Monthly Archive:: March 2010
At the Presidency: Tearful on Pakistan Day – by Adil Najam: Cross-posted from All Things Pakistan On March 23 I was at the Presidency in Islamabad for the Pakistan Day Awards Ceremony. This is usually a festive occasion full of pomp and ceremony and amongst the most elaborate state occasions of the
Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to transform from the Zia generation to the Jinnah generation – by Gulmina Bilal Ahmad: The Zia generation can best be described as the confused generation. They have seen public flogging, but were told that it is best to forgive. They have experienced newspapers being censored but were told that it is best to
Sharifs unveil ‘Punjab Card’ to prolong zero-sum game – by Saeed Minhas: ISLAMABAD: With the Sharifs unveiling their ‘Punjab Card’, Maulana Diesel trying to get even with the government, ‘Bhai logs’ of Karachi going into a pensive mood and nationalists getting a hint coupled with the success of the Kiyani-Qureshi-led strategic
My name is Nawaz Sharif and I am proving Zia-ul-Haq was my daddy – by Farhad Jarral: Nawaz Sharif is proving himself that he is not a democratic leader but he is a son of a military dictator who played a big role to ruin Pakistan’s sovereignty and its youth. General Zia-ul-Haq was the man behind
Obama bin Laden – by Nadeem Khan: New World Order plan in jeopardy The following article truly shows the US long term perspective that how they will slowly and gradually pull out of the mess they have gotten into and pulled others in, as well. Truly,
Zaid Hamid, the phoenix, flops on 23 March – by Nadeem Paracha: For months the Zaid Hamid brigade had been congesting cyber space and the two TV channels that the haughty ideological quack is a regular fixture on, with promises of holding a ‘massive gathering of youth’ at the Minar-e-Pakistan on
Provincial autonomy, myths and reality – by Asif Ezdi: Part I The News, March 22, 2010 The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reform is reported to be very close to completing its task and is expected to submit its report later this week. This news has been widely welcomed
Zaid Hamid’s Hate Speech – by Fasi Zaka: PART ONE Source: The News, September 18, 2008 This August 14 I was bored out of my mind late at night, and started scanning TV channels for fodder to feed my idleness. I came across a programme where a
1997 attack on Supreme Court: SC dismisses former PML-N MNA’s plea against suspension: ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by Mian Muhammad Munir, former MNA of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, seeking suspension of his conviction by the SC over misconduct in attacking the court building in 1997, while observing
DSP Babar’s arrest, treatment leaves mark on cops in Lahore: * Senior police officers say issue could have been better managed * Babar’s treatment creates rift in police circles, some oppose suspended DSP, others support him By Shahnawaz Khan LAHORE: The arrest and the subsequent alleged third degree investigation
Rangers ‘pick up’ cop for scuffle with DG’s son in Lahore’s Liberty Market: Will the Khadim-e-Aala Shahbaz Sharif and Munsif-e-Aala Justice Khawaja Sharif look into this matter? * Constable stops car from entering Liberty parking from wrong end * Young driver scuffles with official, threatens him with ‘dire consequences’ * Rangers appear
In view of Gujrat by-elections, PPP should jump out of PML-N’s catboat – by Shafiq Awan: Punjab’s ruling coalition earned nothing but embarrassment in the Gujrat by-elections. In fact the federal and Punjab governments – with all the resources and each other’s support – failed to wipe the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid out from the political
Pak-Afghan relations — by Agha H Amin: I fail to understand how some of the country’s leading analysts can dub Afghanistan as being Pakistan’s backyard. Afghanistan is an independent state that boasts a great history. Seen in this context, how would Pakistanis feel if India tried
The Little Girl Goes to Meena Bazaar – by Bahadar Ali Khan: You were happy, joyful when your mummy decided to take you to the market. It felt so surreal as you imagined about the that small doll in a shop with blue eyes and blonde hair enticed you last time.
Back to square one – by Faizi Mughal: A political system usually has two choices, one option leads towards autocracy and other towards, rule by the people that is democracy. There could be no other third option. The entire civilized world believes that democracy is the best
‘Strategic depth’ at heart of Taliban arrests – by Shibil Siddiqi: Pakistan has recently arrested a number of top Taliban leaders, including the second in command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and many of the Quetta shura. It also killed in a drone attack Mohammad Haqqani, a leader of the powerful
Sasti Roti scheme caused irregular expenditure of Rs1bn – by Aftab Maken: Originally Published at THENEWS The much touted Sasti Roti (cheap bread) scheme of the Punjab’s `Khadim-e-Aala’ (chief minister) has caused irregular expenditure of Rs1.06 billion from the national kitty, reveals an audit report of the Director- General of Audit,
Shahbaz’s ‘spare Punjab’ plea – by Aijaz Qamar: Originally Published at DAWN! DISGUSTING, sickening and outrageous were some of the adjectives that came to my mind when I heard the Punjab chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, begging the Taliban to spare his province on the grounds that his
Punjab S&GA audit objects to Rs614m spending – by Aftab Maken: Originally Published at THENEWS! Auditor-General Punjab’s report questions purchase of 30 vehicles and sale of aircraft and spares ISLAMABAD: The audit report of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GA) of Punjab has raised objection on a sum of
Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme – by Saad Hassan: Originally Published at THENEWS! Employees turn millionaires overnight; Govt gives 12pc of shareholding in PPL to employees SUI: Hundreds of junior-cadre workers of the state-run Pakistan Petroleum (PPL) became millionaires overnight after getting ownership certificates of their company under
Whither “Progressive” Bacha Khan’s Wife? – by Yasser Latif Hamdani: Cross posted from Pak Tea House “If political consciousness is awakened amongst our women, remember, your children will not have much to worry about.” Founding Father of Pakistan, Mr. Mahomed Ali Jinnah, Lahore, March 22, 1940 The title? No
Adalat ho gi ma kay jaisi – by Honest People: Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is unique. His judges are his soldiers. The judiciary functions under his chain of command. Every judge is at his beck and call. His is the last word. He constitutes benches comprising of judges of
PML-N and PML-Q completely ignore the Pakistan Day – by Rana Kashif: Muslim Leagues miss out on ‘their day’ * Citizens concerned over major provincial parties’ role in remembering Pakistan Day * Cantt resident says neither party even asked office-bearers to organise a function * Chaudhry Zaheeruddin says PML-Q busy with
Citizens of Lahore name Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh – by Afnan Khan: LAHORE: A large number of citizens, including students from various educational institutions gathered, at Shadman Chowk on Tuesday to mark the 79th martyrdom anniversary of Bhagat Singh Shaheed, one of the pioneers of the struggle for an independent subcontinent.
