Democracy Archive
In defence of the elected government of the PPP – by Ataul Haq Qasmi: بارہ اکتوبر،ایک شیطان جماعت اور آزاد عدلیہ….روزن دیوار سے …عطاء الحق قاسمی (نوٹ:۔یہ کالم وزیر اعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی کی تقریر سے ایک روز قبل لکھا گیا) آج کسی ایک موضوع کی بجائے مختلف موضوعات پر اظہار خیال کو
Fragile democracy and 64-channels media cottage industry – by Chaudhry Ahmed Khan: I recently came across a comment by the President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which really struck me for its succinct and bold portrayal of the Pakistani media. The President was countering one of the many false impressions
IJI style game plan: phase two: This post is sequel to authors’ previous post “IJI style game plan”. IJI style game plan enters second phase; In this phase, the PML-N leadership trying to develop and create reasons and logics to build a grand alliance against the
Justice has never been meted out to PPP, says Zardari: BENAZIRABAD (Agencies) – President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday vowed to protect rights of the people by foiling the conspiracies to undermine Pakistan People’s Party’s government. Speaking at the inauguration of development projects in Benazirabad district (previously known as
President Zardari rejects unconstitutional demand by the army chief – by Junaid Qaiser: According to foreign press reports; the Pakistan President, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, has rejected a proposal by the powerful Army Chief, Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, to remove some[so called] “corrupt” ministers who happen to be the close aides of Mr
The “Ideology” of Pakistan and Bangladesh: anti-thetical or compatible? – by Shahid Ilyas: The following message depicts exactly – as far as historical records are concerned – the vision of Jinnah for a Pakistani state: “Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but the Muslim Ideology which has to be preserved, which
Unpacking the governance debate -by Raza Rumi: If the intent of the unregulated media and a recalcitrant establishment is to dismiss the government to achieve better governance then this is at best a delusional goal Recent weeks have witnessed a supercilious debate on how the current
Citizens for democracy; no to undemocratic and unconstitutional change: LAHORE, Oct 3: Participants at a South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) seminar expressed on Sunday their concerns at an all-sided institutional, financial and societal destabilisation in a terrorism-ridden country, and demanded all state institutions work within their constitutional
The ardent messiah seekers -by Raza Rumi: A natural disaster, largely unavoidable, has provided a glorious opportunity to all those who have been hankering to reverse Pakistan’s fragile transition from an authoritarian to quasi-democratic rule. There is hardly a new script for the much-touted change and
Ministers in Waiting: My goodness the names keep changing but the song remains the same. Minus-One Formula became Bangladesh Model which became Caretaker Government which became Midterm Elections which became Patriotic Generals which became French Revolution which has now become Technocrats. Why
Starplus Soap Operas and our TV Talk Shows – by Aasima Niazi: ٹی وی اسکرین پر کیبل نیوز آپریٹر کی چرف سے اعتزار کے ساتھ یہ خبر چل رہی ہے کہ سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلے کے مطابق چند ٹی وی نیوز چینل ، جس میں کچھ انڈین انٹرٹینمنٹ چینل اور کچھ
Interview: Parliamentary Vote Displayed ‘Positive Signs For Afghanistan’s Democracy’: Mustafa Sarwar of RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan spoke today with Jed Ober, chief of staff of U.S.-based Democracy International, which sent a team of observers to monitor Afghanistan’s second parliamentary elections on September 18. Democracy International focuses on democracy
Congratulations to those who are desperate for a Revolution- by Ali Raja: If we roam around the English Language, very easily shall we be able to highlight and mark out the “Darling Terms” of English Language. Darling term to me is a term which pleasantly flavours the taste buds of certain
President resolves to ‘further strengthen democracy in Pakistan’: President Asif Ali Zardari hoped that the observance of the International Democracy Day would lend strength to the pro-democracy forces throughout the world and discourage potential dictators from curbing the aspirations of the people through political adventurism. President Asif
Pakistan needs civilian rule, says US envoy: The US has dismissed suggestions that the Pakistani military could form a viable alternative to the civilian government, widely criticized for its handling of the country’s flood crises. Special envoy Richard Holbrooke praised civilian politicians and said the US would support
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
