Published on May 31, 2007
in Karachi.
Stop.
We’ve had enough.
Our city is not a battleground. Karachi is not a flashpoint. And we will not be ground zero for the orchestrated violence of the establishment.
Forty-one people were killed, ambulances targeted, cars set alight and over a hundred wounded in a battle over egos. No one is short of blame or culpability; there is blood on everyone’s hands. The chief justice and the president have made it brutally clear that the quandary over the CJ’s sacking is no longer political, it is personal. It is a schoolyard scuffle — my protest is bigger than your protest. Continue reading ‘Battle for Karachi by Fatima Bhutto’
Well, what can I say? Read it for yourself and decide what you make of it. Utterly shameful!!
A couple of months ago I saw a German movie called ‘Downfall‘. The movie goes on to show Hitler’s last few days as his mood oscillates between unjustified optimism one moment to suicidal depression the next. Reality does finally start to break through and the Fuhrer and the others in the bunker start to make their final personal preparations for the inevitable.
The real question is when will reality finally start to break through to our leaders? At the moment they same to be riding the ‘optimism, arrogance, delusion’ wave. If they go this way for much longer, there will be only one outcome - a continuing downfall leading to destruction.
The following article appeard in The News.
Chief justice spills the beans •He was forced to stay at the Army House for five hours against his will •Refusal to quit angered president who left the room after 30 minutes •PM did not reply to his explanation even by gesture •DG MI, DG ISI continued to press him to call it a day •His car was stripped of both Pakistan flag and emblem •His scared children could not continue their studies
Continue reading ‘Physical and Mental Intimidation By Chief-of-Army Staff of Pakistan’s Chief Justice’
Now I know this article will be extremely ambitious in trying to distil the beauty of Asrar-I-Khudi (The Secrets of the Self). After all, one can’t make like of the work which resulted in Allama Iqbal being knighted. Therefore, this short piece will focus on a concept in Asrar-I-Khudi which I feel has a poignant relevance for humanity today, and in many ways for Pakistanis specifically: time as a sword.
Continue reading ‘Asrar-I-Khudi’s ‘Time as a sword’ concept: which edge do we fall on?’
Here is an article by Senator Farhatullah Babar on the involvement of the armed forces in the corporate sector. It gives details of the influence wielded by the armed forces in Pakistan’s corporate sector and the preferential treatment quasi-military institutions get from the government. I had written a satirical piece titled ‘Real Estate 101 for Army Officers’, which was a humourous way of putting what Senator Babar has said in this article. Do have a look at it after you go through this.
By Farhatullah Babar - April 30, 2007 - Appeared in The News
Continue reading ‘The Armed Forces and the Corporate Sector’
Published on May 26, 2007
in People.
Regardless of Pakistan’s importance as an ally in the war on terror, there isn’t much to be proud of when looking at our contributions to international organisations. Where do we feature in the comity of nations? What are our contributions to international organizations? The only thing that I could think of was the fact that after Brazil, Japan and Argentina we rank joint fourth on the list of most years on the UN Security Council (as a non-permanent member), having been elected 16 times, alongwith several other countries including India.
However, I was unaware of a few things. We all know of the UN. We also know of the UN General Assembly. In case you’re unsure it doesn’t play as important a role as the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, but is the place where world leaders meet annually and acts as a ‘global parliament’. Some of you might not be aware but a Pakistani has served as President of the UN General Assembly for a two-year term. Then there is the International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ). It happens to be the primary judicial organ of the UN and probably the most well-known international court. Again, some of you might not be aware but a Pakistani has served on it as a member (i.e. judge), as a vice-president and as a president. These are some very prestigious positions.
A man who later became a Pakistani also represented India in the League of Nations in 1939. What’s most impressive about these facts is that I am going through the CV of only ONE man. But that’s not all. The same man was a Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council (or Cabinet) from 1935-1941 and participated in all three Round Table Conferences. Some of you may have already guessed it, but if you haven’t read on.
He also served as a judge of the Supreme Court of India and as a Member of the Radcliffe Boundary Commission. Still unsure?
Continue reading ‘Pakistan’s contribution to international organizations’
Imran Khan has called Altaf Hussain a terrorist and has actually said that a legal team is being constituted which would go to London and file a case against the MQM Quaid for killing innocent people. A friend sent me an email putting forward the legal case for Altaf Hussain’s extradition. Its a bit legalese, but I guess it has to be for something which is a purely legal matter. I mean we can’t just walk up to them and say, ‘hand him over’. Most readers might find it a bit too technical, but interesting nevertheless as it deals with specific British and International laws.
Continue reading ‘Can Altaf be extradited?’
Published on May 24, 2007
in Army.
…Atleat that’s what the BBC is saying. This news follows the general trend these days: bad news, bad news, half good news, bad news, very bad news, terrible news, and then worse.
I had recently read about the good work Pakistani peacekeeping troops were doing in Liberia by establishing parks and recreation areas. It made me proud.
Unfortunately, a lot more people will hear about this news and that will further tarnish Pakistan’s image. To be honest, it is an utterly shameful act for a peacekeeping force to sell their guns to the same people they have been sent to protect against. In my mind, by providing weapons they are also a party to any crimes committed by the Congolese militia groups. What an immoral thing to do!
It always made me wonder why we were the largest contributor of troops to the UN. An explanation might be coming through. Maybe it is an army policy - the greatest good for the greatest number of people. While the big guns plunder internally, why not let the troops make some money as well?
Continue reading ‘Pakistan’s Peacekeeping troops in Congo ‘traded gold for guns’’
Published on May 23, 2007
in People.
We had posted the story of Hafiz Naseem, the New York banker who had been arrested on charges of insider trading, earlier. However, this Frontier Post report reveals that the FBI might be investigating links to Shaukat Aziz and Pervaiz Elahi as well as prominent bankers and stock brokers. Farooq Bengali, Ejaz Rahim, Ali Raza, AKD and Chaudhray Munir are amongst the many on the investigators list. I wonder what all of them have to say about this?
Continue reading ‘Insider Trading- FBI to probe Prime Minister, Punjab Chief Minister, prominent bankers and stock brokers’
I am putting up a documentary made by BBC2 following the AQ Khan story from its beginnings in 1972 at URENCO in Holland to its end at his home in Bani Gala, in the suburbs of Islamabad. I had only read a bit about what happened, but instinctively, as many other Pakistanis still believe, I felt that he was being used as a scapegoat. This documentary seems to be very well researched, just like most BBC documentaries, and claims that it was A Q Khan who pulled all the strings and reaped all the profits from the sale of nuclear weapons technology through his international network.
Continue reading ‘Documentary: The Terror Trader: Dr. A Q Khan’s story’
Published on May 18, 2007
in Sports.
I just came across this documentary on Imran Khan on YouTube and I found it very interesting. Imran Khan, like other celebrities in the world, has had a colourful and interesting past. He was part of an exclusive social set in London during his cricketing years. However, Imran Khan’s private life does not interest me because I am not interested in analysing society lizards. This documentary of Imran Khan is very interesting because it explores his journey from the day he was born till now.
Continue reading ‘Documentary: Imran’s Journey’
