Author Archive
Badshah Khan: The unsung champion of federalism and democracy – by Nadir Ali Dirojay Pukhtunyar: The Pashtun homeland in the south and east of Afghanistan and the north-west of Pakistan has become synonymous with terrorism and violence. Certain quarters suggest that the Pashtun region and society is intrinsically violence driven. The Pashtuns have a
Amendments for a secular constitution — by Babar Ayaz: Many analysts and rightist politicians scoff at the idea of a secular state. They have failed to understand that mixing of religion with politics has brought us today to the most violent juncture of our history. It gives enough
Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar vs A.K. Antony – by Kamran Shafi: Well done, Mr Antony By Kamran Shafi Tuesday, 02 Feb, 2010 Three lieutenant generals of the Indian army are to be tried by court martial for their part in an alleged land scam. The orders to try them were
Some Balance Please: Thanks: Sohni Dhurti “The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.”
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai: the visionary – by Khurram Ali Shafique: Some people say that he fell in love, left home, became a phenomenon and came back to marry the woman who had been refused to him earlier. There is no way of knowing whether the career of Shah Abdul
We are selling ‘mother earth’ to Arab sheikhs: A strategic blunder Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s revelation that the plan to give arable land on lease is still intact should ring alarm bells. It seems that despite argument to the contrary, the foreign minister is committed
Balochistan’s unattended IDP crisis — by Malik Siraj Akbar: There are obvious reasons for the country’s security establishment to create obstacles for aid workers. The grave violations of human rights during the military operation in Balochistan are likely to be exposed to the international community once they are
3 Shia pilgrims killed by Taliban / Sipah-e-Sahaba’s Quetta Shura: QUETTA, Pakistan — Gunmen in southwestern Pakistan opened fire on pilgrims bound for Iran on Friday, killing three Shiite Muslims and wounding seven others, in what police said was a sectarian attack. Four people riding two motorbikes sprayed bullets
Khalid Anwer and the NRO – by Aamir Mughal: Mr Khalid Anwer is an ’eminent’ lawyer, and according to his legal firm profile: “Khalid Anwer & Co. is a premier law firm having a total strength of eleven lawyers in Karachi and associate firms in Lahore and Islamabad.
On Maria B’s “Wake up Zaidistan” and PTV – by Red Ink: PTV is no shining example of stellar journalism. Its no BBC, heck its no where near even an American network. While legally speaking it is supposed to be a public channel, PTV has often functioned as little more than
Laptop Warriors: Ayaz Amir presents two pressing challenges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan: < strong>While disregarding pawns of ‘the anti-democracy establishment’ (e.g. Dr Shahid Masood and Ansar Abbasi and other members of the Pakistani Taliban Union of Journalists (PTUJ)) as “laptop warriors” and “media samurais — of whom there are not a
Islami Jamiat Talaba thrashes Insaaf Students at the Punjab University: 5 students injured in ‘IJT attack’ at Hailey College * Victims associated with rival student faction * Students protest insecurity at PU, demand action against assailants By Adnan Lodhi LAHORE: At least five Punjab University students were injured in
Judiciary, executive on collision course? – by Cyril Almeida and Saleem Safi: Here are two articles on this topic by Cyril Almeida and Saleem Safi. Legally speaking By Cyril Almeida Lawyers tend to complicate things. Ask them to describe the colour red and soon you’ll be hearing about ‘vermilion’, ‘burnt sienna’
PPP’s commitment and contribution to free press – by Junaid Qaiser: Democracy and free media are co-related; democracy is impossible without a free (unbiased) media, and free media is impossible without democracy. Democracy and free media reinforce each other. Huge credit goes to Pakistan Peoples Party, which is the biggest
Half-truth of the Supreme Court of Pakistan: An interesting conversation: Here are some excerpts from an interesting conversation at pkpolitics where ‘Bawa’, a pro-democracy blogger (with anti-Zardari inclinations), has raised some interesting points about the anti-NRO stance of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. آدھا سچ ہم میں سے ہر
President Zardari’s advisors – by Saleem Safi: Saleem Safi writes an article questioning the ‘intellect’ and the ‘credibility’ of certain advisors of President Asif Zardari, such as
List of Taliban’s atrocities and crimes in Afghanistan: Those who insist on distinction between the TTP and Afghan Taliban should (be forced to) read this: LUBP Editor’s note: Lately, apologists of the Takfiri Deobandi Taliban (i.e., members and supporters of PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami, PML-N, Sipah-e-Sahaba (ASWJ-LeJ), JUI-F, JUI-S,
Pakistan’s various governments and the approximate periods of their rule – by Kamran Shafi: Below, without comment a list of Pakistan’s various governments and the approximate periods of their rule, or misrule if you will. ‘Caretaker’ governments or those such as Mr Mohammad Khan Junejo’s, Mr Zafarullah Jamali’s and the Private Banker’s have
Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Islam and non-violence — by Ishtiaq Ahmed: Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a man of peace. He approached Islam in the hope of finding a complementary message to Gandhi’s interpretation of Hinduism as Ram Raj and ahimsa (non-violence) and he found it
Leaders of lawyers’ movement oppose the strike call by Qazi Mohammad Anwar: Aitzaz Ahsan termed the decision for a strike premature, warning that it would divide the lawyers’ community. He said the decision had been taken in spite of PM Gilani’s assurance that the NRO judgment would be implemented.
