By Raza Habib Raja The news of regime change are now being supplemented by news of another grave possibility: a repeat of the 3rd November steps to purge the Judiciary. These may be rumours perpetuated by this sensation loving media but unfortunately Pakistan always operates under “Murphy’s law”. Moreover when a rumour is going around, our response often makes it materialize. And the Judiciary has apparently taken the rumours to be some indication of the brewing scheme in the corridors of powers and met late night to develop a counter strategy and in the morning has given the verdict equating any such revocation of executive orders as violation of Article 6 of the constitution. The court in a truly bizarre and too some extent even comically absurd manner acted  pre-emptively and gave … Read entire article »

By Vir Sanghvi published here Express Buzz. I wrote, a few weeks ago, about how much the attitude to Indians had changed in the West. Once we were regarded as losers, people who inhabited a desperately poor country, continually ravaged by famine or drought, incapable of making a single world-class product, and condemned to live forever on foreign aid. Now, we have the world’s respect and, more tellingly, the West’s envy as more and more jobs are Bangalored away from their high-cost economies and handed over to Indians who perform much better for less money. That piece was prompted by a visit to London. This one too has been inspired by a trip abroad and by saturation coverage of the Pakistani cricket scandal in the press and on global TV channels. But my … Read entire article »

By Akbar S Ahmed What is it that I seek? A force of such might it sets me free A light so bright It blinds me … Read entire article »

By Yasser Latif Hamdani Originally published in the Daily Times. That both Muslims and the US have to come to grips with each other is now abundantly clear to both sides. Neither is going anywhere any time soon, which makes the situation of Muslims living in the US all the more important. It is their responsibility more than anyone else’s to explain Islam to Americans and America to Muslims The recent convictions of Aafia Siddiqui and Faisal Shahzad, … Read entire article »

A new book on Mehdi Hasan, originally uploaded by Jahane Rumi. Strangely enough, not even a single book is available on Mehdi Hasan, one of our greatest musical icons. To fill in this void, a noted writer on cultural subjects, Asif Noorani joined hands with Liberty Books, a reputed name in book trade, to pay tributes to the singer who holds an enviable position in all forms of music, be it ghazal, folk or film. Eminent … Read entire article »

Several recent articles have pointed hovering clouds of imminent revolution in Pakistan given the fast deteriorating situation and repeated disappointments with democracy and dictatorships. However, genuine revolutions tend to be bloody and produce mixed results. Some have led to functional democracies and thriving economies, while others have produced totalitarian governments and stagnant economies. In fact, most immediately successful revolutions have produced poor results later on. A dispassionate analysis of the possibilities and consequences of revolution in Pakistan seems sensible before pulling out our prayer rugs in support, so that revolutions do not disappoint us too, like the East Asian dictatorship model. A genuine revolution is a fundamental change in power structure over a short period of time through violent means, and results in a new class taking over power, as in … Read entire article »

Pakistan Media Watch is an excellent website that challenges the mainstream media rants and half-truths generated on a daily basis. Its latest post is worth reading. PTH Yesterday’s edition of The News (Jang) included another example of politicized reporting that even contradicts other reports in the same newspaper. Ansar Abbasi’s top news story, “New NAB chairman, a Jiyala from A to Z” (http://thenews.com.pk/09-10-2010/Top-Story/1193.htm) accuses President Zardari of appointing a political crony as the new NAB chief. His report calls Deedar Hussain Shah “controversial” and includes statements that PML-N through Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan found the candidate unacceptable. But another report by Rauf Klasra in the same paper, “Nawaz trusted the new NAB chairman” (http://thenews.com.pk/09-10-2010/Top-Story/1195.htm), describes this new opposition to Deedar Hussain Shah as NAB chairman as like a tiger changing its stripes. … Read entire article »

By Feroz Khan It is easy, to debate a taboo, once it has been shattered. The de-mystification of Islam is necessary in Pakistan and what needs to be argued; to counter the misuse of Islam in Pakistan is not to parse and quibble over interpretations, but to frame the questions. No general has ever won a war by fighting it according to the plans of the enemy and so it is, with the religious debate in Pakistan.  For too long, and with painfully hurtful results, we the so-called and rightly contemptible moderates and enlightened cowards and liberal hypocrites, and deceitful secularists, have appeased the intolerant clergy and have abdicated our responsibilities of civic participation. We have allowed the religious discourse in Pakistan to be taken over and dominated by mullahs – the washers … Read entire article »

By D. Asghar The recent statement by Bugti Jr., about setting a bounty of Rs. 1 Billion for Musharraf’s head is pathetic, deplorable and highly immature, to say the least. In the same statement, the leader of “Jamhoori Watan Party”, indicated that Brigadier (R) Masood Malik, would act as an approver against Musharraf, for genocide and abduction of innocent people of Pakistan. Both of these statements are in sharp contrast with one another. The first one comes from a Sardar of a tribe and demonstrates the typical depth of a tribal leader. There is no denying that Bugti Jr., has valid grievances against the former President. But asking a person to behead him, would be tantamount to inciting grave violence against another human being. … Read entire article »

By Yasser Latif Hamdani A slightly edited version of this article was first published in the Daily Times. The tool of manipulation every ultra right wing fascist in our country prefers is this so called “national sovereignty” or as our shrieking anchors call it sauv-raay-nitty . First of all this term is entirely misapplied and used by people who are clueless as to what it means. When a people are sovereign, it refers in main to their ability to make their decisions on their own through a democratic process. On a purely legal plane Pakistan’s constitution vests sovereignty over the entire universe in Allah almighty. Therefore the question of national sovereignty becomes redundant constitutionally in Pakistan’s context. Since people – ie people of Pakistan who form the Pakistani nation- are not sovereign, surely … Read entire article »

By Raza Habib Raja Legend says that Karachi is protected by the holy shrine of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi. It is said that storms and natural calamities have largely spared Karachi due to the protection offered by the soul of the great sufi saint. But perhaps even more than that perceived status of the protector of the great coastal city, is the  importance of the shrine as a symbol of tolerant, spiritual and mystic version of Islam. This symbolic embodiment was perhaps its misfortune on the fateful day of 7th October. The tragedy is similar to what happened at Data Darbar Lahore. The terrorists have clearly made their intentions clear that tolerant Islam won’t be tolerated. To them the only “acceptable” version is the Wahabi brand of Islam and the rest is … Read entire article »