COMMENT:Our ‘Pakistani Muslim exceptionalism’—Fahd Ali Our Muslim exceptionalism has not been enough to bridge our regional differences. Instead, the use of Islam in national politics and discourse has been a cause of further divisions in our national polity That national identity remains evasive for most of us is a foregone conclusion. The Pakistani national identity, so carefully constructed over the years by the state, has largely failed to find any large scale acceptance to bridge our regional differences and shape us into one nation. It is hardly news to anybody that the people of Balochistan and interior Sindh feel alienated … Continue reading Pakistani Muslim exceptionalism

PM labels Gaza a ‘prison camp’: Fury as Cameron calls for lifting of blockade and attacks Israel By Jason Groves and Matthew Kalman David Cameron was condemned last night by Israel for describing Gaza as a ‘prison camp’ on his visit to Turkey. Addressing businessmen in the capital Ankara, the Prime Minister said: ‘The situation in Gaza has to change. Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.’ Later, at press conference with the Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mr Cameron condemned the Israeli attack on … Continue reading Cameron blasphemes?

Turkey must join EU, says Cameron: ‘Those who are against are playing on fears of Islam’ By Jason Groves David Cameron today accused critics of Turkey’s membership of the EU of playing on fears of Islam – as he pledged to ‘pave the road from Ankara to Brussels’. In a speech in the Turkish capital the Prime Minister promised to ‘fight’ to help the Islamic state achieve its 50-year goal of EU membership. He said that, by embracing the moderate Muslim nation, the EU can improve relations with the rest of the Islamic world. And he hit out at those … Continue reading Turkey must join EU – Cameron

Seven arrested over Bournemouth far-right mosque ‘bomb plot’ By Daily Mail Reporter EDL member John Broomfield was pulled from his stationary vehicle after armed police opened fire on his van Seven men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to blow up a Bournemouth mosque. The men, six of whom are members of the England Defence League, were taken to Poole and Southampton police stations for questioning before being released without charge. Among those arrested was EDL member John Broomfield, 27, who was pulled from his stationary vehicle after armed police opened fire on his van in Corfe Castle village. A … Continue reading EDL arrests in ‘mosque bomb plot’

Jillian York: The Denial of Islamophobia Posted on 27 July 2010 by Emperor loonwatch.com A good piece from Jillian York in the Huffington Post. Paranoid Politics: The Denial of Islamophobia By Jillian York Imagine a fairly widespread, fairly mainstream ethos in which politicians, pundits, and academics convened to denigrate practitioners of Christianity or Judaism. Imagine that these commentators picked apart the New or Old Testament to find its most heinous contents, then used those phrases to justify their hatred and distrust. Imagine a world in which this was utterly acceptable, even encouraged. Now turn on your television. The debate over … Continue reading Denial of Islamophobia

Walid Zafar: Newt Gingrich Joins anti-Muslim Bandwagon Posted on 27 July 2010 by Emperor loonwatch.com Newt Gingrich Joins Muslim-Baiting Movement by Walid Zafar Early this week, disgraced former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich warned that “a commitment to religious freedom and God-given rights is being replaced by a secular oppression…”  Just hours after those words appeared on Human Events, Gingrich issued a statement forcefully opposing the construction of a community center and mosque in downtown Manhattan, two blocks from Ground Zero. Gingrich’s affinity for religious freedom and his belief in God-given rights it would seem, doesn’t extend to Americans … Continue reading Newt Gingrich – Anti Muslim

Robert Dreyfuss: Anti-Muslim Bigot Explains Islam to FBI Posted on 26 July 2010 by Garibaldi loonwatch.com Robert Dreyfuss Robert Dreyfuss, contributing editor to the Nation Magazine and also a frequent contributor to Rolling Stone, The American Prospect, and Mother Jones has a great blog post about anti-Muslim bigot Robert Spencer of SIOA-fame training and explaining Islam to the FBI and Tidewater Joint Terrorism Task Force. This is how Robert Spencer will react: “Robert Dreyfuss is a leftard, dhimmi, who is tarnishing and libeling me!! Wah! Wah!” Dreyfuss also links to us, and I urge our readers to take time out and comment … Continue reading Is this why the FBI is becoming Anti-Muslim?

Pakistan and Afghanistan: interdependent, distrustful neighbours The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a lot more complex than described in the stories of ISI goons Michael Semple guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 27 July 2010 11.15 BST Article history No one should be surprised that 180 of the leaked intelligence reports sound alarm bells about the involvement of Pakistan‘s ISI intelligence service in Afghan insurgency. Plenty such alarm bells have been sounded in the public domain already. But it is important that policymakers draw the right conclusions. During the period covered by these reports, I sat in on one of the first national … Continue reading Michael Semple writes

dawn.com IOA president Suresh Kalmadi had to plead with Delhi’s chief minister for safe passage to avoid a hoard of reporters demanding answers to questions of impropriety in national sports, including the sexual misconduct allegations against national field hockey and weightlifting coaches.—AFP/File Photo Sport Sports boardies seek guarantees from federations Sports boardies seek guarantees from federations NEW DELHI: Allegations of sexual misconduct involving two national coaches exacerbated the problems engulfing Indian sport and had the head of the Olympic association running for cover this week at the launch of the Commonwealth Games tennis centre. IOA president Suresh Kalmadi literally had … Continue reading Sex, corruption scandals tarnish India’s sport image

It’s society’s fault by Sana Saleem For over six decades we have confused, manipulated and twisted the ideology behind the creation of our state. We denied principles that could have prevented us from reaching the brink. In February 1948 in a broadcast to the people of the US on Pakistan , Jinnah said the following: “The constitution of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. I do not know what the ultimate shape of this constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a democratic type, embodying the essential principle … Continue reading Pakistani society’s fault