Monthly Archive:: April 2011
Children of Zia – by Nabiha Meher: In elite academic institutions, we often make a knee-jerk and erroneous assumption that we are not responsible for the intolerance that now permeates our land. It is easy to blame the non-English speaking public sector and madrassas. We like
Ten wounded: Attacks on Christians in Gujranwala: Lahore, April 30(ANI): At least ten people, including police officials, were wounded in attacks on houses of Christian community members in Lahore on Saturday. Demonstrators attacked the residences of members of the Christian religious community in Gujranwala, and also
Drones, dharnas and terrorism: The Friday Times: Najam Sethi Editorial Imran Khan’s “dharna” to protest drone strikes in FATA has been hailed by his supporters as highly “successful”. Political rivals aren’t impressed. They claim that “FATA tribesmen corralled by the agencies” provided the
Making his Trip on Govt Expense: Fazlur Rehman in Brussels – by Mujahid Hussain: Source: Daily Aajkal
People v Mukhtaran Mai & Others: This case has highlighted social problem of how poorly we deal with rape victims as well as deficiencies in Legal System to convict rapists. “This has become a money-making concern. A lot of people say that if you want
Mystery or madness? – by Cyril Almeida: THERE are some great mysteries in the world. What causes gravity? Is there a scientific theory of everything? Who was Jack the Ripper? How did the Egyptians build the pyramids? And that favourite of amateur psychologists and borderline misogynists,
How to identify (fake) liberal proxies of Pakistan army in mainstream and social media?: Preamble Commenting on the state of pro-establishment journalism in Pakistan, Ayesha Siddiqa once said: Today, we face a state of military hegemony: political, economic and intellectual control. Today, there is not a single university in Pakistan or a young
President signs law to protect foreign investment: With thanks : Tribune Islamabad : In a major move to reassure international investors about security of their investment, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday signed “Arbitration (International Investment Disputes) Bill 2011” into law. At a ceremony held at
Mukhtaran Mai verdict: Where the court went wrong – Abira Ashfaq: With thanks : Tribune Human rights activists are rightfully outraged that the Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the acquittals of five of the accused in Muktar Mai’s case, except Abdul Khaliq. (The State v. Abdul Khaliq, Criminal Appeals No.163
ZTBL: A public entity or terrorist organization? -by Shaukat Masood Zafar: Things have gone from bad to worse with regard to corruption and bad governance in Pakistan. The situation is highly advantageous for those at the helm of affairs and those right now busy in minting money. ZTBL employees, on
I’m a better Muslim than you -by Meera Ghani: In Pakistan being a Muslim isn’t enough anymore. You have to be a certain type of Muslim, constantly having to prove your piety and religiosity to others (by religiosity I mean public religiosity). We seem to have gone so
1113 days of the PPP government! – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi: Related readings: Comparison between 1990, 1996 and 2010 Obsession with Zardari; Not in the New Year! The End of the Zardari Government is Near On April 12, 2011, an important milestone was surpassed by the current elected and peoples
“That stronghold is my nation not Pakistan” – by Bibrak Chandio: For thousands of years, people of western South Asia (now Pakistan) have been living with an enemy implanted in their genes which is perhaps the main hurdle in the path towards prosperity. One can feel the tramp of enemy
Mukhtaran’s case: Let’s be reasonable -by Waseem Altaf: I think it is in the fitness of things to consider the following points, before we, the educated lot, drift towards emotionality and approach the issue with pre-conceived ideas, as is becoming visible on the nature of posts appearing
Utter shame PM Gilani and Rehman Malik: It is utter shame how Prime Minister Gilani and Rehman Malik have been behaving like a ‘Devil’s Advocate’. More than two hundred young men from Parachinar have been camping outside the National Press Club in Islamabad for the past
People of Parachinar can not believe Rehman Malik any more: رحمان ملک کے ٹل پاراچنار روڈ کھولنے کے جھوٹے وعدوں پر یقین نہیں کیا جا سکتا، یوتھ آف پاراچنار اسلام آباد:اسلام ٹائمز۔ پاراچنار کرم ایجنسی کے عوام رحمان ملک کے مزید جھوٹے وعدوں اور بیانات سے دھوکے میں نہیں
The defence of a “burger baby revolutionary”: I would always worry about substance of a movement that considers itself ‘anti-intellectual’. There is a difference between being ‘anti-intellectual’ and being counter a certain intellectual movement. Former is an invitation to random action over substance. Latter is an challenge to begin
Tavilay ki bala: from Ifitkhar Chaudhry to Jamshed Dasti: طویلے کی بلا بندر کے سر – از افتخار چودھری تا جمشید دستی یہ بہت پرانامحارہ ہے آپ نے بھی سن رکھا ہو گا۔ لہذا اس کی وجہ تسمیہ سمجھانے کے لیئے ہم آپ کو مزید بور نہیں کر
Did Jamshed Dasti free the rapists of Mukhtaran Mai? – by Maula Bux Thadani: The fundemental principle followed by Pakistan’s urban intelligensia (fake civil society – FCS) is to divert criticism away from the real culprits. Jamshed Dasti (a commoner, a PPP MNA from Muzaffargarh) did not free the rapists of Mukhtaran Mai,
Judiciary or a tool to harass government? – by Sikandar Mehdi: People must remember the cases where Asif Zardari and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto were convicted by the infamous LHC judge Malik Abdul Qayyum. When the cases reached the SC and the evidence of Malik Abdul Qayyum’s conversation with Nawaz Sharif’s
