Author Archive
Why Fata cannot be a province – by Ali Begum: CHANGE is inevitable and it has to come in Fata. The area has to be brought into the national mainstream. While the FCR in the NWFP and Balochistan was replaced with the Act of 1935 in one go, the
Nazir Naji on Zulfiqar Mirza: سیاسی دھماکہ ہمارے ہاں سیاست کم اور سیاسی دھماکے زیادہ ہوتے ہیں۔ الیکشن کے فوراً بعد ججوں کی بحالی کا معاہدہ ہوا۔ وہ ٹوٹا تو سیاسی دھماکہ ہو گیا۔ مسلم لیگ (ن) نے پہلے وفاقی کابینہ میں شامل ہو
Osama bin Laden ‘protected by Pakistan in return for Saudi cash’ – by Rob Crilly: Osama bin Laden was protected by elements of Pakistan’s security apparatus in return for millions of dollars of Saudi cash, according to a controversial new account of the operation to kill the world’s most wanted man. Raelynn Hillhouse, an
Book review: Taliban and Anti-Taliban, Another book to kill for? – by Khaled Ahmed: Another bombshell will have to be endured by the national Taliban narrative with ‘Taliban and anti-Taliban’ by Farhat Taj (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2011), a Research Fellow at Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Research, University of Oslo, Norway, an MPhil in
Remembering Ahmed Faraz: A Voice of Dissent – by Arjumand Ara: Kisi aur des ki or ko, suna hai Faraz chala gaya. sabhi dukh samet ke she’hr ke, sabhi qarz utaar ke she’hr ka. (They say that Faraz has left for some other land, Taking with him all the sorrows
Hizb al-Tahrir: A New Threat to the Pakistan Army? – By Arif Jamal: First published at CTC On May 6, 2011, Pakistani authorities arrested Brigadier Ali Khan on charges of ties to Hizb al-Tahrir (HT), an Islamist group that is banned in Pakistan. Shortly after, authorities revealed that four majors in the
On US Embassy and Pakistani Homosexuals – By Nuwas Manto: Now that its been sometime since the US embassy Pride event took place I believe it is time to shout back at the ensuing homophobia resulting out of it. The resultant fear of many queers that a public anti-homophobia
Questioning the credibility of PTV awards: A letter by Farheen Chaudhry: Farheen Chaudhry, a poetess, short stories writer and Ex, General Secretary Hlaqa Arbar-e-Zuaq, has sent us this letter about the favoritism and unfair attitude towards her in Pakistan Television, Our LUBP contributor, journalist and progressive writer Aamir Hussaini has
Jamaati goons misbehaved with woman professor in Punjab University – by Aamir Hussaini: پنجاب یونیورسٹی میں خواتین سے بد سلوکی کب تک؟ فلاسفی ڈیپارٹمنٹ پنجاب یونیورسٹی کی لکچرار سہرین بخاری کے ساتھ اسلامی جمعیت طلبہ کے غنڈوں نے اس وقت بد سلوکی کی جب وہ نوٹس بورڈ پرایک احتجاج کا نوٹس چسپاں
Shia Hazaras of Queta: Entrapped in deep state’s delinquent and obedient proxies – by Farrukhzad Ali: Initially, I was amazed at the media attention Syed Ibrar Hussain’s recent assassination in Quetta received, but I could rationalize it quickly – it wasn’t Syed Ibrar Hussain (or Ibrar Agha as he was known) who was being eulogized
Book Review: A thousand and one tales of terror- by Dr Mohammad Taqi: The book is a news reporter’s entry into the world of analyzing current affairs and to an extent geopolitical forecasting. Off the bat, the author rejects the prevailing western understanding of al-Qaeda being on the ropes Book review: Inside
Reporting from the Danger Zone: An Interview with Pakistani Journalist Malik Siraj Akbar: “We believe there is no journalism but fearless journalism.” Pakistan has recently become a subject of some attention as one of the deadliest places for journalism, brought into the global eye to a small degree by the death of
Hyperbolizing our piousness – by Mubarak Haider: مبارک حیدر نے1963ءمیں گارڈن کالج راولپنڈی سے انگریزی ادبیات میں ماسٹرز کیا، وہیں پوسٹ گریجویٹ یونین کے صدر تھے جب شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو سے پہلی ملاقات ہوئی۔64ءمیں اسلامیہ کالج لاہور سے وابستہ ہوئے۔ شاعر اور انقلابی کی حیثیت
