Religious extremism & fundamentalism & radicalism Archive

Nusrat Javeed on Zaid Hamid‏: lal topi wala maskhara: Source: Daily Express ——– PS: Apparently General Kayani was a bit generous with the truth. He too seems to have good relations with Zaid Hamid who was specially invited to PMA, Kakul, Osamaabad Abbottabad – in 2010
Is the youth in elite universities in Pakistan radical? – by Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa: Abstract This is a study of the socio-political attitudes amongst youth in elite universities in the three major cities in Pakistan: Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The primary objective was to see whether better education and access to resources made
The great equaliser: Death by 140 characters —BY Dr Mohammad Taqi: Related Article: The horrors of media capitalism and the orthodox televangelist whores -By Zeeba Hashmi The man, who claims to be imbued with love for Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), is seen and heard uttering profanities while getting ready to recite
A tale of two murders: Searching for equal justice -By Kashif N Chaudhry: It is the responsibility of a country’s judiciary to provide “equal justice under law” to every single citizen of the state without difference. Without an independent and honest judiciary, all the rights guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution of
The horrors of media capitalism and the orthodox televangelist whores -By Zeeba Hashmi: It’s all about hunger for control. It’s all about hitting the right audience. Amir Liaqat’s exposure came at a time when there was a general perception of godliness about him, and this perception becomes much more stronger among his
Bringing Home the Desert -by Suleman Akhtar: I’m all for endorsing their policies, but what is the vindication they have of myriads of dead bodies of my country-fellows? I’m ready to relinquish Khusrow, Ghalib, Bhittai, Bhulla, Rahman Baba and Gul Khan, but can they introduce
What does calling another Muslim a non-Muslim make you? – by Zeeba Hashmi: One word that comes to your mind with intrigue. Qadiyani, doesn’t come easy for its existential uncertainty in Pakistan. Yet, despite what the constitution says about them in derogatory terms, they are determined to stay in this country that
Are we a moral society? -By Meera Ghani: Lately, I find myself losing hope. It seems as if we all are so caught up in our mundane day to day lives that we’ve stopped caring about what’s going on around us. I would much rather believe that
De-legitimizing Islamic Fundamentalism – By Hammad Khan: “Hypocritical”. “Selfish”. “Oppressive” – these are just a few of the many negative words used to describe the US foreign policy in most of the Muslim-majority countries. According to the Pew Center’s survey of global attitudes, “most of the
Call for Protest Rally against the brutal police attack on Nairang Gallery: Call for Protest Rally against the brutal attack on Nairang Gallery, Lahore and its curator and staff by SHO Shadman Police Station Rana Zulfiqar Date: Saturday August 13, 2011 Time: 3 to 4 pm Venue: Karachi Press Club (front
Pakistan and the Search for Identity (Part 1) – by Rusty Walker: About the author: Rusty Walker is an Independent Political Analyst, educator, author, Vietnam veteran-era U.S. Air Force, from a military family, retired college professor, former Provost (Collins College, U.S.A.), artist, musician and family man. Rusty Walker is an ardent
Pakistani Hindus’ ashes brought to India to be scattered in Ganges: By Mark Magnier They sat in the dark for decades, waiting on the shelves of an abandoned library, the laughter and tears that once defined their lives all but forgotten. Dictatorships rose and fell. India and Pakistan detonated atomic
No honeymoon period: Muslim girl in danger after marrying Christian: GUJRANWALA: A local teacher has approached police officials, after she began receiving death threats for marrying outside the faith. According to police officials, Khokhar Ki resident Majeeda Bibi married a colleague Bashir Masih last year without informing her family.
