Author Archive
General Parvez Mushraf’s live telethon: media campaign for dictator: The prime-time General Parvez Musharaf live telethon, broadcast by private television channel[Duniya News]on September 12, was an unprecedented media attack on the democratic space. In Pakistani context the questions of responsibility and pro-democratic views are very important and critical,
Global Media Watchdog says 52 Journalists Killed This Year: Journalists around the world risk their lives for reporting and the world’s oldest global media watchdog says 52 journalists lost their lives while on duty in the first eight months of this year. During the opening ceremony of the
Fear and apprehension among Christians: There is fear and apprehension among Christians in Pakistan as the country celebrates the end of the Muslim observance of Ramadan.News of Holly Quran Burning Day in the U.S. by a Pentecostal priest in Florida has led to tension,
Pakistan Floods Putting Thousands of Pregnant Women at Risk – by Ira Mellman: The floods that inundated many parts of Pakistan have left many of the most vulnerable parts of the population at great risk. They are the unborn, the newly born and their mothers. The numbers are staggering. Of the 18
US will never be at war with Islam: Obama: United States president Barack Obama has told a deeply polarised America that Islam is not the enemy as ceremonies took place to mark an unusually tense, ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Moving remembrance ceremonies were held to honour
Dynamics of Aid and Militant Charities: Pakistan has seen its most deadly catastrophe in the shape of these recent floods. Being a country marred with all sorts of problems, the magnitude of the disaster left the government paralyzed. International community came forward and offered help
Lahore blasts deepen threat to foreign aid workers in Pakistan -by Issam Ahmed: The Lahore blasts – though sectarian in nature – may raise the level of threat felt by the hundreds of international aid workers who have come to help Pakistan after its worst flooding in 80 years. A series of
Judicial Spot Fixing?: This business of the Supreme Court taking it upon themselves to overrule the people’s elected representatives in parliament is really getting ridiculous. Now, having failed to fix the match, the Supreme Court appears to be trying a little spot-fixing
US designates Pakistani Taliban as Foreign terrorist group: The US designated Pakistan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) as Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), paving the way for overseas travel ban on its leaders and financial restrictions on the dreaded group. US prosecutors have charged the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud,
EDITORIAL: Extension of judges’ tenure: The Supreme Court (SC) has extended the tenure of 32 additional judges working in the high courts of the four provinces till further orders. The eleventh hour decision has been taken to overcome the situation created by a legal
MQM’s strange recipe to end feudalism -by Riaz Missen: The MQM, which often complains of Taliban’s growing presence in Karachi and is unhappy for being unable to convince its coalition partners to retain the local government system of the Musharraf era at least in Sindh, has surprised everybody
Altaf Bhai’s Convenient Conscience: Ayaz Amir hits the nail on the head last week in his column for The News, “Fresh takes on patriotism”. Amir is annoyed with MQM chief Altaf’s recent outbursts about martial law, of course, and flays them with the sharp wit
A call for help in flood-ravaged Pakistan -by John Kerry: THIS IS Pakistan’s Katrina. I just returned from that country, where the devastation created by the recent floods was gut-wrenching. Five years after floods washed over the southern United States, Pakistan is suffering from an epic disaster. And we
Probe in Sialkot killings points finger at PML-N govt -by Irshad Salim: The ongoing investigation of the Sialkot brothers’ lynching in front of Rescue 1122 office has revealed that some police officials being named in the incident are not only pro- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), but that their role was a contributing factor in
Challenge to be converted into opportunity to build new Pakistan, says Gilani: * PM says political parties should overcome petty issues, stand together * Government did not divert focus from flood relief despite criticism The continuing floods were devastating to the country, but the government was committed to converting the massive
We Must Stay The Course – by Babar Sattar: Altaf Hussain’s statement inciting ‘patriotic generals’ to take steps ‘like martial law’ against ‘corrupt feudal and land lord politicians’ is an expression of intent to support subversion of constitutional rule in Pakistan. This statement is not only mischievous, but
Our Frankenstein is out to get us -by Ammar Zafarullah: The tragedy in Sialkot has been dissected from every possible angle, the people have come out with an unprecedented outcry for justice and the civil administration has, for once, risen to the occasion and is doing what is expected
Bollywood film takes on sexual harassment – by Shail Kumar Singh: Bollywood is tackling the subject of sexual harassment in the workplace, which campaigners say is increasingly becoming an issue as traditional gender roles change in modern urban India. “Hello Darling”, which was released on Friday, is inspired by the
Concentration of Media Ownership Is threatening the purpose of free press: In his essay on civil disobedience, Henry David Thoreau once said, “The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich,”. The Mass Media, the collection of newspapers, magazines, and TV news programs that reach a
Altaf commits treason, should be sentenced under Article 6: Mian Iftikhar: Information Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that Altaf Hussain committed treason by issuing statement in favour of martial law and he should be sentenced under Article 6. In a media briefing in Peshawar, he said that that
