Flaws in the judgment
By Asma Jahangir Dawn, 26 Jan, 2010 The Supreme Court (SC) has spoken and the nation must bow its head. The chief justice has asked members of the bar to pray for the judiciary. This too must be respected, as the Almighty alone can rescue those who wish to destroy themselves. There is open friction between the ruling party and the court. By not restoring the SC judges earlier and letting Justice Dogar run amok with the law, the government lost face. … Read entire article »
Filed under: baluchistan, Democracy, Justice, Law, lawyers movement, Pakistan, state
Pakistan: Military Undermines Government on Human Rights
Battling Taliban No Excuse for Complicity in Abusive Counter-terrorism Practices (New York, January 21, 2010) – Pakistan’s military actively undermined the civilian government’s human rights agenda in 2009, Human Rights Watch said today in its new World Report 2010. The 612-page report, the organization’s 20th annual review of human rights practices around the globe, summarizes major human rights trends in more than 90 nations and territories worldwide. The report says that Pakistan’s military publicly and privately resisted the government’s reconciliation efforts in the troubled province of Balochistan and attempts to locate people “disappeared” there during General Pervez Musharraf’s military rule. The military also opposed the international community’s attempts to end military intervention in the political and judicial processes through aid conditions. “The Pakistani military continues to subvert the political and judicial systems in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Al Qaeda, Army, baluchistan, human rights, Taliban, Terrorism, USA, violence, war
Mann o Mullah (The Mullah And I)
Poet: Gul Nasir Khan Language: Balochi Translation SOURCE: BALOCHI:- Mullah sunbahith pa waaz aa Reesh aa dasth jathag pa naaz aa Cho gushth pa buland awaaz aa “Yakkay waajag inth, yakkay meer Yakkay Haakim inth, yakkay peer Yakkay pa gham inth, yakkay seer Yakkay much kanth zarraan dayr Yakkay gushing inth, yakkay sayr Yakkay sar biranth, yakkay chayr Yakkay swaar beeth aulaakaan Posheeth jwaantharain poshaakaan Jaan aa dhrhanz danth laalthaakaan Yakkay gon shapaadain paadh aa Looch o langarh o barbaadh aa Zindh aa girr kanth naa shaadh aa Amar inth Qaadir i bay shakkain Athkag maan kithaab aa hakkain Raahay baarag o baaz sakkain … Read entire article »
Filed under: baluchistan, Pakistan
Defining "Strategic Depth"
By Kamran Shafi From Daily Dawn, Published 19th January, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/14-defining-strategic-depth-910 And how does it help us? We are engaged in the Great Game in Afghanistan, we are told, because ‘strategic depth’ is vital for Pakistan due to the fact that our country is very narrow at its middle and could well be cut into half by an Indian attack in force. Strategic depth, we are further informed, will give respite to our armed forces which could withdraw into Afghanistan to then regroup and mount counter-attacks on Indian forces in Pakistan. I ask you! I ask you for several reasons. Let us presume that the Indians are foolish enough to get distracted from educating their people, some of whom go to some of the best centres of learning in the world. Let us assume that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Army, baluchistan, Great game, India, Islamabad, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, Punjab, quetta, state, Taliban
Jennifer Musa
From Daily Telegraph UK, Published 18-Jan-2008 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1575879/Jennifer-Musa.html Irish nurse who became head of a tribe in Baluchistan and dedicated her life to its interests Jennifer Musa, who has died aged 90, was an Irishwoman of modest stock who took over from her husband as head of a tribe in the remote borderlands of Baluchistan; unveiled and uncompromising, she dedicated her life to the conservative Muslim tribesmen among whom she lived for 60 years until her death. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, baluchistan, Democracy, History, Jinnah, Pakistan, Partition, Politics, quetta, Taliban
For Every Decent Human Being
By Bilal Qureshi Isn’t it time? For every decent human being, it is sickening to see people being butchered the way human beings are slaughtered in Pakistan these days. Human life has no respect or value for barbaric animals responsible for these bombings and suicide attacks. And if the news of bombings and killing was not enough, I was horrified to learn that Lahore’s commissioner (incorrectly) blames India for these attacks while Punjab’s law minister (correctly) believes that the thugs being smoked out from Swat and Wazirstan are actually behind these attacks to force the government to back down. Isn’t it time for Pakistan to get united? Isn’t it time stop obsessing about India? Isn’t it time to be realistic? … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Army, baluchistan, Democracy, History, Identity, India, Islamabad, journalism, Pakistan, Parliament, Politics, Terrorism, violence, Yusuf Raza Gillani, Zardari
Balochistan: too small an olive branch
Cross Post from www.opendemocracy.net By Qurratulain Zaman, 27 November 2009 “They ordered me to rape her. She was so thin and was crying when they brought her in the room. I was terrified to look at her, as I thought she was a spy or an agent”, says Munir Mengal, a 33- year- old Baloch, living in forced exile in Paris. Munir Mengal spent 16 months in underground jails of the Pakistani intelligence agencies. “The low rank officers came back to the room and started beating me because I didn’t obey their orders. They took off my clothes by force and hers too, and left us alone. In her sobs I heard her praying in Balochi language. She was praying for someone named Murad. That’s how I got to know she is my … Read entire article »
Filed under: baluchistan, Democracy, Heritage, Islamabad, journalism, Pakistan, Politics
The Text of Balochistan Package, presented to the Joint Session of the Parliament
