Author Archive
Debunking the high rating of ISI-funded movie WAAR – by Anas Abbas: The rating of ISI funded movie WAAR is 9.4 on IMDB. WAAR was a huge success in UK among the Pakistani community. However, here are the reasons why the 9.4 rating on IMDB has been fudged big time: 1)
Malala Yousafzai: A child soldier in the war for Pakistan – by Sadanand Dhume: Fourteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai stood up for modernity. Few others do. It’s not every day that Barack Obama and Ban Ki-moon agree with the head of the Islamist group Jamaat-e-Islami or an America-bashing Pakistani politician. But Tuesday’s Taliban attack on
Innocence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Culpability of Muslims – by Dur-e-Aden: “I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make
Pakistani liberals are no leap of faith – by Sadanand Dhume: Source: Published in Wall Street Journal on July 12, 2012. This isn’t the best time to be a Pakistani liberal. Opinion polling shows most Pakistanis thinking of America as an enemy, democracy as an unwelcome concept and the imposition of
Secularism: A concept most misunderstood! – by Dur-e-Aden: It is almost a sin to mention the word secularism in Pakistan. Suddenly you are bombarded with labels of being pro-western, anti-Islam, ashamed of your values, threat to identity of the nation, as a result of which you are
Equality of citizens: Common sense that’s not so common! – by Dur-e-Aden: A bomb explodes in a market, some 80 people die and 100s get injured. Can anyone tell me the identity of those who lost their lives? Do bombs differentiate when they explode that I am only going to hurt
Ahmadis are….. – by Dur-e-Aden: Oh calm the heck down!!!! I am not using the M word, you know, the same word that can be used by killers, murderers, liars, cheaters, and by every type of “ghairatmand” but Ahmadis (because all the “Real Muslims” agreed
Benazir Bhutto: Predicting our future – by Dur-e-aden: “I made mistakes and I am prepared to admit them but so must others. Others also owe it: they owe it to their own armed forces, to the people of Pakistan and to the Muslim world.” In one of
The problem of our selective morality – by Dur-e-Aden: First week of January, we start our new year by discovering the bodies of 15 Pakistani soldiers who had been kidnapped in December. According to the news reported by various newspapers, a spokes person of Taliban by the name
The Myth of National Sovereignty: On May 2nd U.S. special forces entered deep inside Pakistan’s territory, effectively killing world’s most wanted terrorist, and leaving undetected. This raid by some is considered a breach of Pakistan’s national sovereignty. Although there are arguments which suggest that
My faith is stronger than your blasphemy! – by Dur-e-aden: On October 1, 2011 a Judge of Pakistan anti-terrorism court sentenced Mumtaz Qadri to death over the murder of former Punjab Governer, Salman Taseer. As soon as the news came out, it has stirred up the debate regarding blasphemy
Main kaun hoon? – by Dur-e-aden: “Pakistan ka matlab kiya, la ila ha illallah”, this is one slogan that is always heard in any milli nagma, drama, movie or a documentary made for 14 August. Growing up all of us learnt that Pakistan was created
The Ahmadi Conundrum – by Aden: I don’t know if it’s true or not, but my Mom says that my first word was Allah. Well this is what supposed to happen when your house is so close to the mosque and the Azaan comes out
Farewell to George Fulton: Is Pakistan a livable country? That is the question in the minds of many Pakistanis. Most of whom had no choice in deciding to be a Pakistani citizen. Whereas George Fulton – who we all recognize from “George ka Pakistan” –
Where is Pakistan’s revolution?: The world is changing, as we see people in many of Middle eastern countries assemble to demand their rights from the repressive regimes that have held its grips on their nations for past many decades. People in those countries
Between Kalabagh and a hard place – by Shehrbano Taseer: The politicization of the August 2010 floods in Pakistan leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth. More disturbing than seeing the witch-hunt carried out by hysterical journalists has been watching some politicians capitalize on the crisis to score cheap
How America Can Make a Difference – by Shehrbano Taseer: In the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, U.S Chinook helicopters – dubbed “angels of mercy” by Pakistanis – lifted in millions worth of aid to help victims. Subsequently, U.S approval ratings in Pakistan shot to an all-time high.
