Quran and Peace – by Hamid Akhtar: Here is an excerpt from Hamid Akhtar’s speech in a Seminar titled “Quran and Peace” (held on 1 February 2010).

Hit and left to die – by S Khalid Husain: The Punjab chief secretary left the scene of the accident after his chauffeur-driven vehicle knocked down and killed an ex-army officer; this was a cold-blooded act no different from that of a hit-and-run driver. This was a grave error

Education and values – by Ayesha Siddiqa: The coexistence of various economic classes also meant greater tolerance for other differences, be it class, religion, caste or creed. –File Photo A year ago, some of my old classmates from Lahore’s Cathedral High School tracked me down through

Uncontested dominance – by Cyril Almeida: What makes the army so contemptuous of civilians is the fact that you can only conquer what you understand: while the army thoroughly understands the ways of the politicians, the opposite is anything but true. What does the military-bureaucratic

Hope Persists? – by Nimer Ahmed: Denmark had hosted the 15th UN’s Climate Change Conference from 7th December till 18th December 2009. At Copenhagen 193 countries negotiated to strike a much-needed deal to save entire human civilization but failed to deliver the answers for climate

Nadeem F. Paracha vs Aamir Liaquat Hussain: Source: Pakistan Media Watch VS Though we typically focus on news talk shows and newspapers, it is not beyond the boundaries to also include some religious television shows. Obviously, this is not a blog about Religion Watch, and I

Yes, they have ruined us – by Sehar Tauqeer: 1. We, the 170 million Pakistanis, don’t know till when we will have to eat ‘fruits’ of these ‘ruiners of Pakistan’, the so called ‘Islamic Right Wing’ propaganda war machines, who Ayyaz Amir recently termed as Laptop Warriors, the pseudo Islamic Parties –  Saleem Safi

MQM’s form of political protest is unjustified.: The fact remains that it is the right of the provincial government to decide what the local government system is in any province. It’s unfortunate that the local government system preferred by many PPP leaders would not be as

Badshah Khan: The unsung champion of federalism and democracy – by Nadir Ali Dirojay Pukhtunyar: The Pashtun homeland in the south and east of Afghanistan and the north-west of Pakistan has become synonymous with terrorism and violence. Certain quarters suggest that the Pashtun region and society is intrinsically violence driven. The Pashtuns have a

Former corps commander, 2 ISI officials booked: * Case registered in line with orders of Supreme Court over disappearance of Quetta resident Ali Asghar Bangalzai By Malik Siraj Akbar QUETTA: Police in the provincial capital registered a case on Wednesday against former corps commander Gen (r)

What is it to be a ‘true’ Pakistani? — by Zaair Hussain: The new Pakistani In a country where a Senator has stood before the House and declared, with a gall that must surely have blotted out the sun, that the respectable tradition of burying women alive should not be unduly

Pakistan Peoples Party and Importance of its Founding Documents – by H.A. Khan: The PPP was launched at its founding convention held in Lahore on November  30 – December 01, 1967. At the same meeting, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was elected as its Chairman. Among the express goals for which the party was

Laptop Warriors: After reading Ayaz Amir’s article and his use of the term “laptop warriors” (about Dr Shahid Masood, Ansar Abbasi etc), I googled the term and discovered this picture. Now Aitzaz Ahsan’s remarks have caused a major disappointment to them; he

Qari Hussain, the top trainer of suicide bombers of Sipah-e-Sahaba and Taliban: Qari Hussain, the chief instructor of suicide bombers (Ustad-e-Fidayeen) If the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone attack is confirmed, it could set off a new power struggle within the Tehrik-eTaliban Pakistan, which may conclude with the

Selecting the superior judges — by Elf Habib: Giving a final and binding say to the chief justice, despite his sublime office and status and worthy of all respect and reverence, destroys the very spirit and purpose of popular will and sovereignty. It would be an unfortunate

Pakistan Army’s ‘strategic depth’ approach may lead to Pakistan’s strategic death: ‘Strategic death’? Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in a rare press briefing, said, “We want a strategic depth in Afghanistan but do not want to control it.” These words underlie the fact that the Pakistan

Amendments for a secular constitution — by Babar Ayaz: Many analysts and rightist politicians scoff at the idea of a secular state. They have failed to understand that mixing of religion with politics has brought us today to the most violent juncture of our history. It gives enough

Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar vs A.K. Antony – by Kamran Shafi: Well done, Mr Antony By Kamran Shafi Tuesday, 02 Feb, 2010 Three lieutenant generals of the Indian army are to be tried by court martial for their part in an alleged land scam. The orders to try them were

Some Balance Please: Thanks: Sohni Dhurti “The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life.”

War is terror and a profitable business – by H.A. Khan: Renowned columnist Munno Bhai once asked in one of his columns that when ultimately countries have to sit at the negotiating table after wars, why do not they do this before the war to save thousands of lives. Nowadays

The never-ending exodus of Christians from the Middle East – by Robert Fisk: I have usually found that the closer a religious Christian, Jew or Muslim comes to the Middle East, the madder they become. The most avuncular Shropshire vicar, the kindest Jewish moderate, the most secular Muslim – dump them within