Monthly Archive:: July 2010
Mian Sahab, it’s time for you to examine your counter extremism policy -by Junaid Qaiser: Terrorists have once again attacked the Lahore city, this time their target was the sacred shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajveri, a Persian Sufi and scholar during the 11th century who significantly contributed to the spreading of
In response to Sarah Khan’s “In rejection of pseudo-liberals of Pakistan”- by Asma Qadir: Following is the piece written by Asma Qadir in response to Sarah Khan’s In rejection of Pseudo-liberals which was posted on LUBP a few days ago. I have been going through quite a few articles on LUBP (Let Us
Fashionable dreams in turbulent Balochistan: with thanks : Dawn QUETTA: Mehtab Kanwal embroiders a women’s tunic, dreaming of a prosperous future as a fashion designer with a boutique – albeit in one of the most turbulent and forgotten parts of Pakistan. Kanwal’s dream just
11 simple question for the ISPR. Will it reply?: The Punjab government has submitted a 52 page report questioning the role of the army and intelligence agencies in the course of two specific terrorism cases on army personnel – the suicide attack on the Surgeon General of the
Sui gas employees protest: Sui gas employees are protesting across the country against the torture of a special task force of the Sui Northern gas company.According to media reports Sui gas employees were detained and tortured by Senior PML-N leader Rana Tanveer. PML-N has a urban vote
Punjab govt’s inaction against militants irks GHQ; Contradicts Sharifs’ lack of intelligence sharing assertion: PML-N’s links to the Pakistan Army are well known. People supporting the Sharifs are at critical positions in the scheme of things in the Pakistan Army and the Intelligence. The brothers were protected for years by key people in
Mind your limits, Mr Justice – by Abbas Ather: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is Newton’s third law of motion, but is equally applicable to most situations in the world we live in. Take for example the case of how the nation
When Data sahib turned malamati – by Dr Mohammad Taqi: Like in Iraq, the al Qaeda-Taliban strategy in Pakistan appears to focus on the existing divisions between the major Islamic sects. The jihadists are attempting to play on the historical religious fault-lines in Pakistani society and trigger internal violence
Hamid Mir criticizes the reference against Justice Khwaja Sharif: While everyone in Pakistan with a bit of self-respect and integrity can witness the shame and insult brought to judiciary and rule of law by the CJ of Lahore High Court, Hamid Mir of course has a different view.
Love in the time of terrorism – by Shehrbano Taseer: Source: Daily Times Terrorism has the capacity to self-destruct; it bears within it the seeds of its own destruction. Sufism has the power to defuse terrorism; it is an internal liberation that jihadism simply cannot offer The two suicide
The Best Revenge – by Erum Haider: Cross-posted from her blog I just returned from watching “Bhutto” at the National Geographic in Washington DC. It takes me back to that moment, when I was getting my hair blow dried in the TV studios on my way
Why Pakistan can’t convict any terrorists: Part III – by Eqbal Alavi: See Part I of this series here, Part II here What the Government ought to do?: The ATO has to be amended and earlier introduced provisions should be discussed in Parliament and become Acts of the Parliament as soon
The usual suspects are subverting democracy – by Aley Ahmad: The following comment was recently posted on an article on the LUBP. Given some interesting observations that this commenter makes about the LUBP’s policy and content, we are posting it as an independent article. …… What I have come
Saleem Safi’s about-face – no one should be surprised: In the past, LUBP has posted several articles by Saleem Safi in which he exposed the hypocritical nature of many Pakistanis’ support for Jihad – i.e. that Jihad was good when it was fought in Afghanistan but not good
Is the LUBP accountable to the PPP? – by Abdul Nishapuri: Is the “Let us build Pakistan” (LUBP) an instrument or agent of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)? No Is the LUBP an official voice or proxy for the PPP? No Is the LUBP accountable to any leader or office
Pakistan’s competing jihadists – by Praveen Swami: First published in The Hindu “My sister, this should explain much,” begins London-raised Dhiren Bharot’s 1999 chronicle of his life as a jihadist: “cross the line,” he urged her. Bharot’s The Army of Madinah lashed out at the jihad
The story of a sharif judge – by Kashif Naseer: First published at: Kashif Naseer ka blog کہانی ایک شریف جج کی ہمارے یہاں جو لوگ مقام قضاء پر فائز کئے جاتے ہیں، اکثر قاضی بن کر بھی اپنے ماضی میں گم رہتے ہیں۔ طلبہ یونین سے لیکر بار
Keep everything secret! Under the oath of course – by pejamistri: One thing I never understood is the obsession of certain quarters and personalities to keep things secret using the lame excuse of oath (yes the same oath for which they have absolute no regard when it comes to being
