Author Archive
We have too many governments in Pakistan – By Naseer Ahmed: We have too many governments in Pakistan. We have governments elected by people, i.e., central, provincial and local governments. We have self-designated governments like ISI (military), judiciary, media, extremists and feudal-industrial complex. The self-designated governments have four purposes. 1.
Insaf’s all roads lead to Jati Umrah? – by Ahsan Abbas Shah: مُلک کی تمام بڑے قد کی دعویدار سیاسی پارٹیاں اپنے اِتحادی اور وفاق کی علامت پپلز پارٹی سے نوک جھونک میں مصروف ہیں۔وزیر اعلٰی پنجاب نے حال ہی میں اپنے ایک انٹرویو میں زرداری صاحب ک شخصیت کو بڑے
Klashni-country: A brief history of the Kalashinkov culture in Pakistan – by Nadeem Paracha: By late 1979, markets in the tribal regions of Pakistan were flooded with AK-47s, smuggled across by Afghan refugees. – File photo The famous Russian assault rifle, the Kalashnikov, also called the AK-47, or Klashni in the street and
The SMS war against Zardari – by Kaleem Butt: Day in and day out, PPP and President Zardari has to contend with an onslaught of negative propaganda on air waves, in print media and in cyber space. The enemy is media savvy and knows the impact of psychological
In Lahore, law emerges higher than the high-rises – by Qudrat Ullah: Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif of Punjab is an unpredictable man with great vigor and a substantiated strength of innovative potentials; especially when the issue of merit and rule of law surfaces, he forgives no body. During his first
The Taliban’s war on Pakistan and the role of our religio-political leaders: Saleem Safi, an eminent journalist and a veteran of the Afghan ‘jihad’, offers a critical perspective on the hypocritical role of our religio-political leaders (such as Fazlur-Rehman, Sami-ul-Haq, Munawar Hassan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Sahabzada Fazl-e-Karim etc, as well as
Planned hype against President Zardari – by Dr Masooda Bano: The crisis mode created around President Zardari’s speech has an air of planned maneuvering around it. Zardari is not without his weaknesses but the air of tension being created after his speech on the second anniversary of Benazir Bhutto’s
President Zardari, implement the Charter of Democracy with no further ifs and buts please: Here are three articles, published in three different newspapers today (i.e. Dawn, Daily Times and Jang), which suggest that in order to safeguard democracy, President Asif Ali Zardari must listen to Nawaz Sharif’s voice. If united, PPP and PML-N,
Teen Jeem – by Hamid Akhtar: تین جیم – جج ، جنرل اور جرنلسٹ While the anti-democracy establishment and their agents in media are all out for the accountability of politicians, Hamid Akhtar wonders who will conduct the accountability of the teen jeem (i.e., three
Taliban are escalating the cost for the public – by Syed Talat Hussain: In the following article in Daily Times, renowned journalist and TV anchor Syed Talat Hussain discusses a new strategy of the Taliban militants, i.e. a deliberate and strong effort to escalate the
The Sindh Card: Here are two articles, first one by Hasan Mujtaba of BBC Urdu and the second one by Nazir Naji. The articles suggest that contrary to the ‘mainstream’ propaganda, the so called Sindh Card is a tool which has been
Jamhoor dushman sahaafi – by Naseer Ahmed: Naseer Ahmed writes a critical piece on anti-democracy journalists in Pakistani media.
A citizen’s perspective on TV anchors in Pakistan – by Naseer Ahmed: Naseer Ahmed offers a critical perspective on TV anchors in Pakistan, suggesting that journalists, including TV anchors, cannot indefinitely escape from accountability. The day will soon come when many of them will be held accountable for their yellow journalism
The Christian Cross: A Fading Symbol in Pakistan – by Zeresh John: A fading symbol By Zeresh John Monday, 04 Jan, 2010 The cross is the most widely recognised religious symbol of Christianity. Down the years, the emblem has faded from the public eye, rarely seen in the humdrum of everyday
Some predictions for the new year – by Dr Syed Mansoor Hussain: Old predictions and new The 17th Amendment will eventually go this year but not until the PPP, without whose parliamentary support no new amendment can be passed, has extracted its ‘pound of flesh’ (and blood) from the N-League leadership
Terrorism: A legacy of General Zia-ul-Haq – Guest post by Naseer Ahmed: Here is a guest post by our valued visitor and contributor Mr Naseer Ahmed highlighting the roots of terrorism in Pakistan.
Tradings and Religion – Guest post by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla: Starting a new business is all about possibilities, optimism, hard work and risk of losses. However owning a business in any famous markets of Pakistan is considered as a guarantee for success because of high volume of ready customers.
