VIEW: Balochistan bleeds —Zeeshan Noel Christopher Habib Jalib was a secessionist at heart but always argued on the strategy of the liberation movement and was fully aware of the pros and cons of the armed struggle. He chose the way of a peaceful struggle for securing the rights of Balochistan The killing of Comrade Habib Jalib Baloch, a Baloch nationalist leader and secretary general of Balochistan National Party-Mengal ((BNP-M), is being condemned all over the country with an undying pain and justified anger. After Maula Bukhsh Dashti, another nationalist leader and former chairman of Balochistan Students Organisation (BSO), Habib Jalib’s … Continue reading Balochistan bleeds

COMMENT: When chaos equals catharsis —Naqib Hamid In a society where there is lack of hope, and where no opportunities are left for people to let go of their pain, catharsis may well take an antithetical definition — that of chaos While mourning yet another suicide bombing in our country, this time in Mohmand Agency, I desperately tried to search for the meaning of a word long lost from our memory: ‘catharsis’. I pondered if any opportunities for catharsis exist in our society. This proved to be a difficult question. The word ‘catharsis’ means a feeling of emotional ‘letting go’ … Continue reading When chaos equals catharsis

VIEW: Media and militancy —Gulmina Bilal Ahmad After almost a decade of military rule, today Pakistan finds itself in a challenging transition towards democracy. Unlike previous futile transitional attempts, this transition is unique in the sense that it shows the existence of a newly liberalised mass media It has been called ‘society’s mirror’. Just like the mirror on the wall, to a teenager’s horror, reflects all warts and pimples, the media, it is believed, also shows only what already exists in society. The litmus test for media freedom, perhaps then, is the degree of clarity of the reflection in the … Continue reading Media and militancy

Banning Bin Laden By Selina Rashid The writer owns and runs Lotus Public Relations in Lahore (selina.rashid@tribune.com.pk) Our board of film censors is inherently flawed, of dubious intellect and highly erratic in its thinking. Often acting as a right wing morality police, it has in recent times been responsible for the banning of quality theatre, film and television. In a country where new ideas and fresh art have the potential to propel Pakistan forward and the potential to make us think and appreciate a world outside the confines of our four walls, the censors act as a consistent impediment. The … Continue reading Ban Bin Ladenism and Mullahism – not Ali Zafar!

By Tazeen Javed The writer is a development consultant (tazeen.javed@tribune.com.pk) Those of us who were born during the Zia era or afterwards have heard one demand/pledge/rhetoric depending on who is uttering it, and that is we need an Islamic government. The question is: what is an Islamic government? Is it the Islamic caliphate where one caliph will rule over the entire ummah (global Muslim population)?  Is it a government of the Muslims, for the Muslims, by the Muslims? Or is it a government where Shariah law would be implemented? Have we ever wondered why we have this hankering for something … Continue reading What kind of government do we need?

By Dr Riffat Hassan The writer is professor emerita at the University of Louisville, US KARACHI: It is unfortunate that the basic intent of the Quranic teachings and prescriptions regarding women has frequently been disregarded in Muslim societies and communities. Women are often seen not as mentally and morally capable human beings who can be righteous by choice, but as mentally and morally deficient creatures on whom morality has to be imposed externally. Not satisfied with “the outer garment” prescribed by the Holy Quran for Muslim women in a specific cultural context, some conservative Muslims (both men and women) have … Continue reading Modesty not segregation, Islam not Mullahism

Allah is al-Aziz (The Mighty) Sheikh Salman al-Oadah The name al-`Azīz appears seventy-two times in the Qur’ān, usually in conjunction with other names of Allah. For example: “the Mighty, the Wize” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 129] “the Mighty, the All-Knowing” [Sūrah al-An`ām: 96] “the Mighty, the Lord of Retribution” [Sūrah Āl `Imrān: 96] “the Mighty, the Forgiving” [Sūrah Fātir: 28] “the Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving” [Sūrah Sād: 66] “the Mighty, the Praiseworthy” [Sūrah Ibrāhīm: 1] The same pattern of linking the name al-`Azīz with other names can be found in numerous hādith. Allah is the possessor of strength who faces no incapacity. Nothing … Continue reading al-Aziz

Some Advice for Asking of Allah Sheikh Salman al-Oadah We should be conscious of how we conduct ourselves when we ask of Allah. There are a number of manners and etiquettes we should take heed of. 1. We should only beseech Allah for that which is lawful and good. We should also avoid beseeching Allah with anything that transgresses against other people. It is Allah who enjoined upon us to beseech Him in prayer, and it is Allah who says: “Do not transgress; for Allah does not love transgressors.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 190] 2. The best supplications are those which are … Continue reading Asking of Allah