Monthly Archive:: February 2010
She embraced Islam, came to Pakistan, only to be killed by Taliban: Belinda Khan, 44, originally from Cardiff UK, was one of eight people killed when car bomb exploded in volatile Swat Valley Here is the story of a British woman (Amina Khan, previously Belinda Gardinal) who embraced Islam two years
Would the PPP workers in Rawalpindi vote for PML-N? – by Ahsan Abbas: سیاسی طالبعلم بمقابلہ سیاسی طالبان ضمنی انتخابات نے سیاسی ماحول کو ایک مرتبہ پھر گرما دِیا ہِے۔ راولپنڈی حلقہ ٥٥ کے ضمنی انتخاب کی مُہم جوئی کا کل آخری دِن تھا۔ پوٹوھار کی خلقِ خُدا جلد ہی اپنے ووٹ
Facts about Chasma-Jhelum hydropower plant – by Qudrat Ulla: Now a days, the provinces of Sindh and Punjab are at odds over the issue of Chasma-Jhelum Canal Project which the government of Punjab is contemplating to set up at the Chasma Jhelum Canal with a total capacity of
Zaid Hamid’s conspiracy theories — by Ishtiaq Ahmed: Conspiracy theories and theorists Conspiracy theories and their authors become a cause for concern when they begin to hallucinate and can no longer distinguish between their own flights of imagination and the world around them. When they hijack a
Principles of policy of Pakistan’s constitution – by Mosharraf Zaidi: Principles of policy Part I February 23, 2010 In his column last week, my friend Harris Khalique quotes a small part of Article 38 of the Constitution, which is titled, “Promotion of social and economic well-being of the people”.
Our quasi-feudal political parties — by Babar Ayaz: There is a wide demand and supply gap in the political market. The political parties that are ill-prepared, power-centric, self-seeking and have failed to fathom the change cannot meet this yawning gap. Their change and growth is quintessential for
Rana Sanaullah has ties with sectarian terrorists? Shame on you, PML-N: PML-Q MNA Waqas Akram of Jhang has accused Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah of having ties with the leader of Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunna (formerly Sipah-e-Sahaba) and of touring Jhang with this militant in an attempt to gain some votes. Waqas
Was Jinnah Secular? Facts about the creation of Pakistan compiled by Aamir Mughal: I. Ideology Drama was a farce rather hoodwinking the whole Muslim Population The strength of the Muslim League in the Muslim-majority provinces was going to be put to the test during the 1945-46 election campaign. Consequently in the public
A brief history of extremism in Pakistan – by Hassan Amin: Ever since the inception of Pakistan, Extremist Mullahs have always been vying to hijack the State. When I refer to the term ‘Extremist Mullahs’, I draw a line to separate, ‘Islamist Fanatics with a Political Agenda’ from the simple
Judicial coup in Pakistan – by David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey: Source: Wall Street Journal- ASIA EDITION When U.S. President Barack Obama sharply challenged a recent Supreme Court decision in his State of the Union address, prompting a soto voce rejoinder from Justice Samuel Alito, nobody was concerned that the contretemps
Secularism vs Islamism – by Iqbal Akhund: In a recent TV debate on this subject, the applause meter would have given the win to Islamism. The debaters, three on each side, faced a small mixed audience — quite a few girls, many wearing hijabs, also young
The real ‘National’ languages – by NAD Pukhtunyar: The Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, while observing the following: 1 Pakistan is a state comprising five different ethnicities/nations; 2 The national, economic and cultural rights of all the nationalities are invoilable; 3 All institutions of the state such as
Give Pashto official status – PkMAP, PkSO: The PkMAP and the PkSO called upon the government to declare Pushto as the official language in Pakhtun-dominated areas.—Photo by APP QUETTA: The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Pakhtunkhwa Students Organisation called upon the government on Sunday to declare
Back towards tolerance in Pakistani society – by Charles Ferndale and Kamila Hayat: Here are two articles highlighting the importance of re-discovering and re-inculcating the seeds of tolerance in Pakistani society and the region in general. The path to freedom Monday, February 22, 2010 Charles Ferndale Kamila Hyat, in a typically lucid,
Some rambling thoughts on Dr Shahid Masood’s hair transplant and Meray Mutabiq – by Kaleem Butt: If one is asked to name one media personality hosting a TV show whose presentations now a days are totally lacking in objectivity, fairness, sense of proportion and balance, one name pops up and that is Dr Shahid Masood.
