SAFMA hosts seminar on Pakistan-India relations: The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) organised a seminar titled ‘Pakistan in a South Asian Context’ in connection with Independence Day at a local hotel on Friday. Experts from India and Pakistan spoke on the occasion and expressed

President sees devastation, handed out aid, and promised homes would be rebuilt: Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari yesterday made his first visit to areas hit by devastating floods. He toured the Sukkur dam in southern Sindh Province, Pakistan Television reported, to see the damage firsthand, after being criticized by the opposition

Pakistan’s Project of Renewal -by President Asif Ali Zardari: Pakistan, a nation beset by political tragedies for generations, now faces a new test of its national character: a natural calamity unprecedented in our history. Millions have been displaced and thousands have died in floods caused by unabated rain.

Extension, media and consensus: Pakistan army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, is to be given a three-year extension to his term of office to maintain continuity in the country’s battle against religious militants, a move that western analysts said would bolster Pakistan’s anti-terrorism

Trip to Britain successful, highlighted the various challenges: another slap in the face of irresponsible media: President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Europe has been successful in drawing the attention of the world community on the enormity the of the ravages of unprecedented floods in the country as well as forging international assistance for the

Media Conspirators Campaign Against Zardari Backfires: Source: new Pakistan The fact of a media conspiracy against Zardari has been discussed for some time as onlookers scratch their heads in wonder at much of the seemingly outrageous anti-Zardari rhetoric that is published. But have the conspirators

Punjab government is unable to implement the Protection bill; women still facing harassment despite legislation: A survey has found that crimes against Pakistani women are still continuing at workplaces, as the provincial government is unable to implement the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2009. The survey found that there are still

Ground Zero mosque approval, a victory for US democracy, religious tolerance: New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission decision to sanction the construction of a mosque and an Islamic center near Ground Zero by a vote of nine to zero, should be seen as a reaffirmation of one of the basic

Media Effects on Public Opinion: Source:new Pakistan The organization Pew Research Center released a new study last week based on a survey of Pakistanis about opinions on extremism, America, India, etc etc. While the report focuses primarily on attitudes towards America (not surprising since

President Zardari’s visit to France, timely and fruitful: President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to France  remained very useful and effective in projecting Pakistan’s point of view in the war against terror and to muster international support.  Observers and Diplomats terming the visit “very timely and useful” said

Violence engulfs Karachi; after Raza Haider’s assassination:   The killing of  Raza Haider was the most high-profile in a series of slayings of party activists over the last month.  He was a senior member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Clashes that killed at least 40 people overnight

President’s Uk visit to boost cooperation and alleviate misconceptions: According to a press release issued by the Pakistan High Commission in London, during his visit, president Asif Ali Zardari will meet British PM Cameron at his country residence in Chequers, on the outskirts of London, on August 06.

Wake up Shabaz Sharif! Christians fearful and fleeing Punjab -by Junaid Qaiser: Violence against minorities is on the increase-and religious minority groups in Pakistan remain vulnerable due to the continued misuse and abuse of blasphemy laws. According to the, Annual Report on Religious Minorities in Pakistan, presented by the Justice and

Doctor rapes Christian student nurse, sexual assault and violence adds greatly to minorities vulnerability – by Junaid Qaiser: A third-year Christian nursing student in the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi  was found unconscious with a head injury near Doctors’ Backyard Mess after a Medico-Legal Officer (MLO), Dr Jabbar Memon allegedly raped her,  the media reported  on

A huge round of applause for the Punjab Assembly – by Junaid Qaiser: All political parties in the Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution against certain sections of the media for adopting an irresponsible attitude which could adversely affect the constitutional arrangement in the country and derail democracy. It has

Mian Sahab, it’s time for you to examine your counter extremism policy -by Junaid Qaiser: Terrorists have once again attacked the Lahore city, this time their target was the sacred shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajveri, a Persian Sufi and scholar during the 11th century who significantly contributed to the spreading of

Pakistan’s right wing media: a breeding ground for extremism – by Junaid Qaiser: Pakistan’s predominantly right wing media’s hostile propaganda against politicians and misrepresentation of information serve as a breeding ground for extremist aberrations in the society. Journalism is a gentleman’s profession, but here in Pakistan, newly born liberalized media seems to

Textbooks – Source confusion and extremism – by Junaid Qaiser: Pakistan’s poor education system and its bias curriculum that often incites intolerance and violence has increasingly become a matter of international concern. The government-mandated curriculum is a major concern for Western observers who say it encourages intolerance, anti democracy,

Christians’ fears piqued over blasphemy accusations: Since the penal code of the country was amended, during General Zia’s regime  in 1986, religious minorities in the country have been living in a state of fear and terror. Under the Blasphemy Law false cases have been brought

Sherani, a quack, nominated as head of experts – By Malik Rashid: There is a council of Islamic ideology in Pakistan that advises government and legislative bodies on laws that are repugnant to Islam. Maulana Sherani, a rural maulvi from Baluchistan, without any academic credentials, has been appointed the chairman of

Pakistan Should Reform Fatigued Foreign Policy – by Ibrahim Sajid Malick: Pop quiz: do you know Pakistan’s Ambassador to Chile, Malaysia, Venezuela, Brazil, or Russia? It is very likely that you don’t and, there is a reason – these countries don’t get adequate visibility in Pakistan. Hussain Haqqani (USA), Wajid

The Growing Threat In Pakistan’s Punjab -By Daud Khattak: Few Pakistanis rejoiced when the country’s military high command announced victory against armed militants in the Orakzai tribal agency last week — mainly because Punjab, the heartland of Pakistan, is still threatened by galloping Talibanization‏. Alarm bells have been

Democratic or Religious State – by Junaid Qaiser: جمہو ر ی یا مذ ہبی ر یا ست      جنید قیصر سقو ط ڈ ھا کہ جو ہما رے دل پر گز را ہے ۔ اِ س کے جو اند رو نی اور بیر و نی محر

PPP and PML(N), two different perspectives on terrorism – by Junaid Qaiser: Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) both have a different political history, objectives and a world view which is in contrast to each other. PPP is inherently a liberal democratic and to some extent secular mainstream party, it always supported

Obscurantism and undemocratic mindset – by Junaid Qaiser: قد ا مت پسند ی اور غیر جمہو ر ی اندا زِ فکر قا ئدا عظم ، مذ ہب اور ر یا ست کے تعلق کے حوا لے سے کیا خیا لا ت ر کھتے تھے ، قر ۃ

Anti Minorities Campaign in Punjab -by Junaid Qaiser: On May 28, 2010 Taliban extremists killed at least 93 members of the Ahmadi religious sect and injured around 100 others in attacks on two Ahmadi’s mosques during Friday prayer services in Lahore. According to local police, more than

Situation of Minorities in Pakistan – by Junaid Qaiser: After the tragic events of 9/11, Pakistani establishment finally had to set aside its traditional ideological hangovers, and instead raised a different slogan, “Pakistan First”. It was a matter of coercion or choice one can’t say with a degree