Author Archive
Strengths and pitfalls of the 18th Amendment – By Asma Jahangir: Our political leadership must make up its mind: either it commits itself to non-discriminatory policies on minorities or confesses to bigotry., writes Asma Jahangir. The much-awaited constitutional reforms may have sailed through the National Assembly and Senate but there
Convince people of absurdities and get them acquiescing to atrocities: The enduring power of Machiavellian political science – by Zahir Ebrahim: Source: Project Humanbeingsfirst.org Another case study of the brilliance of Machiavellian Political Science Once the hectoring hegemons have created a core-lie and got people to believe or accept it, namely, that ‘war on terror’ is real and “our war”, then many
In defence of the ANP and Kyber Pakhtunkhwa – by Hamid Mir: آئیے ذرا آج اپنے گریبان میں جھانکتے ہیں۔ کیا یہ درست نہیں کہ ہم میں سے اکثر لوگوں نے خود کو مفتیان کرام اور سپریم کورٹ کے ججوں کی جگہ پر فائز کر رکھا ہے؟ جی ہاں مفتیاں کرام
Mullahs vs Zaid Hamid: The hypocrisy of juggernaut vs juggernaut – by Fasi Zaka: Zaid Hamid once looked like an unstoppable juggernaut. It didn’t matter that much of what he said was inaccurate, or that he posed every problem in the context of himself being the only saviour. Self-serving arguments were lapped up
Religious minorities in Pakistan and a door slammed shut – Kamila Hayat: All of us who have attended school in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan were taught at one point or the other that the white strip that runs down the flag stood for non-Muslims who make up an estimated three
Aafia Siddiqui’s daughter’s reappearance: The CIA and ISI should come clean – by Kamran Shafi: Maryam Saddiqui, the missing daughter of Aafia Siddiqui, has been identified after mysteriously reappearing on her family’s doorstep, a top Pakistani official said. The 12-year-old is one of three children of Aafia Siddiqui. Come clean, there is still time
Diversity and tolerance in Pakistani society: Room for optimism – by Mohsin Hamid and Munno Bhai: Room for optimism By Mohsin Hamid EVER since returning to live in Pakistan a few months ago, I’ve been struck by the pervasive negativity of views here about our country. Whether in conversation, on television, or in the newspaper,
Ansar Abbasi Out LBW (Learn Before Writing!): Thanks: Pakistan Media Watch Poor Mr. Ansar Abbasi – he does not know how to quit while he is ahead. After his very poor showing on Friday, Mr. Abbasi has decided to have another go at writing his “news analysis”
Special Report on PPP – by Amir Mateen: Special Report: PPP Part-1 The cruel joke is on Benazir April 11, 2010 ISLAMABAD: Benazir Bhutto would not recognise her party if she were to see it today. It is no longer the Pakistan People’s Party that she inherited
Aik Zardari, Sab Per Bhari – by Abdul Qadir Hassan: Here is is a very interesting article by veteran right wing journalist Abdul Qadir Hassan (who is indeed not a proponent of the PPP or Zardari) in appreciation of President Asif Ali Zardari. AQ Hassan acknowledges that Zardari is
Nawaz Sharif’s letter to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia – by Hakim Hazik: تحریر: حکیم حاذق خط بنام برادر عبداللہ خادمِ حرمین شریفین، جلالۃ الملک،عزت مآب، برادرِ محترم جناب ملک عبداللہ صاحب اپنے عاصی و گنہ گار بھائی کی طرف سے سلامِ عقیدت قبول کیجیے۔ میں اور آپ کی بھابی یہاں خیریت
Pakistan: a nation under attack – by Robert Fisk: Thanks: The Independent American drones overhead, Taliban troops on the offensive, and the horrifying rise of child kidnapping – Pakistan is in pieces, writes Robert Fisk, in a devastating portrait of a country thwarted by violence and corruption Pakistan
A plea for Bara IDPs — by Farhat Taj: The IDPs request the government to open vocational centres in the camp for training in employable skills like carpentry, masonry, welding, electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. The IDPs also request for vocational centres for income generation and skill development purposes
The 18th amendment and the concurrent list! – by Cyril Almeida: It seems that the fear of a big, powerful, overreaching federal government has driven political parties from the smaller provinces to do the only thing that seems obvious: cut its powers. ISLAMABAD: Bye-bye concurrent list, we never even got
Kashmir War and Jinnah’s folly — by Yasser Latif Hamdani: The fact of the matter is that the Kashmir War was entirely winnable had Jinnah acted at the right time, i.e. October 10, 1947. It was still winnable had General Gracey allowed mobilisation when ordered by Jinnah There is
Peace, prosperity and progress for tribal people — by Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed: What is utterly disgraceful is the fact that women have been effectively and comprehensively denied their right to education by both commission and omission. Nowhere is this fact more glaringly manifest than in FATA My recent discussion of tribal
Punjabi judges must stop the witch hunt in the name of justice or risk backlash from other provinces – by Farrukh Siddiqui: Source: State of Pakistan blog The News reports the following on March 29, 2010 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) warned the Chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that he may be put behind bars if the judicial ordersdelivered on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), were
Remembering Z.A. Bhutto – by Nafees Siddiqi: Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was among those leaders of the world who shape the destinies of their peoples. Bhutto asserted Pakistan’s national independence when the country was a member of Western military pacts. It is his initiative in the
Ansar Abbasi’s “Truth” Problem: Cross-posted from Pakistan Media Watch Just this week I posted about Jang Group’s problem with facts. Now, as if to prove my point, Ansar Abbasi writes an article filled with so many problems and errors that it’s hard to keep
Rumpus at the Punjab University – by Qudrat Ullah: The recent spate of manhandling of a University Professor namely Dr. Iftikhar Baloch, by Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists, in the largest and the oldest seat of higher learning in Pakistan is the most tragic incident in the history
