Urban Elites and Middle Class Archive
Why do private and state-owned campuses in Pakistan remain ideologically polarised? – by Nadeem F. Paracha: Divided they preach A lot of young people wonder why last year Zaid Hamid was chased out from Peshawar University by the students. He had gone there to speak and spread his call for a ‘revolution’ that (not so
“Protesters have no clear demands”: Fake Civil Society of Bahrain: Related articles: Why are Pakistan’s urban chatterers neglecting the Bahrain uprising? U.S. follows two paths on unrest in Iran and Bahrain – by Mark Landler and David E. Sanger Editor’s note: Recent events in Bahrain (and elsewhere) suggest that
“I’ve been in a rickshaw”: Some critical reflections on the Karachi Literature Festival 2011: Related post: Comparing Karachi Literature Festival 2012 with Difa-e-Pakistan Conference Was the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) a gathering of the urban elite and their middle class flatterers (aka Fake Civil Society) and their foreign donors to (mis)appropriate Pakistani culture
Peasants for Democracy (PFD): Related article: ‘Peasants for Democracy’ demand Aitzaz Ahsan to be a prosecutor in the Taseer murder case Cross-posted from Pakistan Blogzine It is a fact that voices of urban elite and urban middle class (known as Fake Civil Society
Public prosecutor in Taseer murder case and the CFD’s stance – by Barrister Waseem Ijaz: Related articles: LUBP Archive on Peasants for Democracy (PFD) LUBP Archive on Fake Civil Society (FCS) ‘Peasants for Democracy’ demand Aitzaz Ahsan to be a prosecutor in the Taseer murder case A newly found alliance of civil society individuals
Who is this elite? – by Ayesha Siddiqa: We are pleased to cross-post an excellent article by Dr Ayesha Siddiq on a topic of particular relevance to the LUBP’s policy and agenda. The LUBP represents aspirations and voices of moderate Pakistanis who are as weary of right-wing
On ‘civil society’ and its engagement with political society – by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla: There has been a lengthy debate on role and formation of civil society in electronic media of Pakistan. Raza Rumi, a very respected and insightful Pakistani scholar and writer, recently stressed on close cooperation and engagement between ‘Civil Society’ and moderate political
Selective ray of hope emanates from Veena Malik to Declan Walsh – by Sana Jokhio: After partially waking up from the deep denial of the extremists, Pakistan’s educated elites (commonly known as FCS, i.e., Fake Civil Society) and their English-speaking media counterparts are once again falling back on narratives that are full of omissions,
Let’s have a revolution in Pakistan: Yeh, Yeh, Yeh! A conversation with Raid Shamat and Sasha Sham-me – by Razzak Memon: Related article: Let’s agitate for regime change in Pakistan: Tunisia and Egypt style – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi (Editor’s note: The following is a purely fictional piece and any resemblance to real life characters is purely coincidental. While we may
Civil versus political society – by Raza Rumi: Several self-styled analysts on ‘civil society’ have articulated contrarian views about the kind of choices they face, particularly with respect to forging alliances with political parties and avoiding the vigilantism that is the preserve of the extremists. The lawyers’
Blaming the victim – by Sana Jokhio: It has come to our attention that a certain section of (fake) civil society (FCS) is using the martyrdom of Governor Taseer to malign the remaining PPP leadership. At a recent candle light vigil in Islamabad, where PPP supporters were
Some gems from Declan Walsh’s article promoting Sherry Rehman: Related articles: Foreign journalists in Pakistan: Embedded in the narratives of military establishment and urban elite In response to Declan Walsh’s article on Karachi’s deadly divide – by Shaista Aazar I could not agree more when I read this
Fake Civil Society must stop blaming the PPP: A rebuttal to Naveen Naqvi and Sana Saleem: Related posts: The blaming the victim brigade and Shahbaz Bhatti’s murder Three musketeers and the “PPP abandoned Salmaan Taseer” narrative An open letter to President Zardari — by Shahid Saeed We, at LUBP, have been exposing the shenanigans of
