Monthly Archive:: June 2011
SHOT IN KARACHI – Naveed Ali: This video is everywhere, all are sharing and all are condemning it, but who knows if it is just a real life horror show for one’s amusement. I do not know because I am not finding enough courage to
The need to revive PPP- USA Chapter – by Furqan Riaz Ahmed: Pakistan Peoples Party is the largest political party in Pakistan. It is the only national party, which is represented thoroughly throughout all of Pakistan’s provinces and has influence in FATA as well. Like many political parties in Pakistan,
America’s Friendship and Pakistan’s Limited Options for Survival – by Ammar Kazmi: Quite recently, Hillary Clinton has visited to revamp the bonds of friendship between Pakistan and America, but the fact of the matter is that this so called friendship is based on lust, power hunger and conspiracies. Subsequently, bears no
Fatima Bhutto and her songs of Blood, Sword and Fairytale -by Suleman Akhtar: There is always a fine thin line between fact and fiction and one fall prey to lose the sight of truth if hides ones personal repugnance behind the cloak of fiction in lieu of withstanding the facts.
Are they free to go to their temples? -by Saria Benazir: Pakistan was envisioned as a progressive, democratic and tolerant society, which, while retaining a Muslim majority, would give equal rights to its non-Muslim citizens. Without calling it a secular state, Jinnah and his modernist Muslim colleagues believed that Pakistan
Another open letter to General Pasha – by Ejaz Baloch: Dear General Pasha The Affix with my name “Baloch” do not entitle me to communicate directly to you as our people have no idyllic past experiences of your institution. My personal observations about you are based on your gestures
Mainstream media and talk shows ignore minorities: A very good and encouraging news indeed that minister of minorities Kamran Michael has been reinstated as the Finance Minister in the Punjab Cabinet and, now, he will address the budget speech in the Punjab Assembly house on Friday,
Signs of things to come?: A Suo Moto action is a very serious and abrupt notice taken by a higher court where the interests of Justice are affected. One can’t help but feel bit cynical when a suo moto action is taken against an
Haqeeqi Khatraat Vs Farzi Khatraat – by Danial Lakhnavi: مملکت خداداد پاکستان ہمیشہ کی طرح ان گنت خطرات میں گھرا ہوا ہے اور اگر پاکستان کے سیاسی اداکاروں کی اصطلاح میں بات کی جائے تو ملک اس وقت تاریخ کے نازک دور سے گزر رہا ہے اب تو
Budget deception: Real defense allocation is 850 billion not 495 billion -by Arshad Mahmood: Originally published in the ‘Daily AajKal’.
An open letter to General Pasha -by Ejaz Haider: Dear General Pasha, I write this letter to you in the wake of the gruesome and gratuitous murder of Syed Saleem Shahzad, friend to many, including myself. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate, the agency you head, is being accused of Saleem’s
Renovation of religious and cultural heritage of minorities – Sindh Budget 2012: Related : 1000 year old Hindu temple in Pak in desperate need of upkeep Will Pakistan wake up to it? Apprehensions of Pakistani Hindus The Pakistan Peoples’ Party has been a sole voice for the minorities of Pakistan. We
WikiLeaks: US blames Jang Group of publishing ‘false, inflammatory’ stories: ID: 180281 11/26/2008 14:10 08ISLAMABAD3712 Embassy Islamabad UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY “VZCZCXRO0447 PP RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #3712/01 3311410 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261410Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0399 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 9470 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW
In Punjab, a Christian can’t present the provincial budget: LAHORE: Several provincial legislators in Punjab belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have objected to Punjab cabinet member Kamran Michael presenting the budget on grounds that he is Christian, sources within the party told The Express Tribune.
