Pak Tea House » Archive
Dawn's Editorial: "Kalat Independence Day"
On the so-called ‘Kalat Independence Day’ on Aug 11, Mir Suleman Dawood, grandson of the last ruler of Kalat, announced the creation of a council of Baloch separatist elements in Pakistan and Iran who will press for the formation of an ‘independent Balochistan’. Mr Dawood’s demand for an ‘independent’ Baloch state clearly cannot be countenanced; tomorrow marks the 62nd anniversary of Pakistan’s creation and there simply isn’t any room for debate about altering the physical boundaries of the country today. Pakistan’s problems — and, yes, there are many — can only realistically and viably be solved within the framework of Pakistan. Yet, while Mr Dawood’s demand must necessarily be dismissed, it points to ongoing problems in Balochistan that show no sign of abating, and this 18 months after national elections to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Pakistan’s Baloch: Life on the Margins of Punjab
(On our 62nd Independence Day, let us as a federation look also to the plight of those who we have alienated from the federation. Thank you RED DIARY for bringing this to our attention.-YLH) By Karlos Zurutuza Translated from the Spanish original by Daisann McLane A woman walks slowly across the Dera Bugti desert, laden with wood for her cooking fire. She’s headed towards the town of Pir Koh. For several hundred meters, she follows the gas pipeline that extends north, towards the Punjab. She got lucky; it isn’t easy to find wood in the Dera Bugti desert. Islamabad also got lucky when it discovered natural gas beneath this rocky landscape. Thanks to the gas deposits, the Punjabis have been cooking, heating their houses in winter and producing electricity for half a century. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Independence Day 2: Hum Dekhain Gay
We shall see that which is promised to us one day. This is dedicated to all the nay-sayers out there. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ulFwqb3vU&feature=PlayList&p=99BFE3D929CF0517&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=9] … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
The Idea of Pakistan: Jinnah and the Partition of British India
By Ayesha Saeed of Red White And Black Over the last few days I have stumbled upon two things that have precipitated this post: one, I happened to watch Jinnah and two, I came across a series of articles by A.G. Noorani on Jinnah and Partition [Jinnah in Indian History, Assessing Jinnah and Jinnah and Partition]. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Technology, Political Ideology, Environment And Our Cities
By Ahmad Rafay Alam 1947, when the Electronic Number Integrator and Computer, one of the first-ever computers, began its operations as a calculator of artillery firing tables for the US Army’s Ballistics Research Laboratory, few knew the changes it would herald. ENIAC, as it was commonly known, measured roughly 8.5 by 3 by 80 feet, took up 680 square feet and consumed 150kW of power. No one seriously considered that the “computer” would serve any other purpose but as a calculator for the military or the business world. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Independence Day 1: Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai
Pakistan Zindabad. Courtesy Mobilink Singer : Mehdi Hasan [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drBd2GIiPL4&feature=PlayList&p=E010E365ADCCE55A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5] … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
From Moses To Marx – A Tribute To The Great Sibte-Hassan
FROM THE RED DIARY Preface and Chapter 1 Moosa se Marx Tak is one the best known writings of the South Asian Marxist and public intellectual, Syed Sibte Hasan. Sibte Hasan remained steadfast in his commitment towards Marxism-Leninism through out his life and contributed enormously in the revolutionary struggle through his pen. For many decades, Moosa se Marx Tak was the fundamental guiding texts for the activists and students of the Leftist politics of Pakistan. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to present the preface and the first chapter of this authoritative text translated by Syed Ehtisham (with minor editorial changes) at the Red Diary: Preface Marx and Engels devised the term scientific socialism for their political thought, and idealistic socialism for ‘old fashioned’ socialism, which encompassed the reformist plans which European thinkers offered from time to time. The plans had not … Read entire article »
Filed under: Left
We are Sorry Mr. Jinnah
By Adil Najam (Courtesy All Things Pakistan) Today is August 11. Sixty-two years ago, on this day, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Founder of Pakistan, made one of the most important speeches of his – and of Pakistan’s – life. A speech in which he laid out – in the most unambiguous terms – his vision for Pakistan and the rationale for that vision. In this speech Mr. Jinnah laid out a detailed case for his argument and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Jinnah