Another open letter to General Pasha – by Ejaz Baloch: Dear General Pasha The Affix with my name “Baloch” do not entitle me to communicate directly to you as our people have no idyllic past experiences of your institution. My personal observations about you are based on your gestures
Cover up of Saleem Shahzad’s Murder: The ISI and its proxies spring into action: Saleem Shahzad has been killed brutally. His tortured dead body has been recovered today. Media and individuals at social networks have started speculating about the possible assassins. Most of the people are pointing fingers at the notorious intelligence agency,
Message to Pakistan: China Will Not Replace U.S. Aid – by Daniel Wagner: The current debate in the U.S. Congress about whether and how to continue economic and military aid to Pakistan is understandably problematic. On one hand, Congress is mindful of Pakistan’s long history with the U.S., its unique geostrategic location,
The 20 briefed by the ISPR – by Adnan Farooq: Raheem Ullah Yousafzai, Mujeeb Ur Rehman Shami, Haroon Ur Raheed (columnist), Talat Hussain, Zahid Hussain (Wall Street Journal), Ijaz Haider, Moeed Peerzada, Qatreena Hussain, Mehar Bokhari, Sana Bucha, Hamid Mir, Javed Ch., Saleem Safi, Arshad Sarif, Kashif Abbasi, Ibsaar
Iftikhar Chaudhry, the man who betrayed Balochistan – by Malik Siraj Akbar: Editorial of the banned Balochistan Newspaper, The Baloch Hal The Baloch anguish is not merely justified because they are receiving the bullet-riddled dead bodies of their smartest and most talented democratic youth almost on daily basis but they also
Hollow Antiterrorism Efforts – by Farman Nawaz: The article was published in the Daily Outlook Afghanistan before Abbottabad operation and killing of Osama but the reason to share it with the readers is to show how shallow the anti-terrorism efforts are if at the end we
Questions for General Pasha: If I have to comment on ISI chief’s emotional speech in the in-camera session of the parliament, I can say this via Mirza Ghalib: roney se aur ishq mey beybaak hogay, dhoey gaye hum aisey ke bas pak hogay
Bin Laden Killed in a joint operation??: Editor’s note: Finally United States has killed Osama. The details are not clear yet but it seems Osama Bin Laden was killed in a missile attack on a compound in the city of Abbottabad, a place of huge military
PPP and PML-Q talks: Chauhdry Nisar and Shahbaz have a meeting in Rawalpindi?: While PPP and PML-Q leadership were busy in a meeting to finalising the power sharing formula, all the eyes as always were on the Presidential palace. Enthusiastic reporters were officiously covering the event and TV actors hosting the entertainment
A Lasting Solution for Balochistan – By Malik Siraj Akbar: While the Chief of Army Staff General Parvez Ashfaq Kayani’s announcement to replace PA soldiers with the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) in Balochistan’s gas-rich town of Sui indicates a significant policy change on part of the military, it would
Asfandyar Wali Khan must not embarrass his electorate – by Shaista Aazar: During his recent visit to India, the ANP Chief and Chairman Foreign Affairs Committee Asfandyar Wali Khan delivered the first Bacha Khan memorial lecture and talked on the relevance of non violence ideology of Bacha Khan. When Asfandyar praises
Raymond Davis release: “All is well” when it comes to Saudi Arabia: ’رہائی میں سعودی عرب نے کردار ادا کیا‘ صوبہ پنجاب کے دارالحکومت لاہور میں دو پاکستانیوں کو ہلاک کرنے والے سی آئی اے کے اہلکار ریمنڈ ڈیوس کی رہائی پر پاکستان کی سیاسی و مذہبی جماعتوں کی جانب سے
