Author Archive
Shahbaz Bhatti: Another death, another day – by Nadeem F. Paracha: Related articles: Shahbaz Bhatti assassinated: Thank you, deep state! LUBP Archive on Shahbaz Bhatti The Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti was killed today in an attack on his vehicle in Islamabad. Two gunmen fired on Bhatti’s vehicle
Sharif brothers are patronizing corrupt politics: Related articles: Ansar Abbasi appreciates Nawaz Sharif’s decision to part ways from PPP Rauf Klasra’s article on PML-N’s opportunistic politics PPP gains confidence, PML-N loses nerves March in March – by Ahsan Abbas Shah The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz headed
Now Non Muslims using blasphemy law against Non Muslims: Yet another case of alleged blasphemy has been reported from Pakistan, taking place in Faisalabad (Punjab), this one rather unique. Instead of a Muslim-at-Christian case, this time a Christian woman has used the blasphemy law sword to cut at
PPP gains confidence, PML-N loses its nerve: Related Article: Rauf Klasra’s article on PML-N’s opportunistic politics It seems fairly clear that Pakistan Muslim league and it’s leaders losing their nerve and Pakistan Peoples Party and it’s government gaining confidence as well as people’s support due to
Basant ka Matam -by Arshad Mahmood: Basant (Jashn-e-Baharaan) in Pakistan The festival is limited in its celebrations in Pakistan. Instead, the celebrations of spring known as ‘Jashn-e-baharaan’ in Urdu, are carried on in the entire country for almost a month. Basant, in particular, is celebrated
Rauf Klasra’s article on PML-N’s opportunistic politics: Here’s an excellent article by Rauf Klasra published in the ‘Daily Express’, that provides critical review on Pakistan Muslim league’s recent political move in Punjab, it’s chief boss Mian Nawaz Sharif’s opportunistic politics and undemocratic style of leadership. Mr.
Raymond Davis case: Incitement to hatred with Talat Hussain: Related article: Raymond Davis case: How Pakistan’s right-wing media resulted in Shumaila’s death If you were to turn on your television at this very moment and browse through the channels for barely a minute, what would you see? You
Raymond Davis case: How Pakistan’s right-wing media resulted in Shumaila’s death: The widow of the Faheem Shamshad who was killed by Raymond Davis committed suicide because in her words she had no hope of justice as the Punjab police had kept Raymond Davis as an official guest. Shumaila’s family believes
Religious persecution threat high in Punjab: Analysts and officials said Punjab’s extreme poverty, as well as lack of education, makes people in the region more vulnerable to the lure of militancy. The militants in Punjab had a good infrastructure on the ground, with many organizations
Kinnaird’s FM 97.6 inaugurated, a very positive development: Democracy and free media are co-related; democracy is impossible without a free and responsible media while the concept of a free media is impossible without democracy. Democracy and free media reinforce each other. Huge credit goes to Pakistan Peoples
Lawmakers call for ensuring minority protection: The issue of minorities was raised through points of order, by PPP’s Nawab Moammad Yusuf Talpur and Ms Palwasha Khan, and PML-Q’s Akram Masih Gill particularly in the context of kidnappings for ransom in Sindh province and the resignation
Day of prayer for the release of Asia Bibi: Tomorrow is an international day of prayer for the release of a Pakistani woman sentenced to death for blaspheming Islam’s prophet, Muhammad. Dominant Muslim nations such as Pakistan (“Land of the pure”) have instituted blasphemy laws which punish, often
Ripe for revolution? by Mahreen Khan: A Muslim nation has overthrown its corrupt, incompetent and arrogant government. Most Pakistanis would love to be that nation, hoping that Tunisia’s revolutionary ripples, already rocking Egypt and nudging Yemen, will reach Pakistan too. Enduring raging inflation, malignant corruption,
Allama Iqbal, a genuine poet or preacher? – by Muhammad Asghar Butt: Allama Iqbal is neither a genuine poet nor a genuine philosopher but a genuine preacher of the Muslim World. Definition of a poet: A writer of poems. Definition of a poem: “A piece of creative writing in verse, esp
Pakistan: 2010 disastrous year for rights, HRW: The Taliban and other religious extremists in Pakistan increased their deadly attacks against civilians and public spaces during 2010, while the Pakistani government response was marred by serious human rights violations, Human Rights Watch maintained in its World Report
Hundreds of women die for “honour” each year: Did 22-year-old Saima Bibi scream out as she was electrocuted at her parents’ home in their village near the southern Punjab city of Bahawalpur in Pakistan? Did she plead with her family for her life? Did she seek mercy?