Three Christian humanitarian workers killed by Taliban: Three humanitarian workers operating in the Swat Valley, in the northern part of the country, have been killed by Pakistani Taliban while working to bring aid to flood victims. The attack of the fundamentalists, which has also caused several
“Ethical Codes for Media: Yes or No?”: A free, independent and responsible media is a direct reflection of societal traits and thus can act not only as a reality check but as a mentor and redeemer. With its initiative to move towards a Free, Independent and
Hussain Haqqani says, Flood relief cooperation could be a turning point in the relations between Pak- US: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani said on Wednesday that flood relief cooperation could be a turning point in the relations between Pakistan and the United States and hoped it would help faster a much greater mutual
PPP and PML-N leaders flay Altaf’s statement: Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan Peoples Party leaders have strongly condemned the statement of Altaf Hussain regarding the imposition of martial law. Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that Altaf Hussain’s statement is against the constitution
Altaf Gets It Backwards: Whatever possessed Altaf Hussain to make statements supporting a martial law, his comments are short-sighted and ill-conceived. In fact, Altaf gets the whole thing backwards. If we’re going to make progress in eliminative corruption, the only way to do
Pakistan flood aid tops $800 mn, IMF chief assures president Zardari of support: Aid received for Pakistan’s flood victims is almost double the amount requested by the UN, the country’s foreign minister said Sunday, as relief workers struggled to save dozens of villages and towns from flooding. He said the generous assistance
Terrible Flooding in Pakistan and media is still playing politics: 13.8 million people in Pakistan are affected by the worst flood in a century. More than 1,600 are dead and many more unaccounted for. Entire villages and towns have been consumed by rising water levels, and hundreds of thousands
Why the unfolding disaster in Pakistan should concern you -by Robert Reich: The human tragedy unfolding in Pakistan right now demands our full attention. Flooding there has already stranded 20 million people, more than 10 percent of the population. A fifth of the nation is underwater. More than 3.5 million children
Floods, Fanatics, and Fault Lines: Raza Rumi’s column in today’s Express Tribune should never need to be written. A tragedy of the proportions we are facing is a time to put aside petty differences and work to heal our wounds and move our nation forward. But
U.S. would lead the international efforts to help Pakistan cope with biggest challenge: President Asif Ali Zardari and Senator John F. Kerry on Thursday had an aerial view of the flood-hit Jampur.President Zardari was accompanied by US Senator John Kerry who arrived in Pakistan Wednesday night to personally review the damage caused
Chief Justice vs. Straw Man: According to its website, the Supreme Court is “the Court of ultimate appeal and therefore final arbiter of law and the Constitution. It exercises original, appellate and advisory jurisdiction. Its judgments/decisions are binding on all other courts in the country”.
Sochi summit: President Zardari seeks international support for Pakistan.: President Asif Ali Zardari returned here on Wednesday after a few hours visit to the Russian city of Sochi during which he participated in the quadrilateral summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Russian Federation on regional peace, security and
Socho! President Zardari Must Attend the Sochi Summit-by Sana Ali: Diplomats and development experts have long anticipated the upcoming Sochi Summit. The recent politicization of President Zardari’s foreign trips threatens to derail this vital meeting of the Presidents of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Russia where comprehensive projects are on
Threat over Ground Zero mosque-By Brian Lilley: She spoke out against the Ground Zero mosque, now a Canadian Muslim woman says she is being threatened. Raheel Raza, a founding member of the Muslim Canadian Congress, calls the idea of a mosque within 300 metres of Ground
Syeda Shehla Raza’s facebook status-shame to yellow journalism: Syeda Shehla Raza deputy speaker Sindh assembly posted her current facebook status as saying: “My visit to RAZZK ABAD camp I saw a unike incidence the repoter of GEO arranged a man who according to his directions gave a statement that
A friend in need is a friend indeed: Congratulating people of Pakistan on the occasion of its 63rd independence day, US President Barack Obama has expressed his country’s long term commitment in strengthening ties with the country. President Barack Obama has pledged sustained U.S. support for Pakistan’s
We’ve to make a “BENAZIR” Pakistan _ By Saria Benazir: There pass decades and experiences inscribe themselves on sections of sheet. Eyes seize back to millions, who in their kick laid down their lives for the cause of liberty _ for the sake of a detached home, where the
Is Zardari’s Gamble Paying Off Big?: Let’s be honest, President Zardari took a big gamble by going to meet with foreign leaders as the flood crisis unfolded. It was obviously bad public relations, and his advisors had to know that he would be skewered in
Obama says he supports Ground Zero mosque and ‘religious freedom’: U.S. President Barack Obama says he supports a plan to build a mosque and Islamic cultural center in New York, near the scene of the deadly September 11, 2001 attacks. It was the first time the president has expressed
Floods and Minorities in Pakistan: Fr. Emmanuel Asi, President of the Lahore Biblical Theological Institute and a member of the directive committee of the Theological Institute for Laity in Pakistan, as well as expert in interreligious dialogue, was recently interviewed by the press office