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\11\25\story_25-11-2009_pg7_29 Islamabad: The government on Tuesday presented the Aghaaz-e-Huqook Balochistan to a joint sitting of parliament. The landmark package contains several initiatives to address the problems of the Baloch people and bring them into mainstream. Following is the text of the Aghaaz-e-Huqook package presented by Senator Raza Rabbani. Preamble “Conscious, that the provinces have a sense of deprivation, in political and economic structures of the federation; Recalling, that the provisions of the 1973 constitution in particular relating to the federation-province relationship have been circumvented; … Read entire article »
Filed under: Army, baluchistan, Economy, Islamabad, Pakistan, Politics, Rural
Crisis of Conviction
Conviction, consensus, leadership: How democracy should work By Farrukh Khan Pitafi (Cross-Post, written Oct 13, 2009) Recently an article by Farahnaz Isphahani titled “Democracy does deliver” (dated September 29, 2009) appeared in a section of the press. Having read some of Ms Isphahani’s previous security papers I can appreciate her mastery over words. However if I was expecting something ethereal from this piece I was sorely disappointed. What she lauds as a diplomatic win and which she considers a proof of democracy’s deliverance unfortunately is nothing more than the assurance of further foreign aid and not any historic empowerment of this nation. If my memory serves me right aid was given during the time of the recent dictator too. Similarly events like the FoDP also used to take place including Musharraf’s groundbreaking address … Read entire article »
Filed under: baluchistan, Democracy, journalism, Justice, lawyers movement, Pakistan, USA
The Baloch insurgency is no bluff
By Rahimullah Yusufzai, The News, November 03, 2009 Shafiq Ahmed Khan described himself as a Balochistani, spoke about the rights of the Baloch people and publicly mourned and condemned the assassination of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti at the hands of Gen Pervez Musharraf. Even then he was killed by those who insist they are fighting for the Baloch cause. … Read entire article »
Filed under: baluchistan
Jundallah vs. The Mullahtariat
By Pepe Escobar Fasten your seat belts; it’s gonna be a bumpy ride. As a crucial subplot of the New Great Game in Eurasia, Balochistan – on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border – promises turbulence aplenty. Welcome to United States General Stanley McChrystal’s self-fulfillment prophecy – “Chaos-istan” in action. … Read entire article »
Filed under: baluchistan, Iran, Pakistan
Media must not be used to pressurise Pakistan
by Bilal Qureshi It has been obvious for a while now that the war in Afghanistan is not going well. After years of presence there, the Americans and NATO forces still face danger and attacks on daily basis. Some experts even suggest that the Taliban are becoming stronger, more brazen and are engaging allied forces more aggressively. So, what is the solution to this complex problem? “Pakistan is not doing enough” is the tried and tested … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, baluchistan, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism, violence, war
From Russia with Love: Main Ney Russia Mee kya Dekha
Bradistan Calling When Pakistan came into existence in 1947, Russia was known as the Godless Empire of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics under brutal dictator Joseph Stalin. This inherent difference in ideologies resulted in tensions from the very start, but the refusal of the first prime minister of Pakistan to accept the cordial invitation of the Soviet leadership to visit USSR started the full scale Cold War. The rest, as they say, is history. Pakistan decided to accept the invitation of United States of America (the head of ‘Free’ Capitalist and Godly world).Pakistan joined anti-communist military pacts and gave its logistic support for Korean War in 1950s.Despite the unwavering loyalty of Pakistani military and landlord elite, USA refused to provide military assistance and spare parts during 1965 Kashmir war with India. The … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Army, baluchistan, Citizens, culture, Economy, Education, Europe, FATA, History, human rights, Identity, Imperialism, India, Islam, journalism, Labour, Left, magazines, Media, minorities, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan, Peshawar, Politics, Punjabi, quetta, Religion, Sindh, south asia, Taliban, Terrorism, Urdu, USA, youth, Zardari
Pakistaniat : The Crisis of Identity
Bradistan Calling What can I give to Pakistan as a present on its 62nd Birthday, What else than an article on its chequered history and identity. Bertrand Russell famously said,” There are three great civilisations in East i.e. India, China and Islam”. Pakistan is blessed to be located at the crossroads of all these great civilisations. In my humble opinion this is the biggest strength of Pakistani identity. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Activism, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, ancient civilisations, Architecture, baluchistan, Citizens, Cricket, culture, dynasties, Environment, Europe, FATA, Heritage, History, human rights, Identity, India, Iran, Islam, Jinnah, Karachi, Kashmir, Languages, Left, Literature, Media, minorities, Music, North-West Frontier Province, Northern Areas, Pakistan, Partition, Peshawar, Politics, Punjabi, quetta, Religion, Rights, Sindh, south asia, Sufism, Taliban, Terrorism, Travel, Urdu, USA, youth
Balochistan is the ultimate prize
By Pepe Escobar It’s a classic case of calm before the storm. The AfPak chapter of Obama’s brand new OCO (“Overseas Contingency Operations”), formerly GWOT (“global war on terror”) does not imply only a surge in the Pashtun Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). A surge in Balochistan as well may be virtually inevitable. Balochistan is totally under the radar of Western corporate media. But not the Pentagon’s. An immense desert comprising almost 48% of Pakistan’s area, rich in uranium and copper, potentially very rich in oil, and producing more than one-third of Pakistan’s natural gas, it accounts for less than 4% of Pakistan’s 173 million citizens. Balochs are the majority, followed by Pashtuns. Quetta, the provincial capital, is considered Taliban Central by the Pentagon, which for all its high-tech wizardry mysteriously has … Read entire article »
Filed under: Army, baluchistan, Pakistan
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