Encountering fundamentalism — by Nizamuddin Nizamani: Extremist Islam is encroaching deeper into the Thar Desert and almost all district and tehsil headquarters of Sindh and Balochistan, where large numbers of seminaries, with new buildings and equipped with every kind of infrastructure, have been erected during
Punjab khappay? – by Nadeem Paracha: According to many emails that I received after posting a blog in the wake of the terrible bomb attacks in Lahore last week, I was ‘spreading politics of ethnicity.’ I don’t know exactly what made these folks think this way,
Culture of police torture in Pakistan – by Qudrat Ullah: Although the police flogging are not an uncommon arcane in Pakistan, yet the shocking telecast of flout police torture of some hapless accused, in the presence of flabbergasted on-lookers, in a remote Punjab locality by the acerbic media, has
Blast after blast after blast in Lahore, who is responsible?: Terror drama unfolds in Lahore Two suicide bombers targeting Army vehicles detonated explosives within seconds of each other on Friday, killing at least 45 people and wounding 100, police said. It was the fourth major attack in Pakistan this
PML-N’s Sipah-e-Sahaba group and its cost to Punjab: The pattern of by-elections in Jhang and PML-N’s alliance with Sipah-e-Sahaba is a worrisome development. However, this is not the first time that PML-N has established alliances with terrorist organisations. Only a few days ago (in February 2010), PML-N
Filthy rich Khadim-e-Aala – by Shafiq Awan: Shahbaz Sharif is ‘very rich’, but where did the money come from? By Shafiq Awan Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is the richest member of the Punjab Assembly, with multi-million pounds of foreign assets mentioned in his declared assets
NA-55, Democracy’s last chortle – by Qudrat Ulla: The recently concluded NA-55 by-elections in the heart of Rawalpindi were highly capricious in many ways- it was the finale political Armageddon of the shrewd Sheikh of Potohar in which he tried to play all his tricks but to
Thanks to PML-N, sectarian violence may revisit Punjab: Source: The News, February 27, 2010 Jhang fears return of sectarian violence PML-N sees no harm in seeking banned outfit’s blessing By Khalid Hurral & Babar Dogar JHANG/LAHORE: A defunct sectarian organisation, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), is rearing its head
Hijacking Democracy – by Anas Muhammad: Today we live in an increasingly dangerous world, which is filled with people who have their ulterior motives and willingness to harm others to benefit themselves. Our world is filled with criminals, gangsters, murderers, and terrorists. The people who
Islamists campaigning against Basant: (Photo taken from this excellent blog post) This year, like before, self-righteous individuals and organizations have taken it upon themselves to cleanse and purify Pakistani society of pernicious and Satanic influences of Western and Hindu culture. This movement has
The Rightist Judicio-Politico Mafia – by Anas Muhammad: Saturday February 13 – The Chief Justice of Pakistan defied Presidential orders through a suo moto action against the Presidential notification for appointment of certain judges. Chief Justice, in a rare nightly emergency session, formed a three members
Two Provinces: Different Local Government Bills: After a lot of confusion and campaigning against the fate of local government bodies, the Punjab Government finally brought the local government amendment bill in the parliament this month. The new bill was passed by PML-N with majority votes
Reconciliation Is No Silver Bullet – by Anas Muhammad: Two years ago – February 2008 – Pakistan began its transformation to democracy with a general election that brought Benazir Bhutto’s PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) into power. The party decided to continue its policy, introduced by its slain leader
Shameless and not-so-Muslim League!: Rule of law or the ‘law of rules’? By Shafiq Awan In the House, the honourable members act and behave as their masters bid them to. If a voice crosses the threshold laid down by them, it is silenced.
Long live Punjabi Chief Justice and Punjabi fascism!: Accountability — why only non-Punjabis? By Shafiq Awan There can be no doubt that the Supreme Court’s judgement on the National Reconciliation Ordinance was a historic decision and speaks volumes for the independence of the judiciary. But the verdict
Flood management in Punjab: But what next? – by Qudrat Ullah: Punjab, the land of mighty rivers and flowing canals, witnessed many big deluges which caused losses to the tune of billion of rupees, besides damaging lives and property of the public. Although the flood management is the responsibility of
Breaking news: Remember we (LUBP) informed you first!: Justice Ramday to be rewarded with a senatorial position by PML-N By Omar Khattab in Lahore Lahore, the hotbed of PML-N, is abuzz with rumors that the Sharif brothers have in principle decided to make Justice (now retired) Khalil
He Came, He Saw, He Conquered. – By Anas Muhammad: On Wednesday January 13, the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari arrived at Lahore. The city that is believed to be strictly the opposition’s (PML-N) turf. The irony was that both the leaders of PML-N, the Sharif brothers, were
Punjab: Bullets in Bansri – Guest post by Bahadar Ali Khan: The rural Punjab has gone through a subtle but certainly very conspicuous change during the last two decades. The ‘new’ Punjab doesn’t resonate with its traditional and historical composition, as it used to be known for its friendliness, easy