"Minorities have played a vital role in the creation and then development of Pakistan," Minister Bhatti
By Aamir Latif, IOL Correspondent KARACHI – Only three days to its 62nd birthday, Pakistan is celebrating on Tuesday, August 11, Minorities Day, a move many see as part of the South Asian Muslim country’s efforts to polish its image after a recent bloody attack on Christians. “The decision has been taken not only to show solidarity with all minorities, including Christians, who are the equal citizens of Pakistan, but also to highlight their role in the creation and development of the country,” Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti told IslamOnline.net. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
My Country Too
By Abhijay Patel Pakistan’s religious minorities have shared equal status with majority Muslims and allocation of special funds by the present government bespeaks of its resolve to minorities uplift.Living with native communities, the minorities enjoyed all kind of freedom and ensured on their part that they contribute to socio-economic development and prosperity of the country.To live with this spirit, the minority communities and the government would renew their commitment for a prosperous Pakistan when they will observe the Minorities’ Day on August 11. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
In defence of reason
By Nadeem F Paracha Last week I was interviewed for a documentary on ‘Conspiracy Theorists,’ produced by DawnNews. The format of the program required two people talking about a chosen topic – a thesis/anti-thesis arrangement. The other person on the program was Mr. Zaid Hamid – the rock star among the many conspiracy theorists that are doing the rounds on mainstream television channels these days. … Read entire article »
The Contradictions of the Khilafat Movement
I first came across the writings of Mr. Hamza Alavi in College. This piece in particular shaped my ideas about South Asian history more decisively than others. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to see this up on Red Diary. Enjoy. YLH by Hamza Alavi The ‘Khilafat’ Movement of 1919-24, is probably quite unique inasmuch as it has been glorified with one voice by Islamic ideologists, Indian nationalists and communists alike and along with them by Western scholars, as an anti-colonial movement of Muslims of India, premised on the hostility of the British to the Turkish Sultan, their venerated Caliph.1 Little attempt has been made to examine the premises on which the movement was founded, the rhetoric of its leaders being taken at face value. On closer examination we find extra-ordinary paradoxes and contradictions behind that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Text of Jinnah's 11th August Speech
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen! I cordially thank you, with the utmost sincerity, for the honour you have conferred upon me – the greatest honour that is possible to confer – by electing me as your first President. I also thank those leaders who have spoken in appreciation of my services and their personal references to me. I sincerely hope that with your support and your co-operation we shall make this Constituent Assembly an example to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Jinnah
Three Karachiites in the Indian Capital
By Mayank Austen Soofi One afternoon I bumped into a Pakistani family in Gurgaon’s Metropolitan Mall. The mother, Fauzia Shakeel, was in Delhi after a gap of 25 years, while daughter, Urfa, and son, Rizwan, had come for the first time. They were staying with Indian relatives but were on their own in the mall. “There’s nothing like this in Karachi,” exclaimed Rizwan while comparing Gurgaon’s skyline to that of his city. A stylish young man of 24, with gelled hair, he was in a blue T-shirt and white cotton capris. “No, capris are what the girls wear,” Rizwan explained. “This is called three-quarters.” He said it with an authority befitting to what he is – an ambitious fashion designer. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pakistan
Pakistan's Hindu Diplomat Wants To Be A Proof Of Equality
Islamabad: A Hindu diplomat wants to stand out as the “proof of equality” in Pakistan, the “tolerant country”. Gyan Chand, who hails from Tharparkar in Sindh province, has made it to the elite foreign service of Pakistan.Chand says he “always” believed in the “equality philosophy of Pakistan”. He said his appointment to the foreign office “is proof of the equal opportunity the government and people of Pakistan offer to the rest of the minorities”. “I am a living symbol for all those minority youth who have dreams to make it big some day and to serve their country,” Chand said, adding that if one has the mettle, being Hindu or Muslim does not matter. “I have shown my mettle.” … Read entire article »
Filed under: minorities, 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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