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Justice Munir's report (1954)
Raza Rumi AH has been kind enough to share a document MunirReport_1953 of great historical value with us. The REPORT OF THE COURT OF INQUIRY CONSTITUTED UNDER PUNJAB ACT II OF 1954 TO ENQUIRE INTO THE PUNJAB DISTURBANCES OF 1953 authored by Justice Munir is a classic study in the core dilemmas of Pakistani state and society. Notwithstanding the controversial role of J. Munir, his secular moorings are all too clear and so is his firm stance against Mullahism, bigotry and courage not to be cowed down by those who use faith to advance their personal and political agendas. We are uploading the full report. FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIC STATE What is then the Islamic State of which everybody talks but nobody thinks ? Before we seek to discover an answer to this question, we … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Muslim Khan’s is Pakistan’s national trait
Abbas Zaidi Muslim Khan, the spokesman of Pakistani Taliban, has won unprecedented notoriety for justifying beheading, flogging, and digging up and hanging the dead. He has a personal stake in propagating the kind of education Muslims of the world must have. Or must not have. He has justified the bombing of schools on many pretexts, but one stands out: Muslims must not get “English” education. By which Muslim Khan means that any school which has anything to do with the English language must be demolished. The Taliban have so far demolished hundreds of schools in the name of cleansing education of the Western-infidel influence. Pakistan’s Islamo-fascist Urdu media has always given him a lot of coverage making him a national folk hero who has stood up to the United States and … Read entire article »
US Rotarians visit Institutes for special children
Rotarians Lon and Helen Penna from Rotary Club of Glenville, Rotary International District 7190, New York, USA) visited Al-Kharwarzi Institute for the Physically Handicapped Children where Rotary Club of Lahore Garrison has provided braces to its students through a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant. The US Rotarians showed special interest in the students suffering from Cerebral Palsy (C.P.). They visited them in their classes and interacted with them. They also visited the physiotherapy center and were … Read entire article »
How Pakistan Failed Itself
By Aryn Baker / Islamabad In the Himalayan resort town of Nathiagali, a party is under way. Ice clinks in tumblers and corks pop while the conversation — an amalgam of English and Urdu that is the mark of Pakistan’s élite — flows from meditation techniques to a heated debate over a U.S. politician’s warning that Pakistan is on the brink of collapse. The hostess, Rifat Haye, 54, is one of two female pilots with the national airline and is celebrating her promotion to captain. She wears jeans. Her hair is streaked with blond, and a diamond nose stud glints in the sun, as does the jeweled Allah pendant around her neck. She is frustrated with the image the world has of Pakistan, that of a failing state overrun by Muslim fanatics. Pointing first to herself, then at her guests, she … Read entire article »
Filed under: North-West Frontier Province, Northern Areas, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism
URGENT RSPN APPEAL FOR SUPPORT TO DISPLACED FAMILIES IN NWFP PAKISTAN
I am posting an appeal by the Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN), Raza Rumi Dear Friends, The RSP Network is appealing for support for the families that have fled the violence in the north of Pakistan. Our two field-based partner organisations, the Sarhad (NWFP) Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) will be implementing agencies to provide food, non-food items and other facilities to the families. You can donate to RSPN at http://rspn.org/ or directly to SRSP in Peshawar at http://www.srsp.org.pk/zeenix/index.php. Please support us in our work with the displaced families. Our website will be regularly updated to give you details of the situation on the ground where our partners NRSP and SRSP are conducting field operations. For more information: … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Setting Immi Khan Right
Courtesy Enlightened Pakistan By Lila Thadani The British parliament remains a lively place as it has many interesting mavericks. Unlike them, our eccentric parliamentarians are self righteous, lack a sense of humor and are sadly very shallow. You guessed it, they are the two Khans: Asghar and Imran. Asghar can be forgiven for his good deed of having sired the late Omar Asghar Khan. He, though, hasn’t been punished enough for inviting the army to overthrow Bhutto and inflicting Zia on this country, which only a mighty mango crate could push aside. The curse of that dictator lives on in the form of the Talibs and the Fascists in Sindh’s urban areas. The unwise Asghar ought to have stuck to his F-104s, rather than satisfying his urge for power through politics. Thankfully age … Read entire article »
Filed under: Northern Areas, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism
Time to come out of the closet
Majid Abdulla If a person detonates a bomb tied to his chest in a public space, killing scores of innocent people, it is a terrible act. You can of course argue whether such an act of terror is justifiable in the circumstances in which it is committed. Let us be absolutely clear, in principle there is nothing stopping anyone from taking a defensive position on such matters. It is not uncommon to hear people argue that a disenfranchised group’s terror is a sovereign army’s war. Moreover people do after all argue that IRA, Palestinian, Sri Lankan, or Red Brigade bombings which have claimed innocent lives in the last century could be understood because of their national liberation cause. One could even claim that an historical assessment of at least some such … Read entire article »
Pakistan in 'French nuclear deal'
