Author Archive

  It is an interrelated world. Here are seemingly four unrelated news that you might have caught. US Army is the World's largest Employer   Hafiz Saeed bounty increased to $10 Million More than 100 Pakistan Army soldiers feared dead in the Avalanche Siachen President Zardari visits India, and meets the Indian Prime [...]

  Its not the news that sells, its speculation on the news that does. But its never a good omen, when subjudice legal cases become subject to speculation, its almost as heinous as gambling, perhaps even more. Talk shows and talking head pundits are all full of many speculations, headlines full of odd connotations. All making sure that [...]

When a woman hits another woman, in normal cases it’s an assault. If there are many witnesses, good, the assailant gets punished quickly. Open and Shut case, we move on. But Pakistan doesn't do normal; even our assaults have deeper meanings and ramifications behind them. The Act When the, now MPA, Waheeda Shah slapped an on duty election [...]

The popular notion about the Swiss case against President Zardari and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto is that this case was suspended by the Swiss authorities after Attorney General, on behalf of the Pakistan Government had requested for it. This letter by the AG was written after the NRO was signed and all politically motivated  cases against the [...]

Make so much noise that everything becomes inaudible-then people would hear what we want them to hear. This is how the Pakistani Establishment is controlling the game at the moment - It is very clear who is who, and what is what. But because of a concentrated effort to remove the current Government and head of state, all the other noises and all [...]

Ansar Abbasi is a very senior journalist for The News/Jang Group. While may not I agree with his views, from afar I used to assume he might be providing some intellectual strength to the right. I now think I assumed wrong. Mr Abbasi  has begun to write series of articles relating to NATO soldiers, Pakistan's blockage of supply-lines and diaper [...]

  update: There has been alterations and additions made to accommodate few other articles on the same issue The Supreme Court has stated that under the Article 184-3, they have jurisdiction to hear the petition on alleged memo, because fundamental rights are directly involved. The three fundamental rights that are directly at issue [...]

  I once went to dine out with this Gentleman, an acquaintance of mine. He advised that due to his health condition, he was only able to dine on soup. I agreed and we went to a place, reputed to have some palatable soup. As we dug in to our respective bowls, my companion took a sip, made a face and quickly ask the server to bring in some [...]

Once a director of popular films was asked in a casual meeting- why his last three films seemed similar to another. His candid reply: if public is willing to pay money to watch same film over and over, who am I to stop milking it? The current "political turmoil" involving a memo is headlines news. The issue is being treated as cause of [...]

Here is something from my timeline: "@saeedshah Sana Bucha's column also lifted the headline and the "sulk" theme from my Economist piece" Its just highlights disappointing and unfortunate standard of our media that a renowned anchor would plagiarise this blatantly in a national newspaper. I guess the quotes speak for themselves. Its [...]

Zulfiqar Mirza made comments that infuriated many Urdu-Speaking people, when he said many Urdu Speakers had come hungry and naked to Pakistan. He was speaking after rumours that MQM wanted a separate province of Urdu Speakers. The trouble started when MQ M left government alliance, which led to PPP reinstating Commissioner System, like rest of [...]

Karachi has been marked by violence for past three decades, largely due to ethnic tensions. But those have since morphed into political, economic and social enterprises, which are constantly battling for power.  Possibility of violence is omnipresent, and like any enterprise, violence is bad for business. What is good for these violent [...]

A Suo Moto action is a very serious and abrupt notice taken by a higher court where the interests of Justice are affected. One can’t help but feel bit cynical when a suo moto action is taken against an actress bringing in Alcohol in to the country. Not least because she is a member of a party formed by an arch adversary of the Chief Justice, and [...]

While the Generals have been busy trying to fight proxy wars with highly dangerous 'pawns' in their attempt to gain strategic dominance. Karachi once again shows that it comes down to poor, foot soldiers of the Army and para-military to follow the orders of the Generals and fight the menace. Only to be betrayed again and again by establishment's [...]

Where President Zardari said to Americans he wanted the big fish *. He was right on money. He knows better than anyone else that his Military is more independent than the post war German army in Weimar Republic. He knows that real threat to Pakistan lies in extremism and radicalisation, which seeks to make Pakistan a battle-field, and not as [...]

This case has highlighted social problem of how poorly we deal with rape victims as well as deficiencies in Legal System to convict rapists. "This has become a money-making concern. A lot of people say that if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped." -President (now Ex) General [...]

I would always worry about substance of a movement that considers itself 'anti-intellectual'. There is a difference between being 'anti-intellectual' and being counter a certain intellectual movement. Former is an invitation to random action over substance. Latter is an challenge to begin dialogue and to criticise, defend and argue - in a [...]

This post is in light of 'news' of meeting between Imran and Musharaff  and the following piece by Dawn. Here is an extract: While the Musharraf League is not denying Musharraf-Imran contacts, it says efforts are under way to form a `major alliance` of different political parties other than PPP and PML-N to give an alternate leadership. “We [...]