A short history of the Babble Media Mujahids – by Nadeem Paracha: Babble Media Mujahids (BMM, and also called, BAAM!) is a group of superheroes operating in Pakistan. They advocate religious tolerance through the killing of heretics and glorification of an independent judiciary. The BMM was formed through divine intervention when
Slaughter on the volleyball field as Taliban wreak revenge on villagers: Police said the attack was possibly retaliation against residents who had set up a militia to expel Taliban fighters from the area Photo: BBC Here comes Taliban’s new year gift to the nation. Friends of Taliban (Ansar Abbasi, Shahid
Has Zardari done anything which comes close to unbeatable follies of our military dictators? – by Ayaz Amir: The road to hell — and similar destinations By Ayaz Amir We have a developed talent, honed over the years, for counting the trees and missing the larger picture. We see things in one dimension and forget that there
The scholar, the sufi, and the fanatic – by Nadeem Paracha: Roughly speaking, the political and social aspects of Islam in Pakistan can be seen as existing in and emerging from three distinct sets and clusters of thought. These clusters represent the three variations of political and social Islam that
Sectarian terrorism in Pakistan during 2009 – by B. Raman: The year 2009 ended with two attacks by suicide bombers on processions to mark the culmination of the period of Muhurrum observed by the Shias of Pakistan. Fifteen persons were killed in the first incident at Muzzafarabad, the capital
Blackwater is the new name of Taliban: Blackwater is the new name of Taliban – according to Taliban apologists. Here are two news items without any further comment: Blackwater involved in Karachi catastrophe, says Mufti Usmani Updated at: 2050 PST, Wednesday, December 30, 2009 KARACHI: Noted
When I heard that Benazir Bhutto had been assassinated – by Saria Benazir: The 27th afternoon of December 2007 – a catastrophic episode – scarlet was the firmament – crimson was the boulevard – and a Bhutto’s blood……….vanished there the underlying anticipate of an autonomous Pakistan …………a calamity!!! O No!!!!! The horizon
Citizen Media Dialogue – by Junaid Qaiser: Citizen Media Dialogue: Media urged to play role in resolving masses problems by Junaid Qaiser Media is the eyes and ears of a sovereign country and needs to be further empowerment in the interests of the citizens. Media is
Taliban claim the Ashura bombing in Karachi. Also responsible for the post-attack arson: Compiled by Abdul Nishapuri Here are a few articles and reports which confirm that the attack on the Ashura procession and the subsequent arson was carried out by Taliban terrorists and certain rogue elements of the establishment.
Leftist (taraqqi pasand) parties unite on one platform – Utho meri dunia ke gharibon ko jaga do: Leftist parties unite on one platform * Progressive parties criticise US policies on Pakistan, condemn right-wing elements By Hussain Kashif LAHORE: As many as 14 progressive political parties and groups got together on Friday to present their stances and
The New Media Jihadis – by Ayaz Amir: Thanks: Khaleej Times There is no such thing as positive journalism, a notion put about, mostly in a whining manner, by government information departments. Journalism is at its most responsible when it is explosive and incendiary, shaking people out
Please join the “Save democracy, stop conspiracy” rally in Lahore: The ongoing media campaign to malign President Asif Ali Zardari is an unwelcome and indeed dangerous blow to Pakistan’s democracy. One
Some critical reflections on the Karachi Ashura attack: By Abdul Nishapuri Pakistani officials say a suicide bomber has struck a Muslim religious procession in the port of Karachi, killing at least 45 people. Officials say the bomber blew himself up Monday in a procession of minority Shi’ites
Qa’ani’s elegy and Imam Hussein – by Ammar Ali Qureshi: What rains down? Blood! Who? The Eye! How? Day and Night. Why? From grief. What grief? The grief of the Monarch of Karbala.
Hamid Mir presents a test case to the Supreme Court. Will CJ take action against Major General Nadeem Ijaz?: vs In his op-ed in Daily Jang on 28 December 2009, Hamid Mir notes that Justice Ramday has identified General Kayani as one of the key culprits who forced Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to resign from his post in
Options for Pakistan: No to Ziaist Policies – Guest post by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla: This is with reference to Ijaz Ul Haq’s two-part article “Options for Pakistan” (December 24, 25, The News). I agree with Mr Haq that “Pakistan has vital interests and serious stakes in Afghanistan”. Every state has
Conspiracies against democracy not to succeed: President Zardari: NAUDERO, Dec 27 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday said non-state actors were trying to break Pakistan and institutions were being
Those last moments…… – by Saria Benazir: Blazes of fire, And high peaks, Oh my Lord!!! Deep seas, And heavy showers of rain, Dark black clouds, And still red drops of blood,
Benazir Bhutto and Karbala – Guest post by Naseer Ahmed: Related post: Benazir Bhutto: Ik Kaneez-e-Karbala – by Abdul Nishapuri I remember a poem by a famous Pakistani poet, Mohsin Naqvi, on the dismissal of the first PPP govt by Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1990. A maid of Karbala
Benazir Bhutto – ik kaneez-e-karbala: Benazir Bhutto 21 June 1953 – 27 December 2007 بیاد بے نظیر بھٹو (کاوش: عبدل نیشاپوری) اک کنیز کربلا اور اک گروہ اشقیا اک گلوۓ بے خطا اورایک تیر حرملہ روشنی کے چارسو تھی ظلمت فکر ضیا٭ در پۓ
When skewed high-rises discolor the city skyline – by Qudrat Ullah: With the tremendous trade and industrial progress of the United States in the last quarter of 19th century, the private sector turned to the idea of high-rises when prime urban lands became scanty and pricey. First ten-storey high-rise was
Remembering Benazir Bhutto – by Khalid Hasan: Here are two op-eds by late Khalid Hasan in the memory of Benazir Bhutto; the first one was written on BB’s death in December 2007, the second piece was written on BB’s death anniversary in December 2008.
Hurr and Karbala – by Dr Ali Shariati: “Horr” is a book by renowned Iranian scholar Dr Ali Shariati about the historic Battle of Karbala in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his 72 companions were martyred by the Caliph Yazid. Horr (also