COMMENT: Fear of mirrors — II —Dr Mohammad Taqi Considering the admixture of an aggressive political Islam, analysts unable or unwilling to propose foreign policy alternatives to reliance on Riyadh and a series of governments relying on such analysts, the perpetual US confusion about the Islamic world and its dynamics, especially the militancy, is not surprising “And there are those who build a mosque from mischievous motives, to spread unbelief and disunite the faithful” — Holy Quran 9:107 With the above verse of Surah Taubah (Repentance) opens the May 2010 book A Mosque in Munich, by The Wall Street Journal’s … Continue reading Fear of mirrors

PENSIEVE: Of dust and lust —Farrukh Khan Pitafi The handlers of these terrorists make a wily bunch that often has nothing to do with either impoverishment or intolerance — they do it for their own selfish motives and lust. And since most of these terrorists have been so thoroughly indoctrinated and irreparably damaged, their life might be our death In His Dark Materials trilogy, Philip Pullman plays with our imaginations in an uncanny way. In one of his parallel worlds, dark matter is called dust. And quite contrary to our scientific understanding of the dark matter, the particles in his … Continue reading Of dust and lust

By Zia M KhanJune 08, 2010 Maulana Fazlur Rehman has proposed that the Ahl-i-Sunnat Waljamaat should be part of the alliance. ISLAMABAD: The Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam wants a political outfit with known sectarian credentials to be part of a proposed realignment of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA). Just a week ahead of a crucial meeting in Lahore to revive the alliance, Maulana Fazlur Rehman proposed that the Ahl-i-Sunnat Waljamaat (ASW) — the political wing of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) — should be part of the alliance. This can spoil the JUI-F’s efforts to reunify the MMA. The ASW, … Continue reading JUI-F eyes sectarian outfit in MMA

Sharif’s statement on Ahmadis angers clerics June 07, 2010 Wafaqul Madaris al Arabia asks PML-N chief to retract his statement ISLAMABAD: Top leaders of an organisation representing Deobandi madrassas across the country have reprimanded PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for calling members of the Ahmadiyya community as “brothers” of Muslims. “Sharif should be ashamed of calling them brothers of Muslims,” said a statement issued by the Wafaqul Madaris al Arabia (WMA). Sharif said in Lahore on Saturday that Ahmadis were as important citizens of Pakistan as people from other religions and called them an asset. He made the statement to express … Continue reading Sharif angers Mullahs – will he seek their forgiveness?

By Naveen NaqviJune 02, 2010 The writer is a former TV morning show host (naveen.naqvi@tribune.com.pk) There are many before me who have written about Friday’s attack on the Ahmadis in Lahore. By the time this piece goes into print, still more will have written — and written better — of the audacious attack on Jinnah Hospital by the terrorists who came back to save their own. However, if I do not write of these attacks, I will become more complicit than I already am, for isn’t it true that every time I renew my passport I am complicit as are … Continue reading I am terrorist – and so are you

Hitler is just not that into you By Fasi ZakaJune 08, 2010 The writer is a columnist and TV and radio anchor (fasi.zaka@tribune.com.pk) Israel for me is one of the most troubling conundrums of the modern world. It demonstrates a key schism in thought and practice for the West which claim renaissance values but still actively supports apartheid, colonialism and violence in that pocket of the Middle East. As the Palestinians are cornered more tightly every day, paradoxically their demonisation increases. While the flotilla incident may have woken the world, it will be just a micro-wake. The status quo shall … Continue reading Hitler Mullah?

ROVER’S DIARY: Freedom Flotilla and Gaza —Babar Ayaz The struggle for Palestinian rights is a pure and simple secular struggle and not a conflict between Islam and Judaism. There are a number of Jews in the world who condemn the Israeli atrocities like we do A sigh of relief as Talat Hussain and his colleagues arrived home safely. But this is a short sigh of relief. People around the world have painfully held their breath for the last 62 years over the plight of the Palestinians. Those who were killed in a brutal attack on the boat were also our … Continue reading Freedom Flotilla and Gaza

VIEW: Not an eye-opener: time to act —Daud Khattak The current set up of militants is the amalgamation of many diverse elements from different areas and backgrounds with the apparent patronage of the Wahabi-dominated al Qaeda out to carry forward its religious-political agenda in the region Few countrymen rejoiced as the military high command announced victory against militants in the Orakzai tribal agency the other day mainly because the bleeding sore is finally emerging in the heartland of Pakistan now. Friday’s blatant attack on the Ahmedis’ places of worship in Lahore followed by an audacious attack on the ICU of … Continue reading Not an eye-opener: time to act

VIEW: The demand for Pakistan and Islam —Ishtiaq Ahmed The Muslim League’s propaganda struck terror in the hearts of the Hindus and Sikhs who were told that they would be paying jazya and Islamic law will prevail in all sectors of individual and collective life. The minority Shia and Ahmediyya communities were also fearful that it would result in Sunni domination The recent attack on a congregation of Ahmedis during prayers, which claimed more than 90 innocent lives, has revived a discussion as to whether there is a connection between the creation of Pakistan and Islam. Within the Muslim League … Continue reading The demand for Pakistan and Islam