Pakistan will be suspect until evil in its midst is rooted out: The Mumbai attacks will be linked to Islamabad regardless of who perpetrated them. By Con Coughlin A fresh wave of terrorist attacks are launched at the heart of the Indian city of Mumbai, and immediately the finger of suspicion
Interview: Shehrbano Taseer: Shehrbano Taseer became the official spokesperson of her family after her father Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Punjab, was assassinated in January this year. But Shehrbano is more than just a vocal member of the family. She has also
Pakistan hesitates to eradicate U.S.-mapped militant camps: By Rowan Scarborough The U.S. has compiled a wide body of intelligence on the locations of militant training camps in Pakistan, but has been unable to persuade Islamabad to shut them down, current and former officials say. A former
The Face of Pakistan’s Courage: ‘If you believe in something, you have to be willing to die for it.’ By Bret Stephens On Jan. 4, Salmaan Taseer, the liberal-minded governor of the Pakistani province Punjab, was shot 27 times at point-blank range by his
My father died for Pakistan: An examination of religious extremism in Pakistan: The Middle East Institute is proud to host Shehrbano Taseer, daughter of Governor Salmaan Taseer, who was murdered this past January for speaking out against the misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. The assassinations of Punjab Province Governor Salmaan Taseer
The sham operation in Kurram —Dr Mohammad Taqi: Editor’s note:  The following article that was originally posted in yesterday’s Daily Times is the typically bold and lucid piece written by Dr. Taqi.  Along with Farhat Taj, Dr. Taqi has been the leading light in debunking the racist
It’s Muslim kids, not parents, who are embracing a politicized Islam – by Natasha Fatah: This summer, thousands of people will become new Canadian citizens. Many of them will be Muslims. They have come to Canada from every corner of the globe and, like my parents did 24 years ago, they will make this
Insecure minorities: Threatened at home, jailed abroad: By Abdul Manan BANGKOK: Tahir Mehmood Adil, an Ahmadi from Sialkot, was kidnapped in 2009 by militants, held captive for 36 days and threatened with beheading. His cousin, Sajjad, negotiated successfully for his release. A few days later, however,
A community under siege in tribal Pakistan: As US prepares troop withdrawal, Taliban’s strong hold on border regions reveals Pakistan’s vulnerability. By Mujib Mashal Parachinar, in Pakistan’s tribal north west, remains under siege. The only road connecting this district bordering Afghanistan to the rest of Pakistan
Jamaati goons misbehaved with woman professor in Punjab University – by Aamir Hussaini: پنجاب یونیورسٹی میں خواتین سے بد سلوکی کب تک؟ فلاسفی ڈیپارٹمنٹ پنجاب یونیورسٹی کی لکچرار سہرین بخاری کے ساتھ اسلامی جمعیت طلبہ کے غنڈوں نے اس وقت بد سلوکی کی جب وہ نوٹس بورڈ پرایک احتجاج کا نوٹس چسپاں
Three ways to help Pakistan: President Obama’s Afghan withdrawal plans include working with Pakistan to “root out the cancer of violent extremism.” Bruce Riedel’s three key steps to do it right. By Bruce Riedel On Wednesday evening, President Obama rightly said we “need to
Zia’s lagacy: Radicalization of Pak Army: The Pakistan army has extended an investigation into officers with links to the Hizb-ul-Tahrir, a spokesman said on Wednesday, in what analysts said was a long overdue move to root out sympathizers of the banned Islamist group. The military,
How the Taliban turned a child into a suicide bomber: By NICK SCHIFRIN A 17-year-old died this week in Afghanistan, hanging from the end of a rope. A prison official fastened it around the boy’s neck in Kabul’s largest jail, tightened the knot, and then, in front of a
Over a coffee: Alcohol is thicker than blood —Dr Haider Shah: The courts should remain defenders of fundamental rights and personal liberties. When the Facebook ban was issued, the court appeared to be playing to the gallery of populist radicals A long time ago, when I was a college student
The Pakistani Taliban’s media jihad: The piece examines the TTP’s media productions and the movement’s shift toward having its media distributed to jihadi-takfiri Internet forums via the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a long-established jihadi-takfiri media and translation network. The writer argues that this
Extremism thrives under dictatorship -by Saria Benazir: A number of interrogations about the causes of extreme radicalism & terrorism in Pakistan occupy every psyche – from a lay man to the ruler of the state, no one considers his life secure in this country. Indeed, that
Punjab: Christian families flee false accusation of blasphemy: The students of a madrassa try to force a child to convert. A relative is attacked for defending him, and accused of blasphemy. A priest: “This is a common practice in the region. Many cases of forced conversions are
Pakistan’s General Problem – By Mohammed Hanif: Editor’s Note: We highly recommend this superb and comprehensive article by award-winning author, Mohammed Hanif.  In this in-depth article, Hanif has traced the roots of religious extremism and underlined the institutional support for this tragic phenomena. How Pakistan’s Generals
Mainstream media and talk shows ignore minorities: A very good and encouraging news indeed that minister of minorities Kamran Michael has been reinstated as the Finance Minister in the Punjab Cabinet and, now, he will address the budget speech in the Punjab Assembly house on Friday,
Budget deception: Real defense allocation is 850 billion not 495 billion -by Arshad Mahmood: Originally published in the ‘Daily AajKal’.
Pakistan journalists walk razor’s edge: Reporters often put themselves in harm’s way as they try to dig up the truth about Islamic militant groups, shadowy intelligence agencies and the possible links between the two. One reporter recently ended up dead; another has a harrowing
Sach ki saza qatal…Yeh Pakistan hae: Originally published in the ‘Daily AajKal’.
Human Rights Watch calls for Independent Inquiry into Saleem Shahzad’s killing: Inter Services Intelligence suspected of involvement has long been above the law. All aspects of this crime, including the possibility of links to the ISI, need to be independently investigated and prosecuted. The ISI and other military and intelligence-related
Imran Khan: Taliban bachao ‘Tehrik’ -by Arshad Mahmood: Originally published in ‘Daily Aajkal’.
Radicals in ranks -by Abdullah Malik: Takes a look at incidents of support for terrorists from within the armed forces and police Despite Gen Zia’s Islamisation, the promotion of piety in the barracks, and the support for puritanical movements that were allowed to organise sermons,
You can bury a man but not his courage -by Shehrbano Taseer: This article was originally published in the “Daily Express“
Who Killed Saleem Shahzad?: “We don’t know if the ISI killed him,” Dayan says, “but the manner of his killing is consistent with the other murders where there has been credible evidence of ISI involvement.” by Ron Moreau Courageous Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem