas Ather on the reality of opinion surveys in Pakistan. Source: Express, 20 June 2010
Why is Athar Minallah causing panic to The News? Why now? – by Fawad Manzoor: This is with reference to Ahmad Noorani’s rejoinder titled “Why is Athar Minallah so panicky?” which was published in The News on 19 June 2010. About face by Ahmed Noorani on Mr Athar Minhallah is so panicky. Even though
Rigi’s execution in Iran: Why can’t Pakistan do this to Malik Ishaq and other terrorists?: Abdolmalek Rigi, head of Jundullah, a sectarian terrorist group (Iranian version of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan) was today executed in Iran for his involvement in terrorist acts against the state and people of Iran. He was hanged at dawn at
In search of good Taliban – by Akhtar Abbas: I admit I am a bit naïve, when it comes to current affairs. I mean I do get the big picture here and there, but some things just keep confusing me again and again. Wait, I guess I have