International Minorities Conference III: International Minorities Alliance demands Pakistan to be run according to the vision of its founder. International Minorities’ Conference 2011 was organized by International Minorities Alliance on “Equal Citizenship, Equal Rights” at Avari Hotel, Lahore, Pakistan on Jan 23, 2011.
Muhammad bin Qasim, Ghaznavi, Aurangzeb, Ilamd Din, AQ Khan, Mumtaz Qadri: Heroes of doom as role models – by Waseem Altaf: There is hardly any sector of Islamabad left where so called scientist A Q Khan does not have a plot or a palatial house, including the illegally built palace at Bani Gala. Last time he was in the news
This is not a clash of civilizations but an internal conflict between moderates and extremists: A recent report in Time explains the huge significance of Salman Taseer’s killing. “The manner of his murder reveals a truth that many Muslims still deny: This is not a clash of civilisations between Islam and the West but
Rose petals for a killer -by Shehrbano Taseer: My father’s assassination could teach us something. My father, Salmaan Taseer, governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab, was murdered on Jan. 4, shot dead in broad daylight by the policeman tasked to protect him. Acting out of a
Blasphemy allegations: Another Christian family on the run: LAHORE: Two Christian women were beaten and publically humiliated by an angry mob over apparently frivolous blasphemy allegations and they and their family are now in hiding for fear of being killed, The Express Tribune has learnt. “None of
Roundtable on reviewing the decade long-terrorism struggle 2001-2010: Pakistan’s Afghan policy is flawed and has proved to be counterproductive for the interests of the country, renowned author Ahmed Rashid said on Thursday. He was speaking at a roundtable discussion, organised by Individual Land, a non-profit Islamabad-based think-tank,
Salman Taseer’s assassination: can Pakistan survive as a viable state?: After Salman Taseer murder Pakistani Society seems very much divided. A cold and calculated assassination, not only highlights political turmoil in country but it also raises very fundamental questions related to the viability of state. And it appears the
My father’s murder must not silence the voices of reason in Pakistan -by Shehrbano Taseer: There is a real danger that extremists could triumph if good people do not continue to speak out I can’t help but roll my eyes when I’m informed I must keep a guard with me at all times now.
Did the media play a role in Salman Taseer’s murder?: Who killed Salman Taseer? Did Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin who sprayed the bullets, kill Salman Taseer? Did he really kill Taseer or is it a prevalent mindset in our mainstream media and it’s business interests alike exploiting religion for
Salman Taseer’s assassination exposes ‘the cancer of religious fanaticism’: A few days ago, Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, president of the catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, said, “it is clear that anyone that opposes the blasphemy law is at risk.” Mgr Rufin Anthony, bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, told AsiaNews that
Allama Tahir Ashrafi’s views on the blasphemy law and Taseer’s murder – Abbas Ather’s Column Kaar: Before watching the following talk-show, you may wish to read the following article: Namoos-e-risalat or namoos-e-zia-ul-haq? – by Abbas Ather Talk-show participants: Allama Tahir Ashrafi (PUC), Azam Nazir Tarar (PBC), and Syed Mumtaz Shah (Analyst) in today’s episode of
Dealing with the devil -by Mahreen Khan: The brutal and horrific assassination of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer is indescribable, not just for having taken place but for its aftermath and the deep fissures which have been torn into our national sanity. The murder was carried out
What will become of Pakistan’s moderates now? -by Daud Khattak: It has been three days since the killing of Salman Taseer, governor of Pakistan’s largest federal unit, Punjab, by a lone assassin in the country’s fortified capital of Islamabad. While the high-profile killing leaves a serious question mark hanging
Mumtaz Qadri criminal or hero? Is our media still confused?: The brainwashed killer of the assassinated Punjab’s Governor Salman Taseer has been turned into a hero, a defender of Islam’s sacredness, by the religious political parties, extremist groups and like-minded people especially in the mainstream media. The Namoos-e-Risalat Lawyers
Salman Taseer’s assassination: religious minorities live in mounting fear: “Salman Taseer fought for the release of Asia Bibi and spoken out for the repeal of the blasphemy law. I think this was the main reason for his murder,” said Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, archbishop of Lahore, president of
The war is not over —by Mashal Sahir: When the political parties succumbed to the mullahs’ will, the masses reflexively assumed that the mullahs were right about the blasphemy laws, which is why the government had to give up, and they accused the only courageous man in
Death of a hero: the aftermath -by Waseem Altaf: Salman Taseer, the lone ranger was a pure soul, unlike most of our politicians who are scared of speaking the truth. He stood for the right cause and sacrificed his life for whom nobody dares to come forward–the downtrodden