Pak Tea House » Entries tagged with "Pakistan"
Congratulations, Pakistan!
By Saad hafiz: Despite allegations of polling irregularities, Pakistanis can be rightly proud of the outcome of the electoral process that culminated on May 11. An unprecedented turnout around 60 percent Pakistan’s 86 million registered voters, and the exceptional enthusiasm and political maturity shown by the voters who braved Taliban threats and violence have bolstered the democratic process. President Asif Zardari and Mr Nawaz Sharif, who shunned the past practice of using political violence by civilian leaders against each other, deserve the most credit for the orderly civilian transition. The moderation shown by the political leadership can help build a peaceful political tradition that, hopefully, will filter down into the society at large. This can only strengthen the world’s fifth-largest democracy and avoid the collapse into civil war or repression that political … Read entire article »
Filed under: Elections
Political parties and elections
by Saad Hafiz Pakistan’s historic path has been ridden by intrigue, strife and bloodshed overseen by power-hungry generals and money grubbing politicians. The chaos in the country also proves that a common religious identity is not a guarantee of stability, security, democracy and free elections. Past elections have not been able to foster a feeling of common destiny. Some elections were so widely and flagrantly rigged that civil rebellion broke out requiring the army to be called in, thus exposing the weakness of political leadership in the country. The army simply shoved the political leadership aside through a coup d’état when it realised that political power depended on it. The Pakistani electorate has an opportunity this week to reverse the country’s anti-democratic legacy. The people can choose the political parties that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Elections, Liberal Democratic Pakistan
Fairer Election, Darker Result
Pakistan Elections 2013 have finally concluded. After years of complaints, protests, campaigning, Pakistan has elected a new party to rule over them for potentially five years. Before discussing the election results, it is incumbent to discuss the actual election process and media coverage. Election was very impressive in terms of being ‘free and fair.’ The process closely resembles the process of Federal Election in Canada. From standing in line to giving proof that you are on the voters list to the standing behind a cardboard box to cast your vote. Everything is in-line with a Democratic country like Canada. Now back to discussing ‘free and fair’ because we all know there are complaints right across the board that it wasn’t fair. There is video proof of multiple votes being cast but even … Read entire article »
Filed under: Elections
Some Thoughts on Imran Khan
By Nadeem Bajwa Although I respect and admire Khan for the cricketing hero he once was, for the philanthropist he still is and for the revolutionary leader he aspires to be, I fail to follow him blindly as many of my fellow countrymen do. But to some extent their actions are justifiable by our political culture and the depths that we have driven our country into. He might be patriotic, untainted by financial corruption and charismatic, but does that make him worthy of leading a nation or a country? The road to revolution is not paved with fundamental contradictions, U-turns and half-baked theories. It is forged, inch by inch, by character, self-sacrifice, unswerving principles and passion for the people. Those close to Imran speak of his hefty ego – the need to be the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Elections, Parliament
Brave or Foolhardy?
by: Hafsa Khawaja There are usually, if not always, a certain set of characteristics and qualities that a people expect their leader to have. Amongst the numerous of honesty, integrity and dignity that Pakistanis seek in a leader, is also bravery. With the elections approaching fast, the idea of bravery seems to have been accorded quite a role with populism at play. A certain notion has been developed in political rhetoric plus social media … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Elections 2013: A guide for the perplexed
by Ghazala Akbar: General Election! Which Election? Depends on where you are. Contrary to popular belief there is not one but are several elections simultaneously taking place in Pakistan. First and foremost there is the contest in the populous province of Punjab often described as the heart of Pakistan. This is where the political heavyweights, the Establishment and the majority of the electorate reside. In electoral terms, the Punjab is the decisive battleground. Whosoever has the bulk of the seats here will be in a strong position to direct the shape and composition of the next government. That is the crux of the matter. Like it or lump it. Presently there is a right royal battle raging on the banks of the Ravi. PML (N) of Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan’s PTI. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Elections
Chairman Press Council of India Justice Markandey Katju’s Hindutvist Akhand Bharat Theory : Right out of the RSS manual
By Yasser Latif Hamdani I have always had the greatest respect for the superior judiciary of India. This is why it is a painful to write this post especially as it is about a gentleman who was Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and later a Supreme Court Justice. His very accurate view on the tussle between the judiciary and the executive in Pakistan had made me a fan. Unfortunately though I have now realized that even some great men of law have their blind spots and as far blind spots go, this gentlemen has a huge black big blind spot spanning Afghanistan to Burma. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan
Bringing Change
By Kashif Ali During the election campaign, the favorite most mantra of every politician seems to be: “bring change”. This mantra is international in its appeal and you can use it anywhere in the world. You can be a new and emerging leader, or an old one, you just have to use this statement to fool the public. But does simple repeating the mantra really bring the purported change? NO!! is my answer. You choose yours. I would like to share a personal experience. During my lunch with Warren Buffett, I asked him a very important question: “Buffett, if you have to change Pakistan, what would you do?” He looked at me for few minutes, laughed and said: “Kashif, I cannot do anything for Pakistan” To this I retorted: “You have invested billions in … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
State of Human Rights in 2012:Highlights
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has prepared a comprehensive list on events relating to Human Rights in Pakistan during the year 2012. Following are some of the salient findings from the report. Laws and law-making The most significant enactments in 2012 included the 20th Constitutional Amendment which was related to electoral matters. The law for the establishment of a National Commission of Human Rights came into force but remained unimplemented. The National Commission on the Status of Women … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
The good, the bad, the ugly…!
