ANALYSIS: The challenge of an uncertain future —Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi Now, in 2009-2010, as the army avoids direct role in politics because it is engaged in counter-terrorism, the PPP’s adversaries are approaching the Supreme Court with the hope that it would knock out the PPP government or President Zardari The most certain feature of Pakistan’s democracy is an uncertainty of its future. The optimistic view describes the current difficulties as the issues of transition from a military-dominated political order to a participatory civilian political system, which will take time to settle down. The current problems are the transitional problems on … Continue reading The challenge of an uncertain future

Now that’s what you call a cat fight! Tiger brothers try to show each other who’s boss It was a real splash of the titans when this spectacular display of tiger play-fighting was caught on camera. After one 28-and-a-half-stone Siberian tiger launched himself at his brother, the pair became locked in a wild water fight. They rolled and tumbled – until a roar of disapproval from their watching mother led them to down paws. Take that: A Siberian tiger makes the most of it when his brother turns his back, leading to a spectacular 20-minute water fight at the Nikolaev … Continue reading What can we Humans learn from these Tigers?

Are all Pakistanis equal? By Imran Khan Picture from AFP Minorities in Pakistan begin to feel they are not accepted by all Pakistanis. Lahore, once again, has seen immense violence on its streets. I landed in this most iconic of Pakistani cities in the wee hours of Saturday morning. At first light, I visited the site of one of the mosques attacked a day earlier. Having covered countless blasts in the country, I was prepared to hear the heart-wrenching tales of those who survived, of those who buried their dead, of mothers in shock. Pakistanis are a by-and-large honest and open bunch, … Continue reading Should we Kill 10 Mullahs across the board for every Terrorist attack in Pakistan

by Nadeem F. Paracha Over and over again I have been using Dawn and Dawn.com to hit home the point about the vicious, soul destroying mindset the bulk of Pakistan’s urban middle-classes (especially in the Punjab) have fallen in to. I have tried to give numerous examples to highlight this devastating observation and here again is another one: On May 28 when terrorists associated with what is called the ‘Punjabi Taliban’ attacked various places of worship of the Ahmadiyya community in Lahore, the TV channels were out in force covering the gruesome event. However, that did not stop them from … Continue reading Frayed ends of sanity

The Meaning of Islam from A. Maududi’s ‘Towards Understanding Islam’ Note: This is the first chapter from A. Maududi’s book, ‘Towards Understanding Islam’. In it, he presents the two opposite states of beingness in their extremes: Islam and Kufr, in their ideal forms, describing their natural outcomes. On this spectrum of extremes, most of us fall somewhere in between in a dynamic flux throughout our life time. Every religion of the world has been named either after its founder or after the community or nation in which it was born. For instance, Christianity takes its name from its prophet Jesus … Continue reading ‘Towards Understanding Islam’ by A. Maududi

Twenty Three Years: A Study of the Prophetic Career of Mohammad by ALI  DASHTI Translated from the Persian Contents Note on the Author Note on the Translation Chapter I: MOHAMMAD His birth His childhood The problem of prophethood His appointment After his appointment Chapter II: THE RELIGION OF ISLAM The setting Miracles The miracle of the Qur’an Mohammad’s humanity Chapter III: POLITICS The emigration The change in Mohammad’s personality The establishment of a sound economy The advance to power Prophethood and rulership Women in Islam Women and the Prophet Chapter IV: METAPHYSICS God in the Qur’an Genies and magic Cosmogony … Continue reading A Study of the Prophetic Career of Mohammad by Ali Dashti

VIEW: Cyber wars: who killed Facebook? —Afrah Jamal Before this anti-Facebook movement was launched, few had heard of the event. It is ironic that by rising en masse, the tidal wave of protests also raised the caricature story from the depths of obscurity to the heights of notoriety Try clicking on a news item about Pakistani students protesting the Facebook ban in Google. Just try it. You cannot, can you? Not if your internet service provider (ISP) is anything like mine. Not since the crackdown on Facebook. And all because of the event planned for May 20, 2010 in the … Continue reading The Facebook ban needs to be overturned on the 31st – or real resistance will begin

VIEW: Rip van Winkle in Washington! —Naeem Tahir The political right got moral, financial and material support, culminating in promoting jihad in Afghanistan. The groups of moderates, progressives, and the Left were left out as untouchables This time ‘Rip van Winkle’ has not woken up in the Catskill Mountains of New York as the fairytale goes. He has now woken up in Washington DC because of a ‘Dumb Shahzad’ from New York. I am not referring to the author of the fairytale, Mr Washington Irving. I am referring to a distinguished correspondent of The Washington Post. He has woken up … Continue reading Rip van Winkle in Washington!

analysis: Fatal illusions —Salman Tarik Kureshi Conformity was imposed on the pluralism prized by Jinnah and a unitary state, belying his crusades for provincial autonomy, was created. In place of our rich and diverse heritage, cultural uniformity was imposed. Ideological formulations were trumpeted, dissent discouraged “The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned” — Antonio Gramsci. In