Democracy Archive
Mr. Panetta: “They are both” – by Waseem Altaf: ISPR has gone into hibernation. Understandably, thekedar (contractor) Noor Mohammd, who built the house where Osama lived, was taken into custody. A corps commanders’ conference has also been summoned which would conduct an ex-post facto analysis of the US
The forces of democracy and justice always triumph – by Saria Benazir: In an attempt to go through the reminiscences of an egalitarian process & the anguishes it met in Pakistan, one would perceptibly feel a profound scorn for many – including those, who vended the entire opulence , including the
Pervez Musharraf: Butcher of democracy or architect of development? – Dr. Niaz Murtaza: The dismal situation today is feeding nostalgia for Musharraf. Was his rule worth it? Not for democracy-idealists like me! However, since many people can tolerate dictatorships if they deliver, I consider this question pragmatically. Even pragmatically, dictatorship cannot be
Pakistan: Bhutto’s (Judicial) Murder -by Inam R Sehri: In Pakistan, general elections were held on 7th March 1977. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the victorious Party. At the behest of Gen Ziaul Haq, the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), all the opposition parties in coalition,
Pakistan: ISI rigged elections -by Inam R Sehri: On 2nd May 2011 evening, PPP ultimately joined hands with PML(Q) and offered them 18 slots in executive allocating them different assignments, mostly carrying ministreal perks. The young generation knows them little from days of Gen Musharraf when they
General Kayani: Honour and dignity first? -by Arshad Mahmood: Related Article: Gen Kayani, forget honour and prosperity, save our lives from your Taliban partners This article was originally published in the ‘Daily AajKal’
Pakistan did its part -by Asif Ali Zardari: Pakistan, perhaps the world’s greatest victim of terrorism, joins the other targets of al-Qaeda — the people of the United States, Britain, Spain, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Yemen, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria — in our satisfaction that
Benazir Bhutto, the other name of democracy – by Saria Benazir: “Jeevay, jeevay, Bhutto jeevay! Live, live, Bhutto live!” the crowds roared in Punjabi, a sentiment that just three months before would have cost them rigorous imprisonment and lashes. “Munjhe bhen, thunje bhen, Benazir—My sister, your sister, Benazir,” others called
In support of a secular state in Muslim majority countries – by Hasnain Khan: The following is a short clip of an interview of the Lebanese Shia Muslim scholar Muhammad Hassan Al-Amin. He discusses the need for a secular state, which is quite rare in the Muslim world, particularly within what one would
“I did not kill that man” – By Furqan Riaz Ahmed: Editor’s Note: This initiative by President Zardari is a welcome one. If anything, the history of the current PPP government and those of the other two PPP governments headed by Benazir Bhutto highlight the stranglehold the security establishment has
A great deal of ruin in a nation: Why Islam took a violent and intolerant turn in Pakistan, and where it might lead “TYPICAL Blackwater operative,” says a senior military officer, gesturing towards a muscular Westerner with a shaven head and tattoos, striding through the lobby of
UK report notes Pakistan’s progress towards democracy: Report says democratically elected govt of Zardari passed halfway mark of its term in office, notable landmark in country where no elected govt has seen out its tenure The Report launched on 31 March 2011 at the Foreign and
Deny the Holocaust and go to prison – by Kourosh Ziabari: Those who think that Europe is a “beacon of freedom” and “heaven of liberty” should give themselves an opportunity to reconsider what they had simplistically believed for so long. Tens of people, including high-ranking academicians and authors from various
Why is US backing force in Libya but not Bahrain, Yemen? – by Andrew North: Related articles: Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Bahrain is a slap in the face of the United States – by Jean-Francois Seznec An open letter to President Obama: People of Bahrain need your help U.S. follows two paths on
Raza Rumi and Cyril Almeida on the Raymond Davis Affair: We would like to recommend the following two articles, by Raza Rumi and Cyril Almeida, to our readers that sum up the issue well. For us, the outcome and the subsequent analysis is a vindication of what has already
Conspirators in the judiciary – by R.A. Toori: Conspiracies, hate-mongering, cynicism, criticism, scepticism and sycophancy are the hallmarks of Pakistan’s politics. In fact Pakistan’s political history is replete with palace intrigues and conspiracies. From the founder of Pakistan Qauid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to President Asif Ali Zardari,