Mrs. Janjua where art thou? – by pejamistri: A few days back when I wrote “Do you remember Sajjad Ali Shah”, in the heart of my hearts I prayed that I was wrong. It is true that during the struggle against the 21st century mad dictator (General
Two years of democracy and counting – by Raza Rumi: ‘The obvious fallout of the media-government war has been a virtual blackout of what the civilian governments have achieved’, Writes Raza Rumi in his excellent article in The News on Sunday. Two years and counting Given the average shelf
These are the courts, and yes, this is the justice – by Saria Benazir: Today , the democracy is being challenged in the courts. Those cases, which stayed unproved after years of exploration are being opened again, and people, who themselves took illegal steps in the past, this day speak of law and
Democracy, transparency and accountability – by Dr Farrukh Saleem: Transparency is the mother of democracy. Two things: first, there can’t be democracy without transparency. Second, democracy can’t allow the murder of her own mother. No government, therefore, is a democracy unless it ‘implements a set of policies and
In a democratic system, the primacy of the elected institutions and leaders should be respected. – by Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi: Beyond the executive-judiciary crisis The executive-judiciary crisis has another dimension with implications for the future of democracy in Pakistan. This can also be viewed as an attempt by a non-elected state institution, i.e. the judiciary, to restrict the role
Pakistan’s apex court decides not to examine evidence against intelligence agencies in the missing persons case: Evidence against agencies not to be examined: SC Friday, 19 Feb, 2010 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan said on Friday it will not examine evidence against intelligence agencies in the missing persons’ case. A written order released to
Zaid Hamid’s Ghazwa-e-Hind Brigade – by Anas Abbas: According to Zion Hamid, Ghazwa-e-Hind is an event supposed to take place on August 14, 2012 at 4:40am in India. See the source: GHAZWA-E-HIND on facebook Please find below the Ghazwa-e- Hind Brigade. Commander Zaid with burger mujahedaas Here are
Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s case and Pakistani media’s hysteria – by Farhat Taj: Caravans and howling of stray animals — Farhat Taj The media in Pakistan is constantly promoting a one-sided view of Dr Aafia’s case. Nobody is expecting 100 percent objectivity from the media. But still one is surprised how some
Advocate Naeem Bokhari’s letter to Pakistan’s controversial Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry: In the light of the recent emphasis on principles of merit and justice as reiterated by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on numerous occasions, it is pertinent to revisit the letter written by the Supreme Court Lawyer
A new dawn – by Agha Haider Raza: Over the past few days – out-of-public viewing – Pakistan has witnessed a welcoming shift in policy. With the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Mullah Abdul Salam, the trust deficit between the United States and Pakistan or
Diamer-Bhasha dam: A postcolonial project which remains ignored in Pakistani media: We have previously posted several articles on LUBP highlighting the plight of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan including the violation of their rights through the proposed Diamer-Bhasha Dam project. We note with concern that two innocent persons were killed yesterday
Did the match between President Zardari and CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry end in a draw?: Here are two thought provoking articles on this topic. The first one is by Zafar Hilaly in Daily Times, and the second is by Cyril Almeida writing in Dawn. The game not worth the candle — by Zafar Hilaly
Time out for reading, CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry – by Ayaz Amir: In his recent article in The News, Ayaz Amir recommends Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to read Bacon’s essay “Of Judicature”. We provide below an excerpt from Ayaz Amir’s article as well as Bacon’s essay in full with an aim
Pakistan’s Jinnah – by Ayesha Siddiqa: “Some devious elements are tinkering with Jinnah’s person and his narrative” Writes Ayesha Siddiqa in the following article. Some time ago, I had a chance to read veteran columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee’s article ‘Bring back Jinnah’s Pakistan’ in which he
Taliban and science – An interview with Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy: “Islam and Science Have Parted Ways” Middle East Quarterly Winter 2010, pp. 69-74 Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy (b. 1950) is one of South Asia’s leading nuclear physicists and perhaps Pakistan’s preeminent intellectual. Bearer of a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute
UN team grills close aide of Musharraf in Bhutto murder: By Amir Mir LAHORE: The United Nations’ Inquiry Commission probing the assassination of the former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto recently posed some tough question to the former director general of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and a close associate
Military judiciary nexus is a threat to parliament – by Junaid Qaiser: Good news for Pakistan’s undemocratic forces and bad news for Pakistan’s Parliament and its supremacy: Government accepts judiciary’s recommendations. We are continuously moving towards judicial dictatorship. Pakistan army has always played an integral role in Pakistan government and politics
First Annual Pakistani Private TV Channels Awards – by Nadeem Paracha: Awards night Hello people, and welcome to the First Annual Pakistani Private TV Channels Awards. I, Wamid Mir, will be your host for the evening and with me will be the lovely, Dr. Shireen Blackwater Baymaari. Let’s kick off
Why did Pakistani media boycott Brigadier Hussain Abbas’ funeral?: By Omar Khattab in Lahore Last week Brigadier Hussain Abbas was killed by the Taliban in the Waziristan area. The newspapers wrote as usual about the “martyrdom” of an army officer at the hands of the “militants” and not
Do you see the difference between democratic People’s Party and fascist Muslim League?: By Omar Khattab in Lahore Yesterday Pakistan’s People’s Party once again gave evidence of its unflinching faith in democracy and peaceful co-existence. Despite the fact that egged on by the likes of Nawaz Sharif, the Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry
Three pictures, a column and the mindset of Syed Talat Hussain: The first few paragraphs in Syed Talat Hussain’s op-ed today offer his choice and analysis of three pictures. However, more than anything else, this choice and analysis also betrays his mindset, explaining why this excellent anchor sometimes acts as
Pakistan is heading towards judicial dictatorship – Asma Jahangir: Asma says judicial dictatorship on the cards KARACHI: People will soon witness a judicial dictatorship in the country if the judiciary continuously moves ahead in its present direction and then we would forget military and political dictatorships, HRCP chairperson
The Greater Game of Rightist Establishment: What we are today witnessing is a completely de-politicized youth of Pakistan trying to define Pakistan’s politics in a haste and in black and white. There are many grey areas in politics too. Our youth today needs to understand
Hats off to Prime Minister Gilani – by PPP UK: Those who were hoping that PM Gilani will undermine the President of Pakistan / Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari, this is a message to you to shut your mouth and keep playing games if you want to but this
Hijacking Democracy – by Anas Muhammad: Today we live in an increasingly dangerous world, which is filled with people who have their ulterior motives and willingness to harm others to benefit themselves. Our world is filled with criminals, gangsters, murderers, and terrorists. The people who