Farahnaz Ispahani talks with BBC on ill conceived and mal-intended talks with Taliban: BBC-Radio- A few assertions are there that the Pakistani Talibans are going to be back to these talks? Ms Ispahani-I have major problems with these peace-talks to begin with,they have been for the last few months, the public opinion was

Hudson Institute: Pakistan elections 2013, any hope for a secular government?: Elections run by a caretaker government in May will mark the first successful transition from one democratically elected Pakistani government to another without an intervening military coup or implementation of martial law. Given the importance of Pakistan to U.S.

What is often painted deliberately as a Shia-Sunni conflict is quite another creature – by Farahnaz Ispahani: Death by a thousand cuts Land of the pure or land of the purge? Saturday’s mob attack on a Christian colony in Lahore is a reminder of how unsafe Pakistan has become for minorities such as Shias, Hindus, Ahmadis

A national psyche of fear – by Farahnaz Ispahani: From the day that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, I have felt the escalation of the mindset of hate. Our country has been hijacked — not politically but through the psychology of hate and fear. It is obvious

A truly democratic future -by Farahnaz Ispahani: For the first time in its history, Pakistan is close to a democratic transfer of power. One directly elected government will go through the electoral process again in the first quarter of 2013 and a new, elected group answerable to

Visualising a tolerant Pakistan -by Farahnaz Ispahani: We began our lives as a nation with hope and idealism. Pakistan and Pakistanis had those beliefs because of the foundation laid by our Quaid, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Though ignored in our textbooks, in the speeches of parliamentarians and by

The punishment of dual nationality: سرد جنگ کے خاتمے، گلوبلائزیشن کے پیچیدہ اور تیز عمل، 11 ستمبر کے المناک سانحے کے بعد اب قومی سلامتی کے تصورات یکسر تبدیل ہوگئے ہیں۔ اب سیکورٹی کے تصورات محض سرحدوں کی حفاظت تک محدود نہیں رہے بلکہ

Aap kehtay hain to zanjeer hila detay hain – by Fayyaz Mughal:

A critical analysis of Husain Haqqani vs Mansoor Ijaz saga: Source: Pakistan Blogzine Related posts: Deconstructing Husain Haqqani – by Aamir Mughal and Sarah Khan Express Tribune must not distort facts about Husain Haqqani Husain Haqqani, memogate and urban elites’ pandemonium on Twitter  Mullen throws Husain Haqqani under the

Why Pakistan’s media needs a code of conduct?: Pakistan’s media landscape has exploded over the last decade. But it is still the most dangerous place on earth to be a journalist and there are now calls for a strict code of conduct to protect the press and

I want the Baloch to get back the true Meaning of Life! Do you? – by Salma Jafar: Cross-posed from Pakistan Blogzine A topic so close to my heart that it’s hard to write on, but on Laibaah’s request here is a take on the issue of Balochistan and in particular the issue of missing persons which

Washington Post’s report on Geo‏: The Washington Post’s Islamabad correspondent Karin Brulliard reports on Pakistani leading media group’s bias, irresponsible reporting, negativity against modern liberal concepts, anti American views, it’s pro religious extremist approach and anti democratic agenda. KARACHI, Pakistan — In a nation

Aabpara phobia: An unedited conversation with Riaz Toori: Related post: Abdul Khaliq Hazara and other ISI’s touts within Shia Muslims Editor’s note: The purpose of this post is to highlight our independence as a blog. While we do not conceal our support for the Pakistan Peoples Party,

Time to rescue the people of Parachinar – by Farahnaz Ispahani: Parachinar used to be called ‘a paradise on Earth’. Despite its natural beauty and strategic importance, Parachinar is presently in a dire state due to sectarian violence initially instigated by the negative policies of former president Ziaul Haq. The

Frenzied mob mentality, By Farahnaz Ispahani: All Pakistanis should have their heads lowered in shame. We appear to be still medieval rather than part of the 21st century. At a time when we reach out to the international community for aid to help our citizens

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

Achievements of the democratic government: A moment for optimism — by Farahnaz Ispahani: The strategy evolved by the government, in consultation with the army and other stakeholders, and the determination shown by it in the face of heavy odds led to a complete ouster of the extremists from Swat The passage of

Towards women’s empowerment – by Farahnaz Ispahani: The touchstone of the morality of a nation or a society is the way it treats its women. Women are a vital segment of any society. Without their unhindered participation in all spheres of national life, no nation can

Hussain Haqqani, Mere Mutabiq – by Ahsan Abbas Shah: حسین حقانی میرے مُطابق کل سے میرے ذہن میں ایک بھونچال سا مچا ہُوا ہے،پپلز پارٹی میں اندرونی اِختلافات کو جس طریقے سے میڈیا پیش کر رہا ہے اُس سے شاید یہ تاثر دینے کی کوشش کی جا رہی

Democracy under threat? Analyses by Cyril Almeida and Farhnaz Ispahani: Democracy under threat? By Cyril Almeida Friday, 16 Oct, 2009 President Asif Ali Zardari is the curator of the changeover to a democratic state and on his shoulders rests a very heavy burden. – Photo by Reuters Is Project