Newspaper Articles Archive
Assassinations mark worsening conflict in Balochistan – by Abubakar Siddique: Death tolls are rising in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province, adding to fear that the low-level separatist conflict in the resource-rich region is worsening. The violence is highlighted by a wave of targeted assassinations, pitting Baloch separatists against backers and forces
Qari Saifullah Akhtar, ISI’s most valued asset, resurfaces in Punjab: About Qari Saifullah Akhtar is a senior al Qaeda military leader who operates in Paksitan. Akhtar is the influential leader of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami and commands Brigade 313, a unit in al Qaeda’s Shadow Army. Akhtar has direct links with
Tar village: a beacon of light with 80pc literacy -by Iqbal Khawaja: THATTA: Amid poor nationwide rate of literacy and declining standard of education in the province, Tar Khuwaja, a small village of 500 souls, 63 kilometres from here, has sprung up like an oasis with more than 80 per cent
Happy new year? – by Kamran Shafi: WELL, hopefully, what with the obscurantist forces back on the march in an attempt to bludgeon into submission those who advocate the imperative and immediate need of making the blasphemy laws in this country less draconian, less obnoxious; what
Benazir Bhutto: A charismatic leader – by Hamza Ameer: Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the first women leader of a Muslim nation in modern history, a woman who represented a family filled with brilliance and a nation leading ability, a family that reached out to the needs of the
General Musharraf (and his military establishment) killed Benazir Bhutto – by Hamid Mir: شہید بی بی کو اپنے قاتل کا پتہ تھا قلم کمان …حامد میر وہ نومبر 2007ء کی ایک خوشگوار صبح تھی لیکن محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو کچھ افسردہ اور پریشان نظر آرہی تھیں۔ انہوں نے مجھے زرداری ہاؤس اسلام آباد
Why Benazir Bhutto’s killer can’t be taken to task – by Amir Mir: Three years after Benazir Bhutto’s tragic assassination in Rawalpindi and almost nine months after the United Nations Inquiry Commission released its report, carrying broad hints about her probable assassins, the actual mastermind of her murder still remains at large.
Remembering Benazir Bhutto – by Farahnaz Ispahani: Three years ago today, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. It was a dark day that indelibly changed the direction of Pakistan and I am torn both by personal and political reflections. I was blessed and honoured not only to assist
New year celebrations are not allowed – by Arshad Mahmood: “An excellent column. The entire world enjoys on the eve of new year,while Islamists condemn it, as merry making is a sin and Jehad against the merry makers is the greatest of all achievements.Don’t enjoy and don’t let others
Was Jinnah a Shia or a Sunni? – by Khaled Ahmed: Jinnah’s funeral, Karachi (1948) Jinnah, … was wont to describe himself in public as neither a Shia nor a Sunni. His stock answer to a query about his sect was: was Muhammad [pbuh] the Prophet a Shia or a
Message of President Asif Ali Zardari on Third Martyrdom Anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (Dec 27, 2010): On the eve of the third martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto today, while we pay tribute to her courage and leadership we also vow to continue to fight for the values she upheld and laid down her
Extremist Deobandis (Taliban) massacre 45 Salarzai Pushtuns in Bajaur: Related articles: SOS: Who will save the anti-Taliban Salarzai tribes from the wrath of the ISI and the Taliban? Attacking the jirgas is a sign of weakness in the Taliban At least 45 people have been killed and nearly
Chairman Bilawal, President Zardari and PM Gillani wish ‘Merry Christmas’: President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani have felicitated Christian community on the eve of Christmas falling today. The president said, “Christmas is a time for festivity, celebration and rejoicing as
Time to rescue the people of Parachinar – by Farahnaz Ispahani: Parachinar used to be called ‘a paradise on Earth’. Despite its natural beauty and strategic importance, Parachinar is presently in a dire state due to sectarian violence initially instigated by the negative policies of former president Ziaul Haq. The
His Holiness Pope Benedict’s message on Christmas: Pope Benedict’s Christmas message for the UK has been broadcast as Thought For The Day on the Today programme on Radio 4. It is the first time that the Pontiff has addressed a Christmas message especially for one of
Frivolous statements —by Gulmina Bilal Ahmad: The quality, quantity, impact and sustainability of anti-terrorism programmes need to be assessed, discussed and improved. However, to declare that prosecutors and investigators do “not know the meaning of the word terrorism” and that there has been no training
Shahzain Bugti’s arrest and the military establishment’s new game in Balochistan: Cross-posted from The Baloch Hal An Imposed Hero Every day has a new reason why Balochistan must continue to remain unstable. While the assassination attempts on the lives of Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi and Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad
