Monthly Archive:: November 2010
No to blasphemy laws — by Marvi Sirmed: One is amazed at the audacity of the advocates of blasphemy laws, who think of themselves as vigilant guards of not only the Almighty, but religious personages as well, thereby creating an illusion that God and the Prophet (PBUH)
Pakistan Hajj Scam – by Shaukat Masood Zafar: Corruption even in the Religious Affair’s ministry! God forgive us. A meagre compensation is being paid by tour operators who secured vast commissions and kickbacks in hiring buildings and transport in Mecca and Medina. Corruption and irregularities of the
Benazir’s murder probe extends to Musharraf: The investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has been extended to former president Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and a questionnaire carrying 32 questions has been sent to him abroad, a private TV channel reported on
Pakistan’s eminent intellectual Dr Pevez Hoodbhoy on drone attacks in Pakistan: A drone – of the kind discussed here – is a programmed killing machine. By definition it is self-propelled, semi-autonomous, and capable of negotiating difficult local environments. Remote handlers guide it towards an assigned target. A drone does not
Let’s fight it out – by Waseem Altaf: It is known to everybody that the blasphemy law, a creation of Zia-ul-Haq, has been effectively utilized by the powerful against the weaker sections of the society, to settle property disputes, personal vendettas and inter communal rivalries. It also
BLA terrorists kill four Punjabis in Balochistan’s border town: Related articles: In defence of Punjabis: Stop target killing of Punjabi settlers in Balochistan – by Abdul Nishapuri Abdel Malik Rigi’s execution: Does it call for protests from BNF? – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi LUBP Punjabi settlers archive LUBP Editor’s
Pakistan, a country of individuals, not instituions – by Wusatullah Khan: پیٹر گیبرئل کتنا کرے ؟ وسعت اللہ خان بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، کراچی پاکستان جہاں فوج ، انٹیلیجنس ایجنسیوں اور موٹر وے پولیس کے علاوہ کوئی منظم ادارہ نہیں۔ جہاں بیشتر معززین کے دو چہرے ہیں۔ جہاں
Who will give Aasia Bibi justice? -by Jahanzaib Haque: Our honourable chief justice has enough time to visit the Supreme Court to conduct meetings pertaining to hearsay reports on the government’s attempts to take down the judiciary, but he has not had the time to take notice of
No external hand involved in terrorism, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, LeJ working in trio against Pakistan: Rehman Malik: Banned militant outfits Al Qaeda, Taliban and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi have joined hands to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Sunday. Rehman Malik boldly and bravely said that al-Qaeda, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were coordinating with each
Extreme politics -by Waqar Gillani: The Punjab government, surprising many, has withdrawn the prosecution charges of riots and vandalism at The Mall, Lahore, against different clerics. On February 14, 2006, two persons were killed during looting and plundering by a mob protesting against blasphemous
Ideology as ‘false consciousness’ – by Khaled Ahmed: Pakistan began describing itself as an ideological state when the word had been made respectable by the Soviet Union through its planned economy and rapid growth. Ideology in the case of Pakistan was its religion. The state is not
Afghanistan: NATO’s mission impossible – by Shiraz Paracha: During the weekend, leaders of 28 NATO countries gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, for a face saving meeting as it became clear that the Western military alliance could face a humiliating defeat in one of the world’s poorest countries. Contrary
The death of Lala Hameed Baloch: a case study of a state sponsored murder: Baloch journalist Lala Hameed Baloch, (whose real name was Abdul Hameed Hayatan) was born in 1985, was involved in Baloch nationalist politics, and was a journalist for Daily Karachi and Tawar and played a role in establishing Gwadar press
Ten Commandments of Western Democracy – by Naseer Ahmed: Democracy is the new religion. Its commandments are mentioned below. 1. Thou shall not criticise the neo-conservative version of democracy as embodied in the personages of Tony Blair, George Bush and many others who support them. 2. Thou shall
Religious parties demand removal of Shahbaz Bhatti: Religious parties are demanding removal of the Federal Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti because he demanded amendment in blasphemy laws. Previously , Shahbaz Bhatti received threat from Aalmi Majil-e-Tahfuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwat (AMTKN) for his critical comments on blasphemy law. Tribune Blasphemy Case :
Transcripts of Shahbaz Sharif’s and Saifur-Rehman’s conversations with a Lahore High Court judge: Audiotape reveals Sharifs manipulated verdict in Asif Zardari’s case Daily Times Monitor LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was annoyed over delay in the Lahore High Court’s decision in President Asif Ali Zardari’s case during his tenure, according to
Pakistan frees Taliban kidnappers of the NYT reporter David Rohde: Related article: 7 Months, 10 Days in Taliban’s Captivity: Story of David Rohde After New York Times’s reporter David Rohde escaped from his Taliban captors in Pakistan last year, the Pakistani intelligence services interrogated two of his guards — and
Corruption aur jamhooriat – by Nazir Naji: ایسا صرف جمہوریت میں ہوتا ہے… سویرے سویرے …نذیرناجی معیشت اپنے پیروں پر کھڑی ہو اور کسی دوسرے سے قرض مانگ کر اپنے معاملات چلانے کی علت نہ ہو‘ تو پاکستان تیسری دنیا کے ملکوں سے زیادہ مختلف نہیں۔
