Pak Tea House » Archive
The land of his dreams
By Raza Rumi Professor Javaid Iqbal Syed’s memoir traverses the political and the personal, the mundane and the sublime, and weaves a narrative that reflects the decades of his life and times in Pakistan. Syed came from a Punjabi family which had settled in Balochistan. Through his sheer dedication he rose to the rank of the Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) during the mid 1990s. However, his tale is not restricted to his career or professional achievements, but is in fact a record of his inner journeys through the murky and inhospitable terrain known as Pakistan. It just so happens that I have known Professor Syed since I was a child and he has, for better or for worse, been an integral part of my life. Syed and my father … Read entire article »
Filed under: Lahore
Why Pakistani Public is so keen on Conspiracy Theories?
Raza Habib Raja There is one thing the Muslim world in general and the Pakistan’s educated public in particular, truly excel in is the art of coming up with amazingly complex conspiracy theories. According to these conspiracy theories everything in Pakistan, particularly disruptive things, are planned in Washington and with active consultation of Israel and India. The theories display amazing combination of permanence and progressiveness. Permanence is shown in the eventual blame which keeps affixed on USA and progressiveness is in the interpretation of changing facts and ground realities where it is amended in fantastic ways to reach the same conclusion. … Read entire article »
Seven artists in Delhi: Gigi Scaria – video
The first of seven films looking at Indian artists’ responses to the city of Delhi features Gigi Scaria, a sculptor and video artist from Kerala. His work explores migration and displacement Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/video/2011/mar/07/artists-delhi-gigi-scaria-video … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts and Crafts
The land of his dreams
Professor Javaid Iqbal Syed’s memoir traverses the political and the personal, the mundane and the sublime, and weaves a narrative that reflects the decades of his life and times in Pakistan. Syed came from a Punjabi family which had settled in Balochistan. Through his sheer dedication he rose to the rank of the Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) during the mid 1990s. However, his tale is not restricted to his career or professional achievements, but is in fact a record of his inner journeys through the murky and inhospitable terrain known as Pakistan. It just so happens that I have known Professor Syed since I was a child and he has, for better or for worse, been an integral part of my life. Syed and my father grew up … Read entire article »
Filed under: Lahore
Karachi: memorial service in memory of deceased Minister for Minorities
MURDER OF SHAHBAZ BHATTI OUTRIGHT REJECTION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH: DR FAROOQ SATTAR KARACHI: 6TH MARCH 2011 A condolence meeting and memorial service was held under Muttahida Quami Movement in memory of the deceased Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti at the Karachi Press Club. The ceremony was attended by thousands of mourners belonging from different faiths. People maintained silence in memory of Mr Shahbaz Bhatti and paid rich tributes to him for his services. Speaking on the occasion Deputy Convener of MQM Dr Farooq Sattar said that the assassination of Mr Shahbaz Bhatti is an attack on the security and existence of the country. He said that if we want to promote a culture of tolerance in the country then the famous speech of the Quaid-i-Azam on 11th August 1947 to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Karachi
For Naimat Ahmer
1995 Faisalabad -A Christian teacher Naimat Ahmer was falsely accused of blasphemy and killed by his student on the incitement of Muslim teachers who were jealous of his success. A poem by Iftikhar Nasim for Naimat Ahmer For Naimat Ahmer- A Eulogy 1995 Iftikhar Nasim I see your blood Oozing out of jugular I mourn my tribe’s Arrogant ignorance World is watching Trust me, my Naimat! My Prophet was gentle Forgave Hinda-the Cannibal Meccans throw rubbish on others Who can forgive them? … Read entire article »
Filed under: poetry
The Mother Of All Conspiracies
By D. Asghar In the land of Pure, where conspiracy theories are dime a dozen, let me throw one more, in that oozing bucket. This one may shock a few, offend a whole lot but what the heck. The unstoppable stream of the channels on the “idiotic tube”, has a subliminal message, played repeatedly for the average sucker. The mantra played over and over again is, “Both Islam and the only true Muslim country, Pakistan are facing existential threat from the Kafirs.” That my friends is the “Mother of All Conspiracies.” 1400 plus years or so, Prophet PBUH’s message, survived not because of Pakistan or Pakistanis. Its purity and truth are independent of any geography or boundaries. Its message is fairly simple, meant for the entire mankind. Our faith and his predictions guide … Read entire article »
Filed under: Islam
Lahore Vigil
Pakistan Today: CDI holds vigil to remember Bhatti LAHORE – The Community Development Initiative (CDI) organised a candlelight vigil at the Chairing Cross on Saturday in honour of assassinated federal minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti. Protesters, including Christians held banners, condemning the cold-blooded murder and flayed the federal government’s incompetence in protecting its ministers and minorities. They condemned the politically-motivated murder and said that Bhatti’s death was an irreparable loss to the people of his constituency, especially Christians. “We … Read entire article »
Filed under: Lahore
Yielding in Front of Extremism
By Adnan Syed I am attaching two links here that movingly touch upon the state of barbarity that is inflicted upon the nation of Pakistan. Please give thirteen minutes of your precious time to the moving words of Member National Aseembly Mrs. Asia Nasir. These words describe the anguish and pain of the very Pakistanis who are being discriminated by the society, as well as by the institutions of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Terror reigns supreme in Pakistan. The righteous ones are hunting and killing everyone who calls for absolute equality of every human inside the boundaries of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. And in this environment, this brave lady comes out and unequivocally condemns the barbarity that the religious minorities are facing. She has more guts than the spineless members of parliament … Read entire article »
Filed under: Democracy, Egalitarian Pakistan, Islam, Islamabad, Islamism, Justice, Liberal Democratic Pakistan, minorities, Pak Tea House, Religion, Rights, state, Taliban
Usman Riaz – exciting new Pakistani guitarist….
By Naveed Riaz … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts and Crafts
Murder They Wrote: Banners by Religious Groups Incite Violence
Courtesy NEWSLINE A banner posted in Karachi by a religious group calls for the death of author Tehmina Durrani. Photo: Zaheer A. Kidvai (Yet Another) Hate-mongering Alert: … Read entire article »
Filed under: Religion
Funeral and last Message of Mr. Bhatti
PTH would like to share this note from a peace activist in Toba Tek Singh, who is a writer and also an educationist. ‘Rev. Fr. Parvez Emmanuel, first Cousin of Mr. Clement Shahbaz Bhatti read out the last message of Mr. Bhatti to nation. The main points of the message were: … Read entire article »
Filed under: liberal Pakistan
Lahore Protests against Bhatti’s murder
The Guardian Hundreds of Christians have taken to the streets of Pakistan in protest at the assassination of the minorities minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, who was gunned down outside his home on Wednesday. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Lahore
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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