The bad Sufi – by Qalandar Bux Memon: It is often assumed that Sufism stands opposed to Wahhabism. Wrong. Sufism and Wahhabism, in fact, share a fatal characteristic – they are religions of the status quo. In Pakistan, Sufism legitimises barbarities of inequality and starvation – ‘do
PPP Government: A window of opportunity for Pakistan – by Junaid Qaiser: In the words of Benazir Bhutto, democracy: “… is a birth right too often snatched at the point of the gun from the citizens by the very men who are to guard and defend us. This can stop to
diruz dar bustan sara (Naat) دیروز در بستان سرا: نعت رسول مقبول صلی الله علیہ و آلہ وسلّم دیروز در بستان سرا، ہمہ طوطیان خوشنوا پڑھتی تھیں نعت مصطفیٰ بلغ العلی بکمالہ
The post-NRO dynamic – by Talat Masood: In these times when Pakistan is beleaguered with multiple crises — a major insurgency, constant fear of terrorist attacks, lurking danger of economic melt-down, political infighting etc — it is additionally burdened with the unique challenge of managing the
Farewell, Irshad Ahmed Haqqani. Farewell, Harf-e-Tamanna!: 6 September 1928 – 24 January 2010
Mubashir Lucman’s chargesheet against Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry: In an episode of Point Blank by Mubashir Lucman with Wasim Akhtar (MQM) and Fauzia Wahab (PPP), the anchor issued a bold charge-sheet against CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry stating that CJP Chaudhry should have been booked and punishable by death
Flood management in Punjab: But what next? – by Qudrat Ullah: Punjab, the land of mighty rivers and flowing canals, witnessed many big deluges which caused losses to the tune of billion of rupees, besides damaging lives and property of the public. Although the flood management is the responsibility of
A sane advice to the Supreme Court by a PML-N’s leader – by Ataul Haq Qasmi: Supporting Khawaja Saad Rafique’s statement, Ataul Haq Qasmi hopes that the Supreme Court of Pakistan will respect the constitutional immunity available to President Asif Ali Zardari, and refrain from any adventurism in its future decisions and actions
The La La Land Internal Jihad Movement of Pakistan – by Nadeem Paracha: The La La Land Internal Jihad Movement of Pakistan (also called LLIMP) is a hybrid vegetable/fruit that is becoming popular among middle-class health food fanatics. The medical benefits of LLIMP have been known since ancient times. The Neanderthals are
For Pakistan, no turning back from reform – by Asif Ali Zardari: When I was elected president more than a year ago, Pakistan was in grave condition, strained by terrorism and a ravaged economy. Countering the effects of a decade of dictatorship requires bold actions, some of which are unpopular. I
The Saddam Hussein of Pakistan, i.e., Imran Khan: Who else? It has to be “Sir” Imran Khan. Here is an excellent op-ed by Asadullah Ghalib on this topic based on Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami’s idea:
Detailed NRO Verdict and Zia-ul-Haq’s Children in the Supreme Court – by Abdul Nishapuri: The condemned soul of Pakistan’s Islamofacist dictator General Zia-ul-Haq will be extremely pleased today after reading some of the passages in the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s detailed verdict on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). In its expected judgment, a
PML-N should apply minus one formula on Shahbaz Sharif – by Junaid Qaiser: In a recent address to the PPP workers, President Asif Ali Zardari said government will ensure free and fair, transparent elections. We beleive in domocracy and we’ll ensure the electroral process will be transperent and fair. The local body
Chief Justice Hamid Mir’s verdict in favour of Justice Khawaja Sharif – by Abdul Nishapuri: Following in the footsteps of Dr Shahid Masood, a fellow member of the Pakistani Taliban Union of Journalists, Hamid Mir too has assumed the position of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Here is Hamid Mir’s latest, summary verdict on
Jyoti Basu’s life encompasses the entire period of the Left’s rise and fall in India: Here are two articles in loving memory of Jyoti Basu, the eminent Indian politician belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from West Bengal. India’s veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu dies By Sailendra Sil (AFP) KOLKATA, India —
Khuda zameen se gaya nahin – A must watch: I know I am very late. Wanted to write this post for quite some time but was distracted by other urgent and non-urgent businesses. Yet, it is never too late. Here is my recommendation for a must watch TV
Umar Farouk Abdul Muttalib – a typical end product of Hizb ut-Tahrir and the Pakistani Taliban Union of Journalists: Umar Farouk Abdul Muttalib (or Omar Farouq Abdulmutallib), commonly known as the underwear bomber following his efforts to destroy Northwest Airlines Flight 253, is facing potential life imprisonment. This man seems to be a typical end product of the
Is MQM a secular and liberal party? Reality vs fantasy – by Mosharraf Zaidi: Related articles: MQM Right Wing Alliance MQM: reality vs fantasy When bodies start piling up in Karachi, the gut reaction of the Pakistani mainstream outside Karachi is to blame the MQM. This is a twenty-five year old problem. The
President Zardari in Lahore – by Ahsan Abbas Shah: صدرِ مُملکت کا دورہء لاہور تاریخی شہر لاہور اور زندہ دِلانِ اہلیانِ لاہور سے آصف زرداری کے خطاب نے بھٹو شہید کے جیالوں کو خون ایک مرتبہ پھر گرما دِیا۔بے شک ! زرداری صاحب نے اَ پنے آپ کو
What was the agenda of Shahbaz Sharif’s meeting with CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry? – By Junaid Qaiser: The so called custodian of democracy and judiciary Shahbaz Sharif had a 2 hours long meeting with Cheif Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary on 9 January after the funeral of Justice Ramday’s wife. Ethically and morally speaking, Shahbaz Sharif should have