When Pakistan lost to India at Mohali, the initial reaction from Pakistan was that of sympathy. It was disappointing loss to arch-rivals, especially after all the hype created. But there was no such ill-will towards the whole team, minus few individuals who did bad on the day. Vice-Captain Misbah-Ul-Haq was criticised the most.  When the team [...]

Why Islam took a violent and intolerant turn in Pakistan, and where it might lead “TYPICAL Blackwater operative,” says a senior military officer, gesturing towards a muscular Westerner with a shaven head and tattoos, striding through the lobby of Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel. Pakistanis believe their country is thick with Americans [...]

By now we all know where this would led to, Davis is somewhere in US, enjoying his new found freedom. Cue the Ghairat brigade to make some more noises, hyperboles and such. Eventually because it was all done by daddy, they would simmer down after a token, half-hearted, kicking and screaming. Only other option for them is to protest against their [...]

Though almost comical news, shows how the extremists are using new media to further their agenda. Not content with launching an English-language magazine that debuted with a feature called "How to make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom", al Qa'ida's media wing has followed up with a magazine for women, mixing beauty tips with lessons in [...]

This is a a cross post of an article by Wajahat Ali. Thankful to writer for his assent reproduction here. It is a funny and interesting take on how awkward it can be at times to be a practising Muslim. That said, it may be highlighted that nowadays one can pray in most public places including libraries and churches - though nothing beats a Gap [...]

This evil man who is a racist, a point proven by his choosing to serve in Pakistan for many years, is guilty of killing two young men in their prime. Imagine the potential career possibilities the two alleged robbers had, their own gangs even may be becoming their own boss! Or, and I get a tingle even when I contemplate of this, another Qadri! If [...]

There has been a creeping misconception of general population about current government created by section of media that, PPP government is not delivering on its promises in terms of providing jobs to people and raising salaries of government employees. Perpetrators of methods of yellow journalism have been trying to defame PPP in masses. [...]

Related articles: In Pakistan, everybody hates Raymond? – by Brandon Wallace Lahore shooting by a US national and “the legal issues to settle”: Some questions for Ejaz Haider Almost everyone following news in Pakistan would be aware of the facts of the case involving Raymond Davis, though much of it are to be bone of contention in [...]

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 Kohsar police submitted their investigation report to the court...The court [...]

Related article: Pakistani Media: Of floods, facts and fiction!! – by Saad Mansoor The floods in Pakistan in 2010 were massive. The rains affected the length of Pakistan, maximally impacting the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Punjab, and Sindh as well as parts of Baluchistan. Flooding displaced more than 20 million people and covered [...]

I am speechless, yet I am writing this – well I am a Pakistani and contradictions by me are acceptable, just as long as I don't flaunt them. Yes its hypocrisy but whatever. Frankly as a society, I thought, we had passed the pre-dark age era of debate over common security. I mistakenly thought it was given that no one would harm another, and [...]

MQM decides to resign from the Federal ministries. Tonight its party night at houses of people like Kamran Khan, Shahid Masood et al; who were striving for this to happen for long. MQM's resigning from ministries however is a pressure ploy to see if the Government is willing to concede to its demands, that of more federal ministries [...]

'Hussain said the feudal system was damaging the country’s roots and that the Pakistani nation should stand up against it and get rid of it. “Inflation has affected the people and we oppose the imposition of Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST). Instead, agricultural tax should be imposed on land owners,” Hussain added.' MQM chief has [...]

While as many documents of Wikileaks keep pouring in, each document sparking many debates, opinions, arguments and such around the whole world. Same is also true for Pakistan. However, in Pakistan, generally speaking, the leaks have also so far revealed two consistent patterns. First of this is that of the media's self fulfilling prophesies. [...]

Government of Pakistan is currently trying to introduce a RGST, a reformed General Sales Tax. One can't help but think that as so much of energy is being put into reforming tax system and increase revenue. Government may be exhausting its political capital but yet be missing a trick. The primary reason why the government has been made to [...]

A question was poised by Aliarqam Durrani on what liberalism means. This question was poised by him on the LUBP google group - the consequent discussions are given here. It may be noted that responses are put here based on the topic they pertained to, and not on the order of response The Question Aliarqam Durrani Dear Friends Recently we [...]

foreword: Apologies if this essay seems to be simplistic in nature, however this essay is meant to be basic in its content. It is part of an endeavor by LUBP to highlight economic situation around the world, its effects on Pakistan and discuss possible solution to our economic problems. The readers will see more, and no doubt better, essays to [...]

When the Barak Hussain Obama took oath to become 44th President of United States of America, it was truly a historic day. Here was a self-made man, who, despite hardships and challenges, was taking post of arguably world's most powerful man. His personal story was great, his promise simple, he shall put America back to path of hope, optimism and [...]