A tribute to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto – by Ali Nawaz Chowhan: Former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. — Photo by White Star Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto entered public life at the early age of 30, in 1958. In his book The Myth of Independence he writes about his views on foreign policy

The Swat flogging video — by Samar Minallah: At a time when the entire country was under the threat of militants, I not only brought the attention of the country to this video but also condemned it at the risk of my own life. Much to the

Full text of the 18th Amendment Bill: The National Assembly of Pakistan has now made public the full text of the 18th Amendment Bill, which is currently under review in the parliament. We are uploading a PDF version of the full text on LUBP for the

Removing the only good thing Zia-ul Haq added to the Constitution!: Yasser Latif Hamdani at Pak Tea House blog has pointed out a terrible omission in the 18th Amendment Bill [PDF]. If you look on page 93 of the document, you can see that Article 91 is being amended back

18th Amendment, Na Manzoor: From Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa to Karachi, from Lahore to Gilgit-Baltistan and from Larkana to Queta, the entire nation is celebrating the parliamentary consensus on the proposed 18th amendment in Pakistan’s constitution. Constitutional experts and parliamentarians belonging to diverse ethnic and

Negativity unlimited: Ansar Abbasi’s reaction to the Constitutional Package: Agents of dark forces (establishment, Taliban, right wing) are as usual busy in spreading mischief and disinformation in the land of the pure. Ansar Abbasi, a key leader of Pakistani Taliban Union of Journalists (PTUJ), has recently written two

A review of PML-Q and other factions of PML – by Amir Mateen: PML-O (O for Others) By Amir Mateen Friday, April 02, 2010 ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Ali Jinnah must be turning in his grave at the various Muslim League factions that are pandering his name and integrity for their political perpetuation, and

A legal analysis of Article 248 and the presidential immunity – by Babar Sattar: In the following excerpt taken from his most recent op-ed in The News (3 April 2010), Babar Sattar examines some legal implications of Article 248 of Pakistan’s constitution, and advises judges in the Supreme Court to not to cross

Mohmand IDPs: forced expulsion? — by Farhat Taj: The IDPs from Mohmand must not be forced to leave the camp. Let us not forget that the people of Mohmand Agency, like people from elsewhere in FATA, are paying the torturous price for the military establishment’s policy of

Get well soon, Altaf Hussain: Daily Times has, today, reported about MQM leader Altaf Hussain’s serious illness and the reason why he was not able to meet President Zardari during his last trip to London. According to another blog (Jazba), Altaf Hussain suffers from

Saif-ur-Rehman Chaudhry or Iftikhar-ur-Rehman? – by Faizi Mughal: There are always a few names in the history of every nation that are ever cursed and spitted. As a nation, our history also contains many such cursed personalities; and the Redco guy, Saif-ur-Rehman, leads that filth. At the

Some facts about Nawaz Sharif’s media team and their salaries: The aim of this post is not to belittle or doubt the principle-based politics and personal integrity of the Quaid-e-Punjab, Mujahid-e-Insaf, Ameer-ul-Momineen Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The aim is to provide a chronological record of newspaper reports in order

Thank you, Senator Raza Rabbani – by Farhad Jarral: A great job has been done by Senator Raza Rabbani, head of the Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Reforms. Well done, representatives of all political parties. This is the fruit which the nation was eagerly looking forward to for the

Good riddance, Anwar Mansoor Khan, and some suggestions for the new Attorney General – by Honest People and Sarah Khan: Updated 3 April 2010: Now includes some names / recommendations for the new Attorney General Context Unprofessional, incompetent, irresponsible and disgraceful. These are some words which best describe the former Attorney General of Pakistan, Anwar Mansoor Khan, who has

All Praise for The General – by A.H. Amin: Source Pakistani analysts have a tendency to view US as a demi God and frequently assess US intentions when it engages or disengages the Pakistani military. Analyst generally find little or no fault in the sitting army chief whose

Kasb e kamal kun, Key aziz e jahaan shwi: Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Army Unfortuntely, more dead people in the days to come. fortunately for some, also more cash….kasb e kamal kun, key aziz e jahaan shwi (Achieve excellence and you will be the beloved of the world)

Balochistan: Pakistan’s broken mirror – by Madiha Tahir: Source: The National – via Raza Rumi Baloch children hold up nationalist posters. Photographs by Asim Hafeez for The National Islamabad’s brutal attempts to crush ethnic Baloch nationalism have met with fierce, escalating resistance – and have laid bare the

Autism — obsession inexplicable – by Sadaf Shahid: I am at a park. I see a smart little boy. He is in the pink of health and seems perfect in every respect. Yet, he is somehow different. He has a detached attitude, is disinterested in the games

Constitutional Reforms: A victory of democracy – by Ayaz Amir: Thank God for small mercies Islamabad diary This could have been a wrecking moment, another corrosive chapter in a history not given to too many bright moments. But if the worst did not happen, and if disaster was averted,

Imran Khan’s campaign for Zac Goldsmith: Who is Imran fooling? Ayesha Ijaz Khan: Imran Khan continues to mislead. I cannot help but wonder if he can even relate to the troubles many Pakistanis and Muslims would encounter in being forcibly removed from Britain if the Conservative Party was to have its way

Hooligans of Islami Jamiat put Punjab University professor in hospital: ‘IJT hooligans’ put PU professor in hospital * Injured principal of College of Earth & Environmental Sciences also chairman of disciplinary committee * PU VC calls on Punjab CM to take notice * IJT distances itself Staff Report LAHORE:

Deconstructing Fatima Bhutto – by Abdul Nishapuri: Contrary to the right wing propaganda that the PPP is a party of Bhutto worshippers, the party and its workers have on several occasions proven that they do not blindly follow any specific clan. Instead, they value individual characteristics

Pakhtoon will always remember President Asif Ali Zardari: If there is one person who can be in the main credited with the change of name of the NWFP to Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, it is President Asif Zardari. The movement for renaming the NWFP saw many ups and downs over

Faith in democracy: A review of political parties of Pakistan – by Nadeem Paracha: An apt analysis by NFP of the political parties in Pakistan and their attributes and religious tendencies: Islam holds an important place in the workings of society and thus politics of Pakistan, a fact even some of the most

A critical perspective on Pakistan’s Supreme Court, PPP and PML-N – by Honest People: Supreme Court Supreme Court under Iftikhar Chaudhry is utterly dishonest, highly incompetent, intellectually corrupt, politically motivated and totally biased. Reasons for this are detailed below:- 1.       In the judgment of 31st July 2009, 14 PCO judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar

Ameerul Momineen Nawaz Sharif respected the judiciary once – by Saeed Minhas: ISLAMABAD: Ministers disclosing the misdeeds of their colleagues, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani ordering a probe into the shabby deals of cabinet members coupled with the twinge of the judiciary and arm-twisting of political players remains the order of

Nawaz’s crowning glory – Fasi Zaka: Nawaz Sharif has finally achieved what no one has been able to do in politics for the past two years, which is to make Asif Ali Zardari’s PPP look good by comparison. He inadvertently whitewashed them when he decided

Qazi Anwar’s vilification crusade against politicians: Explicit or implicit supporters of military dictatorship in Pakistan, who usually lack significant vote bank in masses and dance to the tunes of right wing establishment, often criticise politicians holding them as solely and predominantly responsible for Pakistan’s failures