New leader for Pakistani Taliban Mullah Toofan, a militant commander feared for beheading rivals and suspected spies, is believed to have succeeded Hakimullah Mehsud as leader of the Pakistani Taliban. Noor Jamal, who uses the nom de guerre Mullah Toofan, has reportedly been declared acting leader of the militants after Mehsud was mortally wounded in an American missile strike last month and is believed to have died. Details of Mullah Toofan first emerged last week when he was seen in mobile phone video footage flogging two men and a teenage boy in Pakistan’s tribal belt. Villagers told one newspaper the … Continue reading New leader for Pakistani Taliban – Mullah Dusty Toofan!

The criminal case of Usman Saddique Jo Sidhu guardian.co.uk Following the ignominy of a resounding defeat for the government in the House of Lords in October 2008, many believed that the spectre of 42 days as a maximum period for pre-charge detention had finally been laid to rest. That expectation was short-lived. No sooner had the vexed proposal been withdrawn than the alternative was unveiled: a hastily drafted counter-terrorism (temporary provisions) bill “ready to be used as and when the need arises” according to the then home secretary. This would permit the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to seek a judge’s blessing … Continue reading The pre-charge detention limit is irrelevant when the police are convinced they’ve got their man

Gulmina Bilal Ahmad It is baffling to note how anyone can support and justify the TTP while at the same time proclaim to be champions of democracy, rule of law, equality before the law and most of all justice. Or do they mean justice TTP-style? One has always believed that confusion is good as it breeds creativity. This is not merely a position that is propagated by pop psychology quizzes and agony aunts of newspapers. In fact, if I remember correctly, during my psychology graduate days, we were told that one of the signs of highly creative people is that … Continue reading Pakistani Taliban apologists

Zeeshan Suhail Traditionally, just a few inches would set the city on high alert and business, schools and offices would shut down. Now NYC was doing the same, though only for one day. President Obama went so far as to humorously refer to these blizzards as “Snowmageddon” Few experiences in my life will ever rival the one I have just been through. Granted, it was a week long event, but it does not take away from the gravity of the situation we found ourselves in, here in Washington, DC. A blizzard blew into the region, beginning Friday afternoon of the … Continue reading I survived the Snowmageddon!

J Sri Raman Some in the ‘family’ may be frustrated at the relatively slow advance made towards the ‘roots’. Some, in fact, would seem to be upset at the rift within the BJP-led political camp, especially in Maharashtra, where the party has taken a public stance against staunch ally Shiv Sena’s offensive against north Indian migrants in the city “We are back, back to the roots. Heavy metal rules! We are back, back to the roots. You have got the rhythm, we have got the beat. We turn the music loud, burn in the heat. Look to the left, look … Continue reading Back to the ‘roots’?

Mohammad Jamil One should ask the Americans whether Pakistan’s top diplomats and other employees stationed in Washington are allowed take such ‘liberties’ as the American diplomats and their staffers are indulging in so freely The US has lodged a strong protest with the government of Pakistan on the arrest of some US embassy employees and impounding of their vehicles in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, negating the Vienna Convention. The vehicles were impounded by law enforcement agencies for using fake registration papers and number plates. The prime minister has ordered setting up a top-level inquiry committee, headed by the interior minister … Continue reading Vienna Convention and sovereign equality

Zafar Hilaly The reason why we feel reassured by the presence of big brother US around the corner in Afghanistan is the fear that the Taliban may actually prevail if succour in the form of someone with an open cheque book and appropriate weaponry was not available to compensate for the destabilisation caused to society and the economy General Kayani was being polite when he said that Pakistan and the US have different perceptions when it comes to Afghanistan. Actually, their respective perceptions are not merely different, but antithetical. In brief, Pakistan’s main concerns are: the danger posed to its … Continue reading The US presence in Afghanistan