International Democracy Day – Points for Pakistanis to Ponder: In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe September 15th annually as the “International Day of Democracy” and invited all member states and organizations to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner that contributes to raising public
International Day of Democracy: “Let us recognize that democratic governance is a yearning shared and voiced by people the world over. Democracy is a goal in its own right, and an indispensable means for achieving development for all humankind.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message
General Parvez Mushraf’s live telethon: media campaign for dictator: The prime-time General Parvez Musharaf live telethon, broadcast by private television channel[Duniya News]on September 12, was an unprecedented media attack on the democratic space. In Pakistani context the questions of responsibility and pro-democratic views are very important and critical,
Rehman Malik, who do you represent? – by Imtiaz Baloch: While Rehman Malik statements regarding the peace process in Balochistan of threatening aggrieved Baloch elements of using more force was responded by the sensible Baloch political leadership as Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal and Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Newspaper
Viewpoint Interview with Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa: Military’s predation is an institutional feature’, Ayesha Siddiqa. A dissident’s job is always fraught with dangers. In case of Pakistan, the risks involved in criticizing all-powerful Khakis and their proxy Taliban hardly need an elucidation. Still, dissident voices keep
MQM’s strange recipe to end feudalism -by Riaz Missen: The MQM, which often complains of Taliban’s growing presence in Karachi and is unhappy for being unable to convince its coalition partners to retain the local government system of the Musharraf era at least in Sindh, has surprised everybody
Altaf Bhai’s Convenient Conscience: Ayaz Amir hits the nail on the head last week in his column for The News, “Fresh takes on patriotism”. Amir is annoyed with MQM chief Altaf’s recent outbursts about martial law, of course, and flays them with the sharp wit
We Must Stay The Course – by Babar Sattar: Altaf Hussain’s statement inciting ‘patriotic generals’ to take steps ‘like martial law’ against ‘corrupt feudal and land lord politicians’ is an expression of intent to support subversion of constitutional rule in Pakistan. This statement is not only mischievous, but
26th August: Remembering Nawab Akbar Bugti: No single date left such a lasting impression on the society and politics of Balochistan like August 26th, 2006. It was, no doubt, “Balochistan’s 9/11” when the province’s former governor and elected chief minister Nawab Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti
The great Baloch martyr – By Sanaullah Baloch: The world watched incredulously as Pervez Musharraf declared war on Balochistan, and particularly, on Nawab Bugti. Tanks rolled into Dera Bugti and other parts in January 2005, prior to the so-called attack on Musharraf in December 2005 in Kohlu
Talibanisation of the heart — by Dr. Abbas Zaidi: Dr. Abbas Zaidi has shared this intellectual piece with us for LUBP. A slightly edited version is published in Dailytimes today, we have posted it earlier from the newspaper, Now we are replacing it with the complete, unedited and
We must have answers – By Kamran Shafi: An appeal has been made to My Lord the Chief Justice of Pakistan by 10 eminent citizens, in the following words. “An appeal by the citizens of Pakistan: Request to scrutinise the five-year tax returns, declaration of assets and
Redefining national interest: Raza Rumi The elusive quest for peace between India and Pakistan remains hostage to the military-industrial complex at both the global and regional levels. Such is the dynamic unleashed by two imagined “nations” that their existence as states is
Lordship CJ’s selective honesty ? – by Jinnah Bhutto: There are few things which cannot be compromised based on our religious teachings. Firstly, if you ever find out that your Imam in the mosque is corrupt (likes to have a drink once in a while, when mood is good
Interview : Afrasiab Khattak on Pak India dialogue -by Jyoti Malhotra: Senator Afrasiab Khattak, President ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and former Chairman HRCP and member of Constitutional reforms committe chaired by Raza Rabbani recently has in an interview to Jyoti Malhotra in discussed Pak India peace dialogue, Terrorism and constitutional amendments.
You can’t murder a legacy – by Saria Benazir: The Bhutto family has occupied a well-known place in the world politics and surely, when one articulates about democracy in Pakistan, the Pakistan Peoples party is the only party, which from the beginning of its foundation; laid by Quaid-e-Awam
Corrupt politicians and our saviours in army: I am providing below a news report without any comments or editing: Ex-governor’s son-in-law defaulted on Rs 1.8 bn loan Sunday, June 13, 2010 BoP scandal snowballs as NAB digs more dirt By Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD: The Bank of
Whats Up in the GHQ? – by Ayesha Siddiqa: Source: Ayesha Siddiqa Blog One Karachi based Mr Seagul has been writing on the issue of higher defense management especially the comparative powers of the army chief versus that of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staffs Committee. In a
They killed Benazir Bhutto and this is how it happened – by Anas Abbas: Anas Abbas is a co-editor of Critical PPP/LUBP who also administers his own blog at: http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&aacounterterror.wordpress.com “Targeted assassination is a necessity of this modern world”. Those were the words of former MOSSAAD official in a recent BBC documentary programme
Who murdered Benazir Bhutto? – by Christina Lamb: Bhutto was transformed when reunited with her supporters (Paul Rogers/The Times) Benazir Bhutto was brought back to Pakistan from exile as part of an international deal. Then she was killed — and all traces of evidence were immediately swept
A hard-hitting report – by Asma Jahangir: Source: Dawn THE UN inquiry report on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination may not be an eye-opener but it does put the record straight and fixes responsibility for the tragedy. Responses to the report have been mixed. Some have been dismissive
Pakistan “controlled” by the ISI: UN Report: The recent UN report on the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has put forth in black and white what has been hitherto suspected and perceived – the murky role of Pakistan intelligence agencies’, especially the ISI,
Naming the Establishment – Nirupama Subramanian: Source The Hindu: The U.N. report on Benazir Bhutto’s killing wades directly into the controversial subject of civilian-military relations in Pakistan. Anyone who has been in Pakistan even briefly knows about the “establishment”. It comes up so often in