My life with the Taliban – by Abdul Salam Zaeef: Humanising the monster Dr Mohammad Taqi My life with the Taliban By Abdul Salam Zaeef Translated from Pashto and edited by Alex Strick van Linschoten and Felix Kuehn Hurst/Columbia University Press; Pp 331 In his foreword to Mullah Abdul
Zardari Visit Threatens Workers Strike in PC Karachi: It now appears that the visit of President Zardari to Karachi is treathening to break the strike of PC Hotel workers. According to Riaz Ahmed, an academic that has been monitoring the strike, the following has occured: “PC workers
Assessing Zardari: On November 22 2008, Zardari, addressing the Hindustan Times leadership summit, talked of reconciliation and promised a no-first use nuclear policy – the first time any Pakistani head of state has done so. He said, in response to a
Wahhabization of Gitmo prisoners: Ex-Gitmo detainee now a Taliban commander * US officials say 20% of released prisoners go back to Taliban LASHKAR GAH: A man who was freed from the Guantanamo Bay after he claimed he only wanted to go home and
Wahhabism and women: Saudi woman jailed for being without male guardian RIYADH: A Saudi woman is to be lashed 300 times and jailed for 18 months for filing complaints against court officials and appearing in court without a male guardian, a human
Filthy rich Khadim-e-Aala – by Shafiq Awan: Shahbaz Sharif is ‘very rich’, but where did the money come from? By Shafiq Awan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is the richest member of the Punjab Assembly, with multi-million pounds of foreign assets mentioned in his declared assets
Taliban kill another Shia: SHO murdered in Quetta QUETTA: Unidentified men on Wednesday shot dead a police official near Bareech Market on Sarki Road in Quetta. According to police sources, attackers opened fire on station house officer Arif Ali Shah’s vehicle, injuring him.
Women in Afghanistan: A tale of Afghan women’s plight —by Miranda Husain The Patience Stone By Atiq Rahimi Other Press; Pp 160 Afghanistan, a nation still on fire, a nation still home to a centre-stage Taliban. An entity that still remains resoundingly
PML-N the Taliban midwife: Sir, the militants have multiplied —Sher Ali Khan The recent admission by Rana Sanaullah about his association with the banned militant group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) illuminates that Pakistan is a country where a nexus between politicians and militants is
NA-55, Democracy’s last chortle – by Qudrat Ulla: The recently concluded NA-55 by-elections in the heart of Rawalpindi were highly capricious in many ways- it was the finale political Armageddon of the shrewd Sheikh of Potohar in which he tried to play all his tricks but to
150 Workers Occupy Karachi PC Hotel: The following first appeared as on Riaz Ahmed‘s Facebook. Strike: 150 Workers Occupy Karachi PC Hotel Over 150 workers of -star Karachi hotel Pearl Continental have occupied the basement for the last 8 days. About 50 workers have set up
Claims to uphold democracy and constitution – by Abdulkhaliq Azaad: In the name of justice, a few institutions and political factions are proclaiming themselves to be the upholders of constitutional continuity and democracy for some years now. Apparently, they are blowing trumpets against dictatorships, army’s political interference and are
PML-N: a procession of forty thieves: Double standards of the Sharifs By Shafiq Awan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is considered “Mr Neat and Clean” and wants the same kind of people around him, especially in the cabinet. That is why he has chosen his
Mian, the Bijli Chor: Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif: the Muhammad Shah Rangeela of corruption in Pakistan Squeaky clean? Editorial PML-N president Nawaz Sharif made his usual high-flown remarks at a public rally for NA-123, an electoral hotbed for the impending by-election on March 10.
Zaid Hamid admits links to Yousef Ali: The following is cross-posted from Khawer Khan’s blog. These videos have recently come to light. In them Zaid Hamid admits his links to Yousef Ali (disparagingly called Yousef Kazzab by opponents). Zaid Hamid had always denied any links to
Nawaz Sharif steals electricity but vows to fight corruption: PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif addressing a public gathering during by-elections campaign in constituency NA-123. -APP According to the sources, Nawaz Sharif addressed party workers on Grand Trunk Road near University of Engineering and Technology. While Nawaz made a case
A ‘friendly’ Afghanistan? — by Shahid Ilyas: The risk of failure and backfiring are much higher in trying to install a friendly government in a foreign country than in attempts to develop friendly relations with an incumbent government. The failure of Pakistan’s Afghan policy is a
Holi festival and Pakistani Hindus: Picture Source: BBC Urdu Pakistani Hindus to miss Holi celebrations February 23, 2010, Islamabad: The few Pakistani Hindus, who have made the federal capital their home, will miss splashing colours at each other as they brace up for a
Evaluating democracy – by Ghazia Aslam and Wasim Q. Malik: Thanks: Dawn.com, Monday, 01 Mar, 2010 Advocates of democracy claim that it protects property rights, promoting an environment of collective growth. – File photo A passionate debate comparing and contrasting the performance of Pakistan’s democratic and dictatorial regimes has