Pakistan’s status Post-WikiLeaks leakage – By Sehrish Khan: Source: PICTURES BEYOND THE PICTURE As the week ends, the most controversial and conflictive details of the Afghan war come to surface, marking the greatest information leak-out of the US military. The details were provided to The New York
Love in the time of terrorism – by Shehrbano Taseer: Source: Daily Times Terrorism has the capacity to self-destruct; it bears within it the seeds of its own destruction. Sufism has the power to defuse terrorism; it is an internal liberation that jihadism simply cannot offer The two suicide
Negotiate with Taliban? – by Anas Muhammad: In a recent press conference Mian Nawaz Sharif – the head of the largest opposition Party Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) – claimed that terrorism in Pakistan is a result of government’s foreign policies. Sharif made the commen ts two
In Pakistan, Criticism of President is Good for TV Ratings – by WSJ: Source: WSJ KARACHI, Pakistan—TV executives here, supported by a boom in advertising revenue and feeding off a public taste for conspiracy theories, are using popular news channels to chip away at the standing of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
Remembering Benazir – by Shehrbano Taseer: Source: New Pakistan “History,” Zulfikhar Ali Bhutto once wrote, “is written in the blood of martyrs.” Judging by Sindh’s desolate and blood-drenched landscape, these words run true. Larkana is seeped in history, and history haunts Larkana. Larkana, the heartbeat
Pakistan’s Global Political Economy – by Anas Muhammad: As the recession hit; the jobless rates soared to 10% and more, banks at the brink of failing, stock exchange plummeted, and economy was left paralyzed. All this happened in United States, which sparked a global recession, bringing down
A promising economic outlook for Pakistan – by Anas Muhammad: As the government gets ready to present its third annual budget (2010-2011), reports and estimates for the next fiscal year is the talk of the day for economists and politicians in Pakistan. Besides all the buzz created by media commentary and
Open Invite to Hamid Mir: May 26, 2010 Mr. Hamid Mir Geo TV and Jang Group of Pakistan Dear Sir: I am writing to you today regarding the allegations that you are somehow involved with the Taliban and the assassination of Mr. Khalid Khawaja.
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
Research: Nawaz Sharif’s ties to Bin Laden: Daily Times of Pakistan reports – Sunday, March 21, 2010 Ex-ISI official says he arranged 5 meetings between Nawaz, Osama LAHORE: Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official Khalid Khawaja has claimed that he arranged five meetings in the past between
Hijacking Democracy – by Anas Muhammad: Today we live in an increasingly dangerous world, which is filled with people who have their ulterior motives and willingness to harm others to benefit themselves. Our world is filled with criminals, gangsters, murderers, and terrorists. The people who
The Rightist Judicio-Politico Mafia – by Anas Muhammad: Saturday February 13 – The Chief Justice of Pakistan defied Presidential orders through a suo moto action against the Presidential notification for appointment of certain judges. Chief Justice, in a rare nightly emergency session, formed a three members
Reconciliation Is No Silver Bullet – by Anas Muhammad: Two years ago – February 2008 – Pakistan began its transformation to democracy with a general election that brought Benazir Bhutto’s PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) into power. The party decided to continue its policy, introduced by its slain leader
Aafia Siddiqui: An Objective Overview – by Anas Muhammad: President Asif Ali Zardari directed the government to provide legal assistance to Dr Aafia Siddiqui, after the jury found her guilty on all seven counts. The government of Pakistan has so far spent $2 million in defense of the
He Came, He Saw, He Conquered. – By Anas Muhammad: On Wednesday January 13, the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari arrived at Lahore. The city that is believed to be strictly the opposition’s (PML-N) turf. The irony was that both the leaders of PML-N, the Sharif brothers, were
Amb. Haqqani – Lobbying for “Transformation” – by Anas Muhammad: On January 15, 2009, Ambassador Husain Haqqani, was a special guest to a gathering at the Nixon Center, which discussed the US-Paksitan relations. This is one of the many forums Honorable Ambassador has addressed, since being appointed at his
Benazir Bhutto Case: Access Denied is Justice Denied – by Anas Muhammad: This year began with a blow to the UN investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s murder, as the commission was denied access to the top brass military and intelligence officials. The three member commission, which was investigating the facts and circumstances
Playing the Corruption Card – by Anas Muhammad: By Anas Muhammad On 12 October 1999, General Prevez Musharraf ouster the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in a non violent military coup. The reason given by Musharraf was the rampant corruption under Nawaz Sharifs regime. Although the