Amnesty International urges Pakistan to stop unlawful killings in Balochistan: (Washington, D.C.) – Amnesty International strongly condemns the killing of Professor Saba Dashtiyari and calls on the Pakistan government to bring his killers to justice. Professor Saba Dashtiyari succumbed to his injuries after being shot repeatedly by unidentified gunmen
Awami leader, Ch. Nisar and his PML-N tone down in NA: Pakistan’s very own awami leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan almashoor (aka) Mr. Bean began the budget session on Monday, June 6, 2011 after his “threat” that he may not do so in “protest”. He also felt that his party’s
Asif Ezdi’s dream: Foreign minister-ship in Talibanistan: Yesterday’s article of Mr. Asif Ezdi a retired foreign office bureaucrat in The News is a classic example of the retired bureaucrats and military officers pandering their assets as analysts. It seems that most of them write to present
Pakistan journalists walk razor’s edge: Reporters often put themselves in harm’s way as they try to dig up the truth about Islamic militant groups, shadowy intelligence agencies and the possible links between the two. One reporter recently ended up dead; another has a harrowing
Mission silencing: State bans Saleem Shahzad’s book: The killing of Syed Saleem Shahzad is brutal confirmation that Pakistan is the world’s most hazardous place for journalists, whistle blowers and Independent thinkers. Saleem Shahzad’s kidnapping a week ago and his later brutal murder sparked off speculation that
Budget coverage misses the mark: What on earth is ‘relief’? – By Farooq Tirmizi: Source: Express Tribune By Farooq Tirmizi Published: June 6, 2011 For the journalists who cried themselves hoarse that the federal government’s budget for fiscal year 2012 contained no ‘relief’ for the masses, I have a few questions: what
Change of focus: Shunning the security paradigm for development – by Ali Wahab: Source: The Express Tribune Published: June 6, 2011 The last few weeks have been disappointing as well as hysteric for a majority of Pakistanis. Disappointing because a high value target was found and killed in Pakistan and hysteric
Sorry Mr. Saba Dashtiyari: Everyone has to die one day but some people unexpectedly live a bit longer. Saba Dashtiyari’s death was also quite delayed… Whoever killed him was not in a hurry. The murderer lent him time to mend his ways. But
Dangerous Duffers downsizing: Democracy is the best revenge – by Ali Sher Mussali: Just after OBL’s killing in Pakistan by USA forces Dangerous Duffers’ (DD’s) paid anchor Mr. Kamran Khan was pushed back to support right wing’s mourning over killing of a world class Islamist terrorist by USA forces in Pakistan. Tonight
Pakistan’s spy agency and terrorism -by Mansoor Ijaz: Mansoor Ijaz says the real danger inside Pakistan is its powerful spy organization, Inter-Services Intelligence—and that an even more notorious outfit is an ISI-affiliate called S-Wing. The murder of a prominent Pakistani journalist, Syed Saleem Shahzad, who was kidnapped
Can anyone control Pakistan’s ISI spies ? Aamer Ahmed Khan on his own ISI experience: Related Article: Then they came for me -by Babar Sattar Pakistan’s dreaded spy agency, the ISI, is back in the spotlight, accused of murdering journalist Saleem Shahzad. The agency’s engagement with the media has become progressively more virulent as
Top 10 reasons why Imran Khan (PTI Group) should hold another Protest Dharna – By Razzak Memon: 10. Them Macho Jihadi boys really took a shine to Strings; they even liked their songs! 9. Ali Azmat can lay to rest all rumours that Talat Hussain can outcroon him on tired conspiracy theories. 8. Pakistan is set to experience
Some random guidelines for Pak journalists: ہدایت نامہ برائے صحافی برادری محمد حنیف بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، کراچی 1: ۔قلم اٹھانے سے پہلے بلند آواز میں کہیں کہ ملک اس وقت نازک حالات سے گزر رہا ہے۔ اگر ملک کا خیال نہیں ہے
1 down 3 more to go! :— By D. Asghar: Last week if you recall, this scribe wrote a post about US Secretary of State Clinton’s visit and the four names, that were on her list. Re capping those 4 names were, Zawahiri, Siraj Haqqani, Ilyas Kashmiri and Atiya
Rights of the children in Pakistan -by Saria Benazir: Pakistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 12 November 1990, making a reservation on interpreting its provisions following the principles of Islamic laws and values. In 1997 Pakistan decided to withdraw its reservation, which marks
PEMRA Takes Notice of Irresponsible Reporting / Talk Shows by TV Channels: PEMRA has issued notices to Geo, Dawn News, Dunya News and News One for their irresponsible talks shows in the aftermath of PNS Mehran attack. The most damning aspect is against Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk televised an interview of
PML-N’s budget drama – They have succeeded in failing us: On June 3, 2011, the fourth budget of the current government was presented in the National Assembly by Finance Minister, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. The main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s members raised slogans throughout the speech of
Human Rights Watch calls for Independent Inquiry into Saleem Shahzad’s killing: Inter Services Intelligence suspected of involvement has long been above the law. All aspects of this crime, including the possibility of links to the ISI, need to be independently investigated and prosecuted. The ISI and other military and intelligence-related
Imran Khan: Taliban bachao ‘Tehrik’ -by Arshad Mahmood: Originally published in ‘Daily Aajkal’.
Then the ISI came for me -by Babar Sattar: Related article: Can anyone control Pakistan’s ISI spies ? Aamer Ahmed Khan on his own ISI experience Mr. Babar Sattar recalls being called to ISI HQ to “discuss” an Op-Ed he wrote on “reforming khakis”. The pall of gloom,
In the Memory of My Teacher–Professor Saba Dashtyari—Part 1- Kamber Ali Baloch: Blog Cross Post : Baloch Hal On the 1st of June 2011 at 23.58 EST, my mobile phone beeped while I was reading an online article. When I clicked to see the message from my cousin in Karachi, the
Kya tum saz ko tod ker sur ko mita sako gaye?: ’کیا تم ساز کو توڑ کر سُر کو مٹا سکو گے‘ ریاض سہیل بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، کراچی ’قلم تلوار سے زیادہ طاقتور ہے‘ بلوچستان یونیورسٹی کے استاد اور بلوچ دانشور صبا دشتیاری اسی فکر کے پیروکار