France and Pakistan have agreed to co-operate on civilian nuclear power, officials said, with Islamabad calling the move a “significant development”. But there is confusion over the deal reached by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Pakistani counterpart. Pakistani officials said Mr Sarkozy had undertaken to supply Pakistan with “civilian nuclear technology”. But the Elysee Palace said France had agreed only to co-operate in the field of “nuclear safety”. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Indian Elections: ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH AKHILESH YADAV
Frank Huzur, based in New Delhi has sent us this exclusive report on the Indian elections – his impressions and observations that should interest South Asian readers. THE PRINCE IN THE CROWD: A STAR IS BORN One has to be a lowbrow, a bit of a murderer, to be a politician, ready and willing to see people sacrificed, slaughtered, for the sake of an idea, whether a good one or a bad one. A good politician is … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Ajoka's Musafat theatre festival (Lahore and Karachi)
Say No to Talibanization Cultural activity is under threat in Pakistan Please attend Ajoka’s performances: 1. Hotel Mohenjodaro on 17th May 2. Dekh Tamasha Chalta Ban 18th May 3. Burqavaganza 23rd May 4. Bulha 24th May Venue: 8:00p.m, at Alhamra Hall # 2, The Mall, Lahore. Entry is Free In Karachi, the festival will be held at the Arts Council from 30th May to 4th June 2009 For further information 042-6682443/ 6686634 … Read entire article »
America Creating 'Talibanization' in Pakistan, Say Arab Media
New America Media, News Analysis, Jalal Ghazi Editor’s Note: Arab media are disappointed with Pres. Barack Obama’s Pakistan-Afghanistan strategy. The U.S. focus on the Taliban’s assault on women’s rights ignores the fact that the military attacks are actually helping to unite Pashtun tribal groups under the Taliban banner, says NAM contributor Jalal Ghazi. The specter of a Taliban takeover of Pakistan has been haunting Western media. As the fighting between Pakistani forces and the Taliban intensifies, Arab media are pointing the finger at the United States. The Obama Administration does not understand Pashtun cultural traditions, say the media. It is using force first, just as the Bush administration had done. In fact, the air strikes killing many civilians are actually creating more “Talibanization,” say Arab media. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Al Qaeda, Islamism, Media, Northern Areas, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism, USA
Riz Khan – The battle for the soul of Pakistan
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBbv83upsFo] Asma Jahangir talks to Riz Khan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBbv83upsFo Asma Jahangir Talks to Riz Khan [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBbv83upsFo] … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Miri or Piri.Reclaiming Punjabi Identity
The Miri(Warrior) or the Piri(Saint), Reclaiming the Punjabi Identity: Bradistan Calling The Sikh religion is based on three important pillar The Guru (Teacher), The Garanth(Holy Book) and the Khalsa (Brotherhood of the Pure).It all seems so familiar because of similarity with the religion of Islam. Nowadays one cannot objectively analyse Islam, without provoking Fatwa of One kind or the other. The debate, discussion and Ijtehad (innovation and development) have effectively been killed in the Muslim world. If you make Peaceful Reformation Impossible, you make Bloody Revolution Inevitable. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Citizens, Colonialism, culture, Democracy, Economy, Education, Elections, Europe, Heritage, History, human rights, Identity, Imperialism, India, Islam, Islamism, Jinnah, Justice, Kashmir, Languages, Left, Media, minorities, movements, Pakistan, Politics, poverty, Punjabi, Religion, Rights, Rural, Society, south asia, Sufism, Taliban, Terrorism, Urdu, USA, violence, Women, youth
Scuffles at northwest Pakistan refugee camp
By RIAZ KHAN PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Refugees fleeing Pakistan’s fight against the Taliban scuffled for relief supplies on Wednesday as the military said it had secured footholds in a northwestern valley overrun by the insurgents. The operations against Taliban militants in the Swat Valley area are shaping up as a major test of the Pakistani army’s often questioned commitment to uprooting an insurgency that the U.S. says poses a threat to the existence of the nuclear-armed, pro-Western state. The army claims to have killed more than 750 militants, but the fighting has also driven some 800,000 people from their homes, creating a humanitarian emergency that could undercut support for the fight among its people and politicians. … Read entire article »
Filed under: North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Pakistan to Cross Investment Target, Minister Says
istan to Cross Investment Target, Minister Says By Camilla Hall May 13 (Bloomberg) — Pakistan will exceed its $10 billion target for overseas direct investment by September, the nation’s investment minister said. “The majority of that is going to come from the Gulf,” Waqar Ahmed Khan said at a news conference in Dubai today, without giving details. “Investment is secure and the law of the land is sovereign.” Pakistan needs overseas investment to bolster an economy predicted to grow at the slowest pace in eight years. Growth and investment have slumped as Pakistan contends with Taliban militants on its western border and strained relations with India in the east. South Asia’s second-biggest economy will raise as much as $2 billion in investment from the United Arab Emirates in the housing sector, Khan said. Pakistan needs … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
PTH biweekly Cartoon
Picture of the Week
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Sunrise at the Arabian Sea, Charna Island
24 Dec 2011
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