Pak economy heading towards hyperinflation – by Shaukat Masood Zafar: A hyperinflation is mainly caused when there is excessive, drastic growth in the supply of paper money. As the destruction of currency reaches its peak, hyperinflation happens. In Pakistan monetary and fiscal authorities are regularly issuing large quantities of
Media-military-militant Alliance – by Shiraz Paracha: On the eve of NATO summit in Lisbon, the state-funded BBC World Service and the Pakistan military, apparently, provided a PR opportunity for the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, where he claimed in an interview with the BBC
Asia Bibi likely to be pardoned by President Asif Ali Zardari: LAHORE: Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer said he would take up Aasia Bibi’s case with President Asif Ali Zardari, who has the constitutional power to pardon her. “Inshallah her appeal will be accepted,” Taseer said, adding that he had studied
The ISI moves Siraj Haqqani to ‘secure safe house’ outside FATA – by Ali K Chishti: Daily Times can confirm that Siraj Haqqani, the operational commander of the Haqqani Network, who had earlier been moved from Miranshah, North Waziristan to Kurram Agency, has been moved to a secure “safe house” outside FATA. The decision was
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Khaal and the future coalition government of Pakistan – by Bawa: In a recent interview (published on 18 Nov 2010) with Michelle Shephard of The Star, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan, claimed that he had no doubt of his future success. Khan waves away the naysayers with a
Choices to make in women’s treatment: Asia Bibi or Nida Rashid? – by Naveed Ali: Two headlines in daily Dawn’s website yesterday, two news, two events, one brings hope while other despair. One is about the Amnesty International asking for release of Asia Bibi, sentenced to death on blasphemy charges (Amnesty urges release of
India’s ‘super power dream’ – by B.R. Gowani: Life has really changed in one decade! In 2000 the then President Bill Clinton, paid a five-hour visit to Pakistan (in an unmarked plane) where he lectured the citizens live on the national TV. In India, he spent five
President Zardari stays execution of Asia Bibi: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday stayed the execution of a Christian woman who was sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. The woman, Aasia Bibi, was given the death sentence by an additional sessions judge in Nankana Sahib
Drones Debate: Pashtun Nationalists, The Liberals, the Left and the far right: First things first. The USA has no right to stay in Afghanistan let alone drone Pakistan. It is the US military aggression and presence in the region that has fuelled unrest and complicated the matters. The very Taliban and
From Russia with Love: Main Ney Russia Mee kya Dekha – by Dil Nawaz: When Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into existence in 1947, Russia was known as the “Godless Empire” of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under the “brutal” dictator Joseph Stalin. This inherent difference in ideologies resulted in tensions from the
The Quaid’s address to Pakistani generals and their pseudo-liberal (middle class urban) soldiers – by Hakim Hazik: Related article: Another pseudo-liberal muck-raking of the PPP: So what’s new? – by Qudsia Siddiqui Onward Middle Class Soldiers Dear patriatic jernails af Pakistan, this is your Quaid ispeaking. Dear jernails, we isloot the services that you have undertaken
Karachi Turns Deadly Amid Pakistan’s Rivalries – by Jane Perlez: KARACHI, Pakistan — This chaotic city of 18 million people on the shores of the Arabian Sea has never shrunk from violence. But this year, Karachi has outdone even itself. Drive-by shootings motivated by political and ethnic rivalries have
US Annual Report Says Religious Freedom Under Threat From Authoritarian Regimes: In Pakistan, against the backdrop of continued extremist violence against civilian targets, the number and severity of reported cases against religious minorities increased. For example, in May, extremist attacks on two Ahmadi congregations in Lahore killed at least 86
Pakistani women who make us proud: Pakistan wins first cricket gold at Asian Games: It is not the convicted terrorists such as Dr Aafia Siddiqi, it is not the the cultivators of Al Qaeda such as Dr Farhat Hashmi, it is not the flag-bearers of the ISI sponsored yellow journalism such as Dr
Youth should now lead Pakistan – by Shaukat Masood Zafar: Our Youth has a lot of energy, high hopes, great ideals and real potential to achieve almost everything in life. In spite of having talent, skills and intelligence in this wonderful young generation, a born genius, it is very
Family waits to see if mother, accused of blasphemy, will be hanged: The town cleric, who made the initial complaint against Bibi, called her death sentence one of the happiest moments of his life.
"Tears of joy poured from my eyes," Qari Salim told CNN.
The clerics tears are in stark contrast to
Shift in Turkey policy worries EU, NATO – By Shiraz Paracha: Keeping Turkey under control and on board is becoming a serious challenge for the United States and the European Union (EU) as the Turkish public and government are frustrated with Western double standards and hypocritical policies. Turkey is transforming
Media, democracy and governance — by Babar Ayaz: This is one of the problems of a society where we talk about democracy and criticise the government day in and day out, but when it comes to tolerating criticism on us we retaliate. Perhaps the democrat in us