VIEW: Faisal Shahzad’s radicalisation —Yasser Latif Hamdani The Islamic organisations on American campuses are even more hardcore than what we have heard of the cancer of IJT, which is plaguing Pakistani campuses Faisal Shahzad’s arrest has brought renewed focus on our already much maligned country. Commentators with only a rudimentary knowledge of Pakistan and its history have been speculating that perhaps Pakistan’s status as a nation founded on Islam is the root cause, conveniently forgetting that Pakistan was never founded on any Pan-Islamic ideals or theocratic millennialism (as in the case of Israel) but was a result of a breakdown … Continue reading Faisal Shahzad’s radicalisation was in the US

Muslim soldiers’ graves desecrated in France (AFP) PARIS — Vandals have desecrated the graves of seven Muslim soldiers who died fighting for France in World War II, the defence minister announced, expressing “deep indignation.” “I wish to express my deep indignation at this ignoble and cowardly act,” Herve Morin said in a statement Thursday after the tombstones were toppled at a military cemetery in the southern city of Tarascon. “I bow before the memory of these soldiers with more emotion now that the ultimate outrage appears to have targeted them for their religious beliefs,” he said. Morin said the soldiers … Continue reading Muslim soldiers’ graves desecrated in France

The language divide at the heart of a split that is tearing Belgium apart Belgium doesn’t exist, only Flanders and Wallonia as Dutch and French communites live apart. By Ian Traynor in Brussels Ian Traynor, Brussels The Observer A member of the Belgian Flemish far right party Vlaams Belang displays a badge reading “Division of Belgium” in the Belgian Parliament in Brussels April 22, 2010. Photograph: Yves Herman/REUTERS Twenty minutes north of Brussels, in Belgium‘s medieval royal seat of Mechelen, there’s a science playground, just the place for the kids on a boring, wet Sunday afternoon. Technopolis is stuffed with … Continue reading Belgium an artificial country should be split into two

By Amber Rahim Shamsi // Share Printer Friendly Email Comments (13) In a dapper vest and suit, minus his trademark red hat, self-styled defense and strategic analyst Zaid Hamid holds forth on a news channel. It is a few days after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 and the Indians have been baying for Pakistan’s blood. Zaid Hamid: For a long time from the ‘Brass Tacks’ platform, we have been raising the issue of Indian Christians and their treatment, the abuse of Sikhs, the Dalit and Shudr — the untouchables — against whom the Hindu-Zionists have been running an intensive … Continue reading Will the real Zaid Hamid please stand up?

I will contest the next election: Musharraf By Express Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has unveiled his plans to return to active politics ISLAMABAD: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has unveiled his plans to return to active politics, saying that he will contest the next general election in Pakistan. Musharraf made the announced at a gathering of his supporters in Islamabad by teleconference. “I have decided to take part in Pakistan’s politics and I will contest the next elections, irrespective of whether they are mid-term or ends term elections,” he said in his brief address. A number of cases have … Continue reading Musharraf to contest the next election

Inside Pakistan’s adult film industry By Fawad Ali It’s late at night and the room is dimly lit. The walls are decorated with paintings, posters of sportsmen and some birthday cards. There is silence. A boy and a girl are sitting hand in hand. In due time, the boy starts playing with the girl’s hair. She walks away from him and he follows her to the edge of the bed. The girl looks coyly up at him and says, “Please don’t.” The moment of intimacy is broken as someone shouts, “Repeat.” The young couple has been shooting a scene for … Continue reading Pakistan’s adult film industry

VIEW: Legally unjust? —Andleeb Abbas Capacity building of the bureaucrats has become a lottery for most of the high-ranking officials where each one is going to prestigious universities like Harvard, Stanford and Princeton at exorbitant costs Position power holds fatal attraction. It creates insecurities and uncertainties that make a human being do all sorts of inhuman things. The never-ending saga of the government vs the judiciary has entered the same political fatigue that has beset nearly all other contentious issues. These endless political feuds lead to public disenchantment, making the common man indifferent to the consequences of this constant battle … Continue reading Position power holds fatal attraction