By Ghazala Akbar: The course of true love or Pakistani democracy never did run smooth. Just when you think the waters are safe, Jaws rears its ugly head again. Two weeks ago we seemed pretty smug at the successful completion of a full five year term of an elected government, uninterrupted by conniving manipulators, clerics from Canada or the sound of heavy jackboots. For the first time in our constitutional history, a democratically elected assembly was not summarily dismissed. Or a Prime Minister hanged. Or led in fetters and exiled abroad in ignominious circumstances. It was a small but significant achievement. Basking in the Islamabad sunshine, the class of 2013 at the National Assembly of Pakistan duly posed for a historic picture. Their final session had been an occasion filled with self-congratulatory rhetoric, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Democracy
Kapil Komireddi’s butchery of history on Jinnah
By Yasser Latif Hamdani So complete have been the state sponsored mythologies in the subcontinent that both Indians and Pakistanis are incapable of looking at the past objectively or with any kind of intellectual ability. Consider for example jingoistic Indian columnist Kapil Komireddi’s piece for Daily Beast titled “Pakistan’s Mohammad Ali Jinnah is not Mandela”. As if Jinnah would care he would be compared to Mandela. Nelson Mandela is no doubt a great leader of our times … Read entire article »
Filed under: Jinnah
Short memories
By Saad Hafiz: Some Pakistanis appear tired of democracy after a short civilian stint of five years. A recent BBC poll suggests that more Pakistani youth would prefer Islamic law or military rule than democracy. More than half of 5,000 18-29 year-old Pakistanis polled said democracy had not been good for them or the country. Almost a third of registered voters in Pakistan are under 30 years old, and are expected to play a big part in the general election due in May. The poll respondents reached their ‘no to democracy’ conclusion based on the inability of the civilian government to deal with the economic and security issues facing the country. Approval ratings for the military were about 70 percent compared with just 13 percent for the elected government that just … Read entire article »
Filed under: Democracy
Rebuttal to Yaqoob Khan Bangash’s Rejoinder on Jinnah’s Pakistan
By Yasser Latif Hamdani Mr Yaqoob Khan Bangash has written a rejoinder to my rebuttals both here and in Express Tribune. Once again Mr. Bangash has proved my point about him not having any historical facts to go by. I could not respond to it yesterday given some urgent professional commitments but I think it is time to place on record how Mr. Bangash distorts history with impunity. He also resorted to personal attacks which do not merit a response but should be referred to to show the desperation with which Mr. Bangash has responded to my rebuttals. First thing is first : Yaqoob Bangash has conceded 2 out of 3 points I had raised. The first being of the definition of Muslim which cannot be logically connected to a party that … Read entire article »
Turkish Diary
Day 5 Many shades of religion in Istanbul By Samra Muslim “Samra Muslim has over 10 years of experience in public relations, marketing and communications, social media, event management and brand activation in a diverse range of industries. She is currently a student of social media in addition to her day time job as a marketer. She has been associated with Etihad Airways, and has worked for Starwood Hotels & Resort and Zindagi Trust in the past. She … Read entire article »
Filed under: Travel
Article of the Day: Looking Back at Democracy’s five years
What five years of civilian governance in Pakistan looks like Source: (Foreign Policy Magazine Blog) by J. Dana Stuster (Assisstant Editor, FP magazine) For the first time in Pakistan’s history, a democratically elected civilian government has successfully finished its five-year term — despite a flurry of anti-government protests. But what does that success look like? Foreign direct investment collapsed after President Asif Ali Zardari’s government came to power in 2008, and has continued declining since, according to the World Bank. Meanwhile, foreign aid from the United … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
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