Fake Civil Society (FCS) – by Shahid Khan: Related article: Taseer’s murder and the call for a ‘broad-based alliance’ between PPP and the ‘civil society’ – by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla 1. Civil Society, Real or Fake? The current phenomenon of ‘civil society’ did exist in Pakistan during
Taseer’s murder and the call for a ‘broad-based alliance’ between PPP and the ‘civil society’ – by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla: Related posts: Deconstructing Pakistani liberals: A response to Shashi Tharoor and Raza Rumi The Civil Society Bulletin – by Abbas Baloch Some myths and realities about the self-labelled civil society – by Shahid Khan “Supreme Court shall not remain
The Winter Establishment Tournament: Final results pending – by Brandon Wallace: So MQM finally quits the PPP-lead Coalition Government. It’s not a surprise and neither would be the role of the military establishment in nudging one of its favorite offspring to do so. As sure as night brings darkness,, the
My name is Samawia, I was born into the wrong family, in the wrong place: Introduction This is my picture. Do you remember me? My name is Samawia. I am two-and-a-half-year-old. Do you recognize this name? Samawia (or Samavia) is an Arabic name which means ‘from heaven’. I was born in Tajpura. Do you
On Ejaz Haider and his kudos to Pakistan army: The dominant narrative in the (ISI and JI dominated) Pakistani media is to congratulate each other, security agencies (police, rangers, army) in particular, on their ‘success’ in preventing terrorist attacks during the Ashura of Muharram. Once against the official
Top Secret: ISI Media Roll of Dishonour: Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal research and understanding of the military establishment’s strategies and tactics in Pakistani media, which I am publishing for the information and well being of the Pakistani nation. However, the post does
MQM, Zulfiqar Mirza and urban chatterers of the middle class: Related article: Another pseudo-liberal muck-raking of the PPP: So what’s new? – by Qudsia Siddiqui Often, middle class urban chatterers express concern about the PPP’s future because in their view the PPP is, in the main, a party of
Sky is the limit for Pakistan’s ruling elite – by Fatima Saleem: First the million dollar nuptials of Shoaib-Sania, than Ishaq Dar’s son’s wedding at Atlantis Palm Jameirah. Mr Dar later showed the 27000 dollar bill of the banquet hall in a TV show (remaining expenditure of the wedding will remain
WikiLeaks and the astonishment of Pakistani media and middle class – by Ayaz Amir: Astonishment only for the innocent Virtually nothing in the Wikileaks disclosures in relation to Pakistan is truly shocking or astonishing. Knowing the nature of our politics, the dominance of the army and the long shadow of the United States
The urban, middle class, ‘civil society’ revolutionaries – by Nadeem F. Paracha: Related article: In rejection of pseudo-liberals of Pakistan – by Sarah Khan We shall overrun: The young, urban, middle-class Pakistani’s manifesto – by Nadeem Paracha and Abbas Baloch The Civil Society Bulletin – by Abbas Baloch Smokers’ Corner: Che,
The Quaid’s address to Pakistani generals and their pseudo-liberal (middle class urban) soldiers – by Hakim Hazik: Related article: Another pseudo-liberal muck-raking of the PPP: So what’s new? – by Qudsia Siddiqui Onward Middle Class Soldiers Dear patriatic jernails af Pakistan, this is your Quaid ispeaking. Dear jernails, we isloot the services that you have undertaken
International politics and Pakistan’s billi brigade – by Ali Raja: Urdu is doubtlessly one of the most attractive languages across the globe. With the variety, mobility and depth that Urdu language holds it can easily be classified as a growing language. Along with being an official language of Pakistan,
Manufacturing Consent: The greatest factor in promoting and sustaining state-fascism is not any act of violence but simply this – the systematic and studied ignorance maintained by the mainstream intelligentsia on the state’s gravest atrocities. In today’s world, it doesn’t take