State sponsored terrorism in Indian Occupied Kashmir – by Abdul Nishapuri: State sponsored terrorism in Indian Occupied Kashmir remains an ugly blot on the face of democracy in India. The Kashmir dispute is the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today. India’s forcible occupation of the State of Jammu
Charter of Democracy (CoD) Implementation Chart: The Charter of Democracy (COD, signed by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif) is indeed a Magna Carta of politics of reconciliation and democracy in Pakistan. Despite a lot of criticism by the right wing media
Pseudo-intellectuals should run the state of Pakistan – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi: From the time I can remember as a child, I have heard the following from our pseudo intellectuals: “Mulk mayn inqilab aaye ga”, “Saray Siaasatdan chore hotay hayn”, “Pakistan mayn kuch acha nahee hay”, “Humayn Pakistan nay kya diya
Politics of Raiwind and the Mian brothers – by Fauzia Wahab: Shaheen Sehbai in his article on 28th June has instigated on Mian brothers to bid adieu to the Charter of Democracy and unfurl a new series of disrespect to the people’s mandate. Earlier, some other rightist columnists have also
Shaheen Sehbai’s defamation charges against Azeem Daultana, PTH and LUBP – by Pakistan Media Watch: Source: Pakistan Media Watch One would think that after a 42-year career in the field of journalism, Shaheen Sehbai would have grown a slightly thicker skin. Instead, it appears that he’s grown quite a bit of cheek! Apparently the
From General Zia’s martial law to attack on Data Darba – by Zahida Hina: Thanks: Express, 7 July
In defence of the uneducated – by Iqbal Jafar: Originally published in Dawn A FALSE, even perverse, assumption, if allowed to go unchallenged for a period of time can become part of conventional wisdom. If it is significant enough it can even find place as an accepted premise
Those who sell hate in the name of religion – by Farhan Q: مذہب جن کا پیشہ ہے مسلہ سارا یہ ہے کہ مولویوں نے حقوق کی جنگ کو اسلام کی جنگ بنادیا ،اور حکومت کرنا جو ایک اتظامی معاملہ ہے ،اسے بھی اسلامی بنا دیا امریکا سے لڑائی چین کی بھی
Liberal voters, narrow minded leaders – by Farhan Q: لبرل ووٹرز ،تنگ نظر قیادت پنجاب اور لاہور میں بریلوی مکتبہ فکر رکھنے والوں کی اکثریت ہے ،پر وہاں کے لوگوں نے کبھی مذہبی جماعت کو ووٹ نہیں دیے ،مطلب یہ کہ لوگ سیاست اور مذہب کو الگ رکھنا
ریاض سہیل – بریلوی دیوبندی تاریخ اور اختلافات: Source BBC Urdu برصغیر میں بریلوی اور دیوبند مسالک میں اختلافات کا سلسلہ تو کئی دہائی پرانا ہے مگر ان میں شدت پاکستان کے قیام کے بعد دیکھی گئی ہے۔ دونوں مسالک کی بنیاد ہندوستان میں پڑی یعنی دیوبند
Well done Nawaz Sharif!: Well done, Nawaz Sharif for speaking out in favour of a neutral Afghan policy which respects the wishes of the Afghan people and their elected leaders. We will always remember your brave attempt at peace with India in your
Nationalism: inclusive versus exclusive – by Ishtiaq Ahmed: Part I published in the Daily Times: As an ideology and political doctrine, nationalism is a claim set forth on behalf of a body of people claiming to constitute a nation to establish a sovereign state over a specific
Stability or bankruptcy – by Dr Ashfaque H Khan: Published in The News: Pakistan entered a new fiscal year a week ago. Will 2010-11 be a year of stability or bankruptcy? That will depend entirely on the political leadership, in particular the federal and provincial governments. If they
Negotiate with Taliban? – by Anas Muhammad: In a recent press conference Mian Nawaz Sharif – the head of the largest opposition Party Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) – claimed that terrorism in Pakistan is a result of government’s foreign policies. Sharif made the commen ts two
Self-serving narrative of military apologists: Every 10 years when a military ruler is discredited, we suddenly see a loud chorus of dyed in the wool pro-establishment voices attempting to cleanse the military’s reputation as an institution from the taint of the unpopular dictator. As
A tribute to Syed Ali Hajveri – by Kashif Naseer: First published at: Kashif Naseer ka blog زکر انکا جو سید علی کی آغوش میں سر رکھ کے سو جاتے تھے دل کسی غم سے دکھا ہوا ہے، جگرکسی زخم سے چھلنی ہے اور اعصاب کسی سوچ کو سوچ
Balochistan: a ticking bomb – by Salman Latif: If today I endeavored to draw a parallel between East Pakistan and modern-day Balochistan, I’m sure it’d be a well-founded one. With the way the central governments have been playing denial to the rightful plights of the Baluchis and
Dark black shadows still alive – by H.A. Khan: About 37 years ago, an era of hope was ending and an era of despair, worst human atrocities, ethnic division, religious fundamentalism was beginning when General Zia-ul-Haq threw the government of the martyr ZA Bhutto. It was the end
Swat Aman Mela: I just found this video and its so hearting to see so much happiness and festivity in Swat,specially after seeing so much negativity in recent past. The Gojra massacre, the attack on two Ahmedi mosque and now the attack
Let’s say: “Terror has no boundaries” – by Ali Arqam Durrani: It is such a tragedy that everybody is stuck up with ‘who’ questions regarding attacks on Data Darbar (due to denial and conspiracy theories) preventing all of us from discussing the more important ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions. Everyone is