Raymond Davis Saga: Everybody was Looking For The Happy Ending – by Shaista Aazar: In Pakistan, Hamid Mir and Javed Chaudhary have been conferred with the title of “Moderate” by none other than Mufti Hanif Qureshi, the man who incited lunatic Qadri, (the lone wolf as per the anti-American lobby) to take law
Another extension for the ISI chief – By Ayesha Siddiqa: Related article: ISI Chief’s extension: Another bad decision in offing? Another general gets an extension and most of the media scrambles to justify the move. It was comical listening to alleged experts argue on the basis of their scant
Citizens of Hypocrisy: Blog Deleted by Express Tribune: Related articles: Peasants for Democracy A blog titled as “Citizens of hypocrisy, Can a petition save Pakistan” was published at Express Tribune site, the writer a University student wrote about the petition signing campaign of “Citizen for Democracy” aka
ISI leaks to their media team: “Running short of Patsies; need more Raymond Davises” – by Azaad Mir: Related article: On the so called ISI-CIA rift on the Raymond Davis issue It seems that Aabpara and its media division (Geo, ARY, AAj etc) have realized that breaking the news of Raymond Davis being a CIA operative can
Defeating the “Forces of Paganism”: Former ISI Chief Hamid Gul blends Pakistani nationalism and Islamic revolution – by Andrew McGregor: The retired former chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI), Lieutenant General Hamid Gul, is one of the most controversial political figures in Pakistan. Despite his once extremely close ties with the American Central Intelligence Agency during the Soviet
Javed Chauhdry, a moderate and Mosharraf Zaidi, a liberal?: Governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassination by a “religious fanatic robot” and varying stances regarding this barbaric act have resulted in a new debate. Now those who are asking for Qadri’s execution via judicial process are titled as “Liberal Fascists”. Those
Selective operation against PPP in Faqir Colony, Orangi Town – by Ubaid Sarbazi: We have received from our contributors and supporters in Orangi Town, Karachi that a brutal and very selective crackdown has been initiated that is solely targeting a PPP constituency. While Karachi residents are hopeful that a proper de-weaponization operation
Salman Taseer: Another victim of the deep state, its ideological and political faces – by Shaista Aazar: Related article: A plan well executed Governor Punjab Salman Taseer is assassinated by his own guard from the Punjab Police Elite force, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri. He very proudly confessed it before the security officials, saying that he has
Dirty politics, now or always? – by Shaista Aazar: Related article: MQM and PML-N introduce each other The recent war of words between PML-N and MQM leaderships and a showdown in front of the parliament house that saw the parliamentary leaders dragging in each other’s families and personal
Benazir Bhutto’s murder: Whose narrative is Mubashir Lucman propagating? – by Shaista Aazar: Mubashir Lucman (weird spelling) is a very strange figure in term of political affiliation, his sympathies and criticism, his praise and hunt for various political figures. He was part of General Musharraf’s interim cabinet and unlike his other friends, he
A response to Ejaz Haider: Blatant lies and partial facts on Balochistan – by Shaista Aazar: Related article: On Ejaz Haider and his kudos to our saviours Ejaz Haider, as a political analyst wrote about him, “Ejaz Haider is just defending what he has always believed in. He is a former cadet and would have
In response to Declan Walsh’s article on Karachi’s deadly divide – by Shaista Aazar: Sheen Alif is as an avid LUBP reader who has written this piece exclusively for LUBP. He maintains his own blog titled “Backbenches”. I am writing this post after reading a recent article by Declan Walsh, the Guardian correspondent