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
Altaf Gets It Backwards: Whatever possessed Altaf Hussain to make statements supporting a martial law, his comments are short-sighted and ill-conceived. In fact, Altaf gets the whole thing backwards. If we’re going to make progress in eliminative corruption, the only way to do
Why is CJP Afraid of Secularism? – by The Baloch Hal: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Justice Ifthakar Chaudhary, who was reinstated to his top position after rigorous anti-dictatorship efforts of champions of democracy and pluralism, has stunned everyone with his recent remarks against the Parliament and secularism. The
Mosque at Ground Zero: Saudi wins America loses- by Imtiaz Baloch: The New York City Landmarks Commission unanimously allowed for the demolition of the Italianate building of 1857, near where the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers stood, and paves the way for the construction of the Cordoba House, a Mosque
Ground Zero mosque approval, a victory for US democracy, religious tolerance: New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission decision to sanction the construction of a mosque and an Islamic center near Ground Zero by a vote of nine to zero, should be seen as a reaffirmation of one of the basic
Political homosexuality – by Dr Ayesha Siddiqa: Can I suggest that politics is also highly gendered. Just like things fall in the category of masculine and feminine, political ideology also has its types. Considering my own bias for the feminine, I would argue that there are
Media freedoms versus responsibility (holy cow syndrome): Published today in The News Much has been said about media accountability and the dire need of a regulation framework for Pakistan’s new power centre. Pakistani media has earned its freedom and independence after a long, often bloody, struggle
Aaj bhi Bhutto zinda hai – by Fawad Manzoor: Pakistan is passing through most critical time in its history. I would call it even worse than 1971. Pakistan in its 62 year history has gone through many turmoils. Founding fathers of the country passed away too soon after
Charter of Democracy (CoD) Implementation Chart: The Charter of Democracy (COD, signed by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif) is indeed a Magna Carta of politics of reconciliation and democracy in Pakistan. Despite a lot of criticism by the right wing media
Illegitimate dictators and their ‘children’ – by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla: My Response to Ijazul Haq’s article published in daily News today (July 04). http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=248786 This is with reference to Ijazul Haq’s article “What has ‘freely’ changed?” (July 3). Mr Haq seems to be living in the 70s, as he
Ziaists are terrorizing the democratic space – by Junaid Qaiser: Due to General Zia Ul Haq’s long dictatorship — it was undoubtedly, the darkest period in the history of Pakistan’s polity — Pakistan has become the land of turbulence and crisis. Today, we are facing insurmountable problems like terrorism,
An open letter to Asif Ali Zardari – by Javed I. Sheikh: I would like to share this letter posted almost one year before at another forum. Mr. President, Sir, 1. As one of the most senior founder members of the Pakistan People Party and Ex-General Secretary of the PPP District
Benazir Bhutto _ The Insignia of Democracy- by Saria Benazir: Headship is not too undemanding, as is thought by many of the so- called leaders in Pakistan & of course, what is leadership meant to them, other than gaining votes and that too, not by the people, but by
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
Democratic or Religious State – by Junaid Qaiser: جمہو ر ی یا مذ ہبی ر یا ست جنید قیصر سقو ط ڈ ھا کہ جو ہما رے دل پر گز را ہے ۔ اِ س کے جو اند رو نی اور بیر و نی محر
Obscurantism and undemocratic mindset – by Junaid Qaiser: قد ا مت پسند ی اور غیر جمہو ر ی اندا زِ فکر قا ئدا عظم ، مذ ہب اور ر یا ست کے تعلق کے حوا لے سے کیا خیا لا ت ر کھتے تھے ، قر ۃ
Neo-Islam in Pakistan: we need to confront it with full force – by Dr Muhammad Awais Khalil: Thanks to General Zia for the forced islamization of Pakistan, pouring bags full of US dollars and Saudi riyals and mushroom growth of madrassas of a particular ideology [wahabism and deobandism] which has created a generation who has a
News & Views : By Khalid Wasti خبریں اور تبصرے: ( بحوالہ روزنامہ جنگ ) ××× سسٹم خود کشی پر آمادہ ہے – ( جسٹس خلیل الرحمان رمدے) حالا نکہ ہم اسے پھانسی لگانا چاہتے ہیں ××× خواہش ہے جمہوری نظام کو نقصان نہ پہنچے – (جسٹس افتخار چوہدری)
Democracy in Pakistan: the chasm – by Haris Gazdar: Source Economic and political weekly (With thanks to reader Hussain Bux Mallah for providing a link to this article) With the passing of the 18th constitutional amendment in April 2010, democratic Pakistan’s journey for political stability came within leaping