Plenipotent! Rule of law or rule of judges – by Saad Mansoor: The lawyers’ movement beginning on 9th March 2007 and ending after the restoration of judges on 16th March 2009 was a major milestone in the struggle for rule of law by people of Pakistan. However, little that goes on
18th Amendment, Na Manzoor: From Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa to Karachi, from Lahore to Gilgit-Baltistan and from Larkana to Queta, the entire nation is celebrating the parliamentary consensus on the proposed 18th amendment in Pakistan’s constitution. Constitutional experts and parliamentarians belonging to diverse ethnic and
Negativity unlimited: Ansar Abbasi’s reaction to the Constitutional Package: Agents of dark forces (establishment, Taliban, right wing) are as usual busy in spreading mischief and disinformation in the land of the pure. Ansar Abbasi, a key leader of Pakistani Taliban Union of Journalists (PTUJ), has recently written two
A review of PML-Q and other factions of PML – by Amir Mateen: PML-O (O for Others) By Amir Mateen Friday, April 02, 2010 ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Ali Jinnah must be turning in his grave at the various Muslim League factions that are pandering his name and integrity for their political perpetuation, and
A legal analysis of Article 248 and the presidential immunity – by Babar Sattar: In the following excerpt taken from his most recent op-ed in The News (3 April 2010), Babar Sattar examines some legal implications of Article 248 of Pakistan’s constitution, and advises judges in the Supreme Court to not to cross
Mohmand IDPs: forced expulsion? — by Farhat Taj: The IDPs from Mohmand must not be forced to leave the camp. Let us not forget that the people of Mohmand Agency, like people from elsewhere in FATA, are paying the torturous price for the military establishment’s policy of
Good riddance, Anwar Mansoor Khan, and some suggestions for the new Attorney General – by Honest People and Sarah Khan: Updated 3 April 2010: Now includes some names / recommendations for the new Attorney General Context Unprofessional, incompetent, irresponsible and disgraceful. These are some words which best describe the former Attorney General of Pakistan, Anwar Mansoor Khan, who has
Balochistan: Pakistan’s broken mirror – by Madiha Tahir: Source: The National – via Raza Rumi Baloch children hold up nationalist posters. Photographs by Asim Hafeez for The National Islamabad’s brutal attempts to crush ethnic Baloch nationalism have met with fierce, escalating resistance – and have laid bare the
Autism — obsession inexplicable – by Sadaf Shahid: I am at a park. I see a smart little boy. He is in the pink of health and seems perfect in every respect. Yet, he is somehow different. He has a detached attitude, is disinterested in the games
Constitutional Reforms: A victory of democracy – by Ayaz Amir: Thank God for small mercies Islamabad diary This could have been a wrecking moment, another corrosive chapter in a history not given to too many bright moments. But if the worst did not happen, and if disaster was averted,
Imran Khan’s campaign for Zac Goldsmith: Who is Imran fooling? Ayesha Ijaz Khan: Imran Khan continues to mislead. I cannot help but wonder if he can even relate to the troubles many Pakistanis and Muslims would encounter in being forcibly removed from Britain if the Conservative Party was to have its way
Hooligans of Islami Jamiat put Punjab University professor in hospital: ‘IJT hooligans’ put PU professor in hospital * Injured principal of College of Earth & Environmental Sciences also chairman of disciplinary committee * PU VC calls on Punjab CM to take notice * IJT distances itself Staff Report LAHORE:
Pakhtoon will always remember President Asif Ali Zardari: If there is one person who can be in the main credited with the change of name of the NWFP to Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, it is President Asif Zardari. The movement for renaming the NWFP saw many ups and downs over
A critical perspective on Pakistan’s Supreme Court, PPP and PML-N – by Honest People: Supreme Court Supreme Court under Iftikhar Chaudhry is utterly dishonest, highly incompetent, intellectually corrupt, politically motivated and totally biased. Reasons for this are detailed below:- 1. In the judgment of 31st July 2009, 14 PCO judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar
Ameerul Momineen Nawaz Sharif respected the judiciary once – by Saeed Minhas: ISLAMABAD: Ministers disclosing the misdeeds of their colleagues, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani ordering a probe into the shabby deals of cabinet members coupled with the twinge of the judiciary and arm-twisting of political players remains the order of
Nawaz’s crowning glory – Fasi Zaka: Nawaz Sharif has finally achieved what no one has been able to do in politics for the past two years, which is to make Asif Ali Zardari’s PPP look good by comparison. He inadvertently whitewashed them when he decided
Controversial Chief Justice of Pakistan assumes executive authority; challenges the attorney-client privilege – by Aamir Mughal and Sarah Khan: Adapted from: Aamir Mughal’s blog Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, controversial Chief Justice of Pakistan, today created a new chapter in Pakistan’s history by assuming the executive authority of the federal government and also objecting to the attorney-client privilege. Pakistan’s
The case for Pakhtunkhwa – by Rahimullah Yusufzai: The debate on renaming the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) is serious business because it concerns the identity of its people and their place in the federation of Pakistan. However, the direction it has taken is sometimes comical, and at
Need a boost, PML-N? They’ll never admit it – by Shafiq Awan: The telltale between British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif over the latter’s U-turn on constitutional reforms made Nawaz blush. Reportedly, Nawaz Sharif demanded assurance from the foreign guarantor that his political survival would not be
Pashtun nationalism — by Dr Manzur Ejaz: Most of the time, secular Pashtun nationalists have highlighted their economic deprivation. But if the Pashtuns’ share in the army, the bureaucracy and the economy in Pakistan is higher than the proportion of their population, such an argument becomes