My honor is not bigger than my life! – by Shazia Nawaz: I did not expect Mukhtar’s rapist to go free. There were witnesses to the crime, were there not? But even here in USA, if victim does not get examined right after the rape, valuable information gets lost and rapist
The unsung heroes -by Waseem Altaf: Looking at our history books, we find numerous characters, glorified as national heroes, however when closely examined we discover that they were nothing but opportunists and collaborators. We also find that since history books in Pakistan, as a matter
Ex-ISI men likely behind 26/11 attacks, says Athar: ISLAMABAD: Military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has hinted at involvement of retired ISI officials in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but categorically denied any role of serving spies. The ISPR chief, in his interaction with the visiting delegation of Indian
Blasphemy laws misused: Blasphemy laws in many countries are supposed to protect religion. But while the one religion may be protected, believers of other religions often have to suffer. A piece of paper can mean a lot. Without an identity card your
Shehrbano Taseer vows to continue her father’s mission: The daughter of murdered Punjab governor Salman Taseer says she is determined to continue his campaign for changes to Pakistan’s blasphemy law, RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal reports. Taseer was shot dead on January 4 by one of his security guards
The rise of new pawn Imran Khan -by Imran Qadir Bhat: Even before the inception of Pakistan, politics of this part of Punjab was dominated by British loyalist Zameendar and Jageerdars who were famous for their greed, sycophancy and opportunism. History reminds us they changed their political allegiance to Jinnah’s
The ummah and the empire: extraordinary rendition – by Hakim Hazik: Some say it was Maulana Barrel who started the drum rolling. Others blame Swat or even New York. However over the years it has found its way into the popular imagination and become a part of the mass culture,
Peshawar Declaration: The real one by Amn Tehreek, the fake by PTI: Pakistan Tehrik Insaf after today Daharna has issued a Declaration with the name of Peshawar Declaration to counter Amn Tehrik Peshawar declaration issued on 16th Jan 2010 after two days long consultation and deliberation, we demand from PTI to
Pakistan belongs to Captain Hammad and Mastois not Mukhtaran, Zarina and Shazia Khalid: کیپٹن حماد اور مستوئیوں کا پاکستان ایما ڈنکن نے ضیاء دور کے اپنے قیام کا سیاسی سفرنامہ لکھتے ہوئے اپنی ہر شعبہ زندگی کے لوگوں سے ملاقاتوں کے حوالے سے اس بات کا خصوصیت سے تذکرہ کیا تھا کہ
If they burn a Quran, they’re evil: Saudi invaders and Pakistani mercenaries have demolished at least 25 Shia mosques to implement a radical Wahhabi, sectarian agenda in Bahrain. We must thank General Kayani of Pakistan and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia for providing mercenaries to Bahrain’s
Only rights, Copyrights! – By Raja Fatah Ali: Two of our superstars passed away in Punjab and one in Karachi, recently. Last moments of Babu Baral and Mastana were quite shameful for our society. We all go to the theater, enjoy their “Jugats” (typical and traditional jokes),
Hamid Mir on Imran Khan’s first sit-in: Hamid Mir is a well known drama queen, but today he has just beaten all. In his article titled “Imran Khan ka pehla dharna“ published in our dearest Daily Jang on April 25, 2011, I had fits of laughter
Women workers in Pakistan – by Naveed Ali: It is middle and upper classes whose women stay at home in general. In urban centres, majority of women from lower (and lower middle) classes are working so as women from rural areas as farmers (who work on wages),
What is the difference between the Taliban and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf?: Honestly, there aren’t many differences. First and foremost, Taliban are militants. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is their civilian outfit. The Taliban attack NATO supply tankers/trucks. The PTI is now helping them by providing the necessary sitting ducks for the attacks.
Pakistani queens – by Shazia Nawaz: My father visited us in USA earlier this year. This was his first time visiting USA. He noticed the same things about USA that I did when I came to USA. Yes, I too noticed that there were women
Pakistan: Impaled on the horns of an economic dilemma – by Dr. Niaz Murtaza: Pakistan’s economy is currently afflicted by two problems requiring diametrically opposite remedies: economic stagnation, which dictates expansionary policies, and inflation caused by a fiscal gap, which requires contractionary policies. Pakistan thus suffers from stagflation. Given their conflicting remedies, should
Setting the Record Straight: Who was part of Military Regimes? – by Sikandar Mehdi: Once again I will start by demonizing the people who speak for Bhutto and his party commonly known as “spokespersons”. They are bunch of retards trying to defend the great party and its workers and are doing one of
Sorry Mukhatran Mai – by Sikandar Mehdi: We as a real civil society are ashamed of what has happened to you and can’t really understand your agony that you have gone through or have to go through in future. My salute to you and all other
Aapas Ki Baat: Geo’s dilemma: Related Articles: Geo TV gets censored…by Geo TV: Najam Sethi’s show and the out of bound topics – by Maula Bux Thadani Najam Sethi: Geo’s Catch-22? – by Noha Beig We are living in the Age of media abundance,