The Civil Society Bulletin – by Abbas Baloch: Related articles: In rejection of pseudo-liberals of Pakistan – by Sarah Khan Another pseudo-liberal muck-raking of the PPP: So what’s new? – by Qudsia Siddiqui Adil Najam and his pseudo-liberals’ outpouring of sympathy for Sherry Rehman – by Sarah
The battle against common sense: a rebuttal to Dr Manzur Ejaz – by Suleman Akhtar: This was written in response to “The feudal battle against the judiciary-Dr Manzur Ejaz” published in Daily Times on October 20, 2010. Blindfolding by the habitual antipathy and gratuitous adherence with the classical conceptual dogma whilst completely neglecting the persisting
Another fake-liberal muck-raking of the PPP, so what’s new? A rebuttal to Ashan Butt of Five Rupees – by Qudsia Siddiqui: Second part of this article: The pseudo-liberals strike back – by Qudsia Siddiqui On reading Five Rupees’ “Some Idle speculation on the future of the PPP” (written by Ahsan Butt), the first thought that came to my mind was
From Abdullah Shah Ghazi Bombing to Mohabbat Qulfi: Adil Najam’s Talibanic Agenda – by Sarah Khan: Related articles: Adil Najam, ATP and the closet Taliban in Pakistani blogsphere In rejection of pseudo-liberals of Pakistan – by Sarah Khan Adil Najam (editor of Pakistaniat), as I previously explained, is a (refined) Taliban apologist in the Pakistani
Imran Khan, Urban Middleclass Morality and its Contradictions – by Raza Habib Raja: With thanks : Pak Tea House This article is critical of Imran Khan’s political orientation and tries to introspect middleclass liking for him. It admits Imran’s virtues as a cricketer and philanthropist but argues that his politics is the
Triple Blasts in Youm-e-Ali (a.s.) Procession: Karbala attacked in Lahore – by Ch. Ahmad Khan: As the death toll from today’s gruesome attacks on a Shiite procession commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali, probably the most venerated muslim saint after the Holy Prophet rises, few if any are addressing the core issues that have
Another Martial Law? – by Omar Ali: Pakistan is in the grip of one of its periodic eruptions of speculation about impending martial law, or at least, it looks like that on TV. For weeks, the largest news channel in the country has been shamelessly promoting
Sindh: Homeless, hapless and helpless – by Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur: A relative who resides in Karachi recently advised obtaining national identity cards from Karachi. His logic? “Passports may soon be needed for travel to Karachi.” I regarded this as an ominous warning though others brushed it off as a
Mad in the middle- By Nadeem F. Paracha: The political and social aspects of Islam in Pakistan can be seen as existing in and emerging from three distinct clusters of thought. These clusters represent the three variations of political and social Islam that have evolved in
Reconciliation between Pakistani nationalities – by Shahid Ilyas: This article is exclusively written for the LUBP by our valued reader and member of the Pakhtunkhwa Peace Forum (PPF) Shahid Ilyas. We are thankful to him for sharing his thoughts with us on this very important issue. (aliarqam)
Of establishment and its beneficiaries – by Dr Ayesha Siddiqa: Read Part 1 of this article here This article is part of the same article posted here with the title “Political Homosexuality“. I have posted it as a separate article for its comments on Establishment equations and understanding of
In response to Sarah Khan’s “In rejection of pseudo-liberals of Pakistan”- by Asma Qadir: Following is the piece written by Asma Qadir in response to Sarah Khan’s In rejection of Pseudo-liberals which was posted on LUBP a few days ago. I have been going through quite a few articles on LUBP (Let Us
In defence of the uneducated – by Iqbal Jafar: Originally published in Dawn A FALSE, even perverse, assumption, if allowed to go unchallenged for a period of time can become part of conventional wisdom. If it is significant enough it can even find place as an accepted premise