Pushtun, Shia, Ahmadi and Barelvi: main victims of terrorism in Pakistan in 2010 – by Amir Mir: Source: The News, December 24, 2010 The year 2010 has proven to be the bloodiest for the people of Pakistan since 2001 as the unending spate of lethal suicide bombings in almost every nook and corner of the country
Hindu holy man’s kidnap in Pakistan triggers protests – by Amir Mir: Source: DNA, Dec 24, 2010 The kidnapping of Pakistan’s most revered Hindu spiritual leader, 85-year old Lakki Chand Garji, of Kali Mata Mandir in Balochistan’s Kalat district, has caused widespread protests by Hindus. Garji was travelling from Kalat to
Muslim cultural narcissism -by Arshad Mahmood: Related Article: Tehzibi Nargasiat – by Mobarak Haider
A perspective on Pakistan’s Balochistan problem – by Tanveer Qaiser Shahid: Source: Express, 24 and 25 Dec 2010
An (unofficial) ISI spokesperson writes on former CIA head in Islamabad: مفرور سی آئی اے چیف احمد قریشی پاکستان کو سی آئی اے کے ایجنٹوں سے پاک صاف کرنے کا عمل شروع ہوچکا ہے اور ان کے ساتھ ساتھ ہی حکومت میں موجود ایسے عناصر کی بھی چھانٹی کی جارہی
Azam Swati vs Hamid Saeed Kazmi: Related article: The Barelvi-Deobandi feud and ‘becharay’ Pakistani – by Tanvir Qaiser Shahid Source: daily Express
Pakistani heroes of Bangladesh – by Hasan Mujtaba: بنگلہ دیش اور اس کے پاکستانی ہیرو بنگلہ دیشی حکومت اور عوام کی طرف سے ان کی حمایت کے لیے مانے اور جانے والے اس وقت کے مغربی پاکستانی سیاسی رہنماؤں اور دانشوروں میں جو نام ہیں وہ ہیں
Rulers and taxes – by Khurram Hussain: This is an interesting article that is praising the government in the way it is trying to handle the RGST issue. It is also tracing the history of efforts on revenue generation. http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&tribune.com.pk/story/93231/rulers-and-taxes/ Things were not going well for
Shame on the PPP government and its ambassador-at-large: Editors’ note: The following is a disturbing news report. We would like to know the purpose of such trips by its ambassador-at-large and the benefits that Pakistan has received in return. If Mr Klasra’s story is verified and if
On Pak-China Friendship and CIA-ISI feud: The Pamir Knot and beyond – by Dr Mohammad Taqi: The relationship between the US and Pakistani intelligence agencies appears to be moving from playing uneasy footsie to a fairly sordid affair. The blowing of the CIA’s Islamabad station chief’s cover, allegedly at the behest of the host country’s
JUI breakup: Evading North Waziristan Operation – by Faruq Adil: Related article: Maulana Fazlur-Rehman and the military establishment’s new game – by Nazir Naji
Three high ranking TTP officials killed in Afghanistan: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Hafizullah and two of his aides were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday, according to official sources. Hafeezullah was the head of the TTP in the Upper and Lower Dir areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province before
General Pasha hazir ho: ISI chief summoned by a US court for complicity in the Mumbai terror attacks: Related article: Why did the CIA recall its station chief in Pakistan? ISI on the run, refuses to explain its role in drone attacks! The Mumbai lawsuit in Brooklyn Last month, a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn, which was brought
Maulana Fazlur-Rehman and the military establishment’s new game – by Nazir Naji: Related article: JUI breakup: Evading North Waziristan Operation – by Faruq Adil بات وزارت عظمیٰ کی ہے سویرے سویرے…نذیر ناجی جب جنگ میں دو متوازی سوچیں چل رہی ہیں‘ تو سیاسی عمل اس سے کیسے محفوظ رہ سکتا ہے؟
Updated: An open letter to the PPP – by Shams Rehman: With the dropping out of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) from the ruling coalition, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government suddenly looks vulnerable. And the fact is that it has become vulnerable. The possibility of the revival of the defunct
Christians will observe Christmas as a ‘protest day’, Sandul prays for Aasia Bibi: President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said that his government would not allow the blasphemy law to be used for the settling personal scores. “The government,” he insisted, “will take all appropriate measures, whether administrative, procedural or legislative to stop
Can the Left become relevant to Islamic Pakistan? – by Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy: The left has always been a marginal actor on Pakistan’s national scene. While this bald truth must be told, in no way do I wish to belittle the enormous sacrifices made by numerous progressive individuals, as well as small
Kill the sectarian killers: Why can’t Pakistan do the same?: Related article: Rigi’s execution in Iran: Why can’t Pakistan do this? Despite our reservations about an authoritarian, theocratic regime in Iran, the country offers a worthy example by punishing rogue elements (sectarian terrorists of Jundullah and Sipah-e-Sahaba) who have
Policy of reconciliation: President Zardari again extends ‘hand of friendship’ to Mian Nawaz Sharif: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday extended, once again, hand of friendship to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. In his reply to a letter addressed to him by the PML-N Quaid, the president said the