Pak Tea House » Archive
A Peshawari princess?
By Angela Weinberger In my last life I was a princess and lived in Peshawar. I probably died young and was some Mughal’s daughter. Have I mentioned that my name was Khan, Anjali Khan?“ If I ever write a novel, this is how it will start. What might bring a smile to your face right now is that you see a Western woman writing this. I am obviously not from this area of the world. I will never … Read entire article »
Filed under: culture
Why America won’t re elect President Obama
By Saad Hafiz: It is probably way to early almost foolish to write off an incumbent U.S President nearly eighteen months before the next U.S. Presidential elections. Despite the old adage ‘a week is a lifetime in politics’, I am sticking my neck out to predict that President Obama will end up a one term democratic President like Jimmy Carter and unlike Bill Clinton. Republicans have successfully painted Obama as a radical liberal, a tax and spend left wing Democrat, or something on the edge of a Socialist winning a sizeable mandate in 2008 to transform America toward European-style social democracy. Obama’s opponents led by the Tea Party Movement (TPM) delivered a telling counterpunch to his “mandate” in the mid term elections in November 2010. As the radical Republican objective is a rollback … Read entire article »
Another Warning from the Red Bereted Cyber Army General
The monotoned ravings (often confused by many as warnings) of Zaid Hamid translate in “inspirational” as well as humorous effects. More often than not his messages run the thinnest of thin lines between flat-faced seriousness and tongue in cheek parody. Consider this slideshow which announces itself as a message from “our Cyber Army General Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid”. If this is not used in jest we certainly are in trouble. Or as Captain Obvious would say…Deep deep trouble. Nothing new in what the Cyber Army General in Chief has to offer besides showcasing his militia nut antics (Abviously targeted at the legions of hormonal silk moustached army of self appointed uber patriots) what is more confounding in the good general’s tirade is the use of the background score. Surely the Zaid Hamid fanboy … Read entire article »
Filed under: Humor
Atish Taseer-Shashi Tharoor Tag Team v. Pakistani Liberals
By Yasser Latif Hamdani Atish Taseer wrote a rather mediocre piece in the Wall Street Journal named “Why my father hated India”. Then Shashi Tharoor wrote a piece called “Delusional liberals” which defended Atish Taseer’s piece. I wonder if these two gentlemen realize how similar their rhetoric- couched in simplistic terms- is to the 1500 page manifesto released by Anders Breivik when it comes to Pakistan. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Pakistani Christians and the Myth of Clash of Civilizations
By Dil Nawaz: Pakistan as a postcolonial republic having connections with British Commonwealth and an Islamic-oriented constitution , has shown a strong sense of religio-national identity, i.e being a Pakistani is equated with being a Muslim. The religious disputes have often led to violence which invariably results in the imprisonment or deaths of minority Christians,Hindus,Ahmadis or burning of their places of worship and property. There is evidence of Christian missionaries travelling to India as early as 16th century but Christian institutions came to the part of India which is now Pakistan in the early part of 19th century through Catholic Capuchin Friars and Church of England missionaries who were given permission evangelize in the British cantonments. The Anglican hierarchy was established from London in 1877 when Rev. Thomas Valpy was appointed the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Arts and Crafts
Chishtī Sufis in the Sultanate of Delhi (book review)
When the shrine of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar in Pakpattan was attacked last year, the real significance of the incident was not fully understood. Baba Farid is a leading figure of the Chishti Sufi order that has played a major role in developing Sufi establishments ( khanqahs) as inclusive and multifaith spaces of spirituality and meditation in medieval India. Tanvir Anjum’s book is an elaborate treatise on how the Chishti Sufis could create and sustain those spaces, sometimes in the face of opposition and suppression from the state. It is rare to find Pakistani scholars or writers exploring Sufism, which is central to belief systems and worship practices in Pakistan and is perhaps a socially-embedded bulwark against exclusivist ideologies that have flourished of late due to state patronage. Anjum’s work, therefore, is … Read entire article »
Why a Secular Pakistan is closer to Islam?
By Amaar ahmad: The idea of secularizing Pakistan seems to frighten the wits out of many devout Pakistani Muslims. However, arguably a basic secular state is one where the government does not interfere in the right of citizens to choose, profess and practise any or no religion. It does not create laws which hinder the citizens of one faith from converting to another nor does it confer any advantage to one religious group at the expense of another. In short, a secular state would give people of all faiths (or with none) safety and security in following the dictates of their conscience. Pakistan today is beset with religious and sectarian anarchy. Mainstream religious forces want the state to become partial towards their sects and have pushed the country to the edge – all … Read entire article »
2011 Pkrelief
“At khorwah medical camp organized by Offroad Pakistan, the floods may have gone but pain still remains in eyes searching for a future” By F.K … Read entire article »
Filed under: Photos
Karachi continues to bleed
Karachi needs democratisation of power and robust accountability mechanisms By Raza Rumi: Karachi’s mayhem in the past few days has exposed, once again, the primary issue of the megapolis — a weak, encroached state. The city has grown in numbers and is now home to millions of Pakistanis of all varieties. Its cosmopolitanism and centrality to Pakistan’s economy means that Pakistan cannot remain unaffected if its largest city is not functioning well. July has been a bloody month. However, this is not the first time when the city has been subjected to ethnic-bloodbaths. A week ago, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) walked out of the federal and provincial governments and this was a signal to all and sundry that the tenuous and uneasy peace between the various power-brokers in Karachi would be affected … Read entire article »
On Judiciary and Government
Raza Habib Raja Right now the country is embroiled in a rather destabilizing controversial tussle between increasingly hyper active judiciary and Government. The current judiciary is continuing to follow an aggressive policy particularly when comes to its engagement with the federal government. The ongoing judicial role is difficult to be categorized as “good” or “bad’ mainly because it is trying to affect complex and at times interconnected variables in our society. The perception about it will also vary from person to person depending on his/her OVERALL political orientation. Within liberal community (assuming that it exists) the opinion is somewhat divided but most are worried due to a string of recent decisions particularly releasing of controversial individuals like Hafiz Saeed and Malik Ishaq. Those who support it are also cautious as Judiciary while cracking … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
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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