Jinnah’s role in the Kashmir War — by Yasser Latif Hamdani: The Supreme Commander of both Indian and Pakistan forces Sir Claude Auchinleck followed Mounbatten’s policy and advised the C in C of Pakistan Army to openly defy orders of the Pakistan Governor General In his article ‘The 1947-48 Kashmir
Strategic dialogue and the Pashtun — by Zubair Torwali: The Pashtun, who undoubtedly are the direct victims of terrorism and the war on terror, have never been asked to express their views in this regard. The Pashtuns are now so tired of the strategic depth policy that they
Changing realities of Afghanistan — by Dr Manzur Ejaz: Afghanistan’s political economy is drastically changing. The investments by China, India, Central Asian countries and Iran are changing the future prospects of Afghanistan. Furthermore, the Afghans’ migration to Western countries and socio-political experiences of millions of refugees in Pakistan,
America’s “Islamists” go where oilmen fear to tread – by Peter Chamberlin: By following the trail of militant terrorists US forces and American interests have gained access deep in Central Asia, where oil companies have had little luck gaining a foothold on their own. To students of American foreign policy in
The chestnuts are our own – by Kamran Shafi: It is wrong to think that all it will take for the Taliban to stop their attacks on Pakistan is the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan And by golly are they in a raging fire, no matter what
Moral policing the internet – by Sana Saleem: How many of you have come across content claiming to ‘expose’ or tell the ‘truth’ about a certain someone? More importantly how many of you have shared such content? If you’re one of those who hits forward without thinking,
Celebrating Nationhood and Constitutionalism – by Farahnaz Ispahani: Originally Published at THE NEWS The emergence of Pakistan as the homeland of South Asia’s Muslims, with their unique identity as a nation, was an unparalleled event in the twentieth century. The adoption of the Pakistan resolution at the
The Constitutional Package vs Masses Miseries – by H.A. Khan: Now a days if you switch on any news channel you will see a very deep and detailed discussion on the current work of the 27 members committee on the coming constitutional package. All anchors are confirming with their all sources
As things get worse in Pakistan, the optimism continues to soar – by Robert Fisk: Thanks: The Independent As things get worse in Pakistan, the optimism continues to soar Civilians have paid the price in revenge attacks that usually target the army A few days ago, I was driving around Lahore, its population still
Shahbaz Sharif – a real darling of right-wing media, establishment and Taliban – by Junaid Qaiser: Mian Shahbaz Sharif proudly identifies a number of commonalities between Taliban and PML-N, i.e., opposition to foreign dictation, stance against General Musharraf, and strong position against Kerry-Lugar Bill and the USA. It’s quite true that Nawaz Sharif and his
647 women killed in the name of ‘honour’ last year: HRCP report: * HRCP report says 3,021 people killed, 7,334 injured across country * 1,668 suicide cases reported ISLAMABAD: The 2009 report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released on Monday revealed that there was a sharp surge in
Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP) to announce new constitution: LAHORE: The Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP) has announced that it will soon introduce a new constitution for the party along the basic principles of Marxism, CMKP Additional Secretary Irfan Ali said on Monday. He said the CMKP were
Dialogue about Pakhtuns without Pakhtuns! — by Shahid Ilyas: Talking is not a bad thing, but when it is done without the participation of those who are the subject of such talks, it will most likely result in a disaster Pakistan’s political and military top brass will soon
On whose side are the Taliban apologists? — by Babar Ayaz: Apologists of the Taliban should realise that no matter who is ruling, it is high time that these terrorists should be dealt with. There should be no confusion that it is the agenda of the people of Pakistan. The
Pakistan’s low-cost housing needs — by Syed Mohammad Ali: In big metropolitan cities like Karachi and Lahore, housing projects often get started with little idea of urban planning to link them with roads and the required infrastructure. Unless these processes begin to take place simultaneously, new housing developments
Tribal warriors: a response to Farhat Taj – by Ishtiaq Ahmed: For me, ‘tribal’ is not synonymous with Pukhtun. All Pukhtuns are not tribals, even when most tribals are Pukhtuns. Within tribals, the awareness about badal or retaliation upon which Pukhtunwali is based keeps them under control in such situations,