Endless political conspiracies against the PPP – by Riaz Ali Toori: Pakistan’s 64 years of political history has witnessed many upheavals. Sometimes it was overshadowed by military dictators and sometimes it experienced autocracy. None of these systems were part of our base nor were they suggested by the founder of
The Indian-Pakistani Divide: Why India Is Democratic and Pakistan Is Not – by Christophe Jaffrelot: An excellent article by the pen of Christophe Jaffrelot in which he unwinds the book of Philip Oldenburg. The book puts forth an extensive view of the political history of the sub-continent and in depth analysis the reason of
An open letter to President Obama: People of Bahrain need your help: Related articles: LUBP Archive on Bahrain An open letter to President Obama: If there is any country where the USA can install democracy without a single bullet fired, it is Bahrain Dear Mr. President, In one of your recent
Salute to Tunisia: It all started a month ago when a disenfranchised university graduate Mohammed Bouazizi, 26, doused himself in petrol and set himself alight after police confiscated his produce, alleging he did not have the necessary permit. This public suicide grew
LUBP Interview with Olaf Kellerhoff, Resident Representative Pakistan at Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom: Related Interviews: LUBP Exclusive: A critical interview with Nadeem F. Paracha LUBP Interview with Kamran Shafi LUBP Interview with Dr Ayesha Siddiqa (Part I) LUBP Interview with Dr Ayesha Siddiqa (Part II) Brief Introduction: LUBP is pleased
VIEW: Voyeuristic incontinence —Gulmina Bilal Ahmad: VIEW: Voyeuristic incontinence —Gulmina Bilal Ahmad We will clamour for international assistance, international conferences and privately lead secular lives, but when it comes to our writings, our analyses and our politics, we conveniently turn Islamist. The rhetorical practice of
Don’t shoot the messenger for revealing uncomfortable truths – by Julian Assange: Related articles: Progressive Pakistani bloggers in support of Julian Assange Assange: charges are part of campaign to close down WikiLeaks, he vows to fight extradition “We Liberals strongly support Julian Assange and the democratic spirit and meaning behind his
Assange: charges are part of campaign to close down WikiLeaks, he vows to fight extradition: Related articles: Progressive Pakistani bloggers in support of Julian Assange Two plus two WikiLeaks claims the arrest is an attack on media freedom, but it is worth pointing out that one of the claimants making the sexual assault allegations
Blessed are the WikiLeaks revolutionaries —Babar Ayaz: Related Article: Progressive Pakistani bloggers in support of Julian Assange It is ironic that the Saudis have labelled Zardari as a “rotten head”, while their whole body polity is rotten. This comment is like the pot calling the kettle
Is democracy the right policy-matrix for good governance in Pakistan? – by Qudrat Ullah: According to the latest report “The State of Economy: Pulling Back From the Abyss,” released by the Institute of Public Policy of the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore “Pakistan remained abysmally at the bottom among South Asian States as it
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
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۔
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
‘I’m not free until the people are free’ – Suu Kyi: As overjoyed crowds celebrated the release of Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday, their leader gave a message that tempered their jubilation with a call to action. For the woman who has made so many personal sacrifices for the sake
Freedom from fear – by Aung Sang Suu Kyi: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, an icon of democracy, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of the fight against military dictatorship in Burma (Myanmar), was released after seven and a half years of house arrest. She has been detained
Violation of Labour Laws in Pakistan – by Shaukat Masood Zafar: Under the 1973 Constitution labour is defined as a ‘concurrent subject’ making liable for implementation both the Federal and Provincial Governments. The Industrial Relations Ordinance makes provision for the appointment of a Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) to determine the
Raiwand’s Dream shattered as all political parties opposed mid term poll: It seems Mian Nawaz Sharif who don’t believe in democratic institutions and political process, along with his buddies (especially Chaudahry Nisar), wants to build a anarchist state or Talibanized society in which modern representative system, voter’s choice and individual freedoms will
Asma Jahangir becomes first female SCBA president; once again Pakistani liberals defeated the right wingers: Related articles: Congratulations, Asma Jahangir won the SCBA elections – by pejamistri Asma Jahangir’s victory is a loss for Jang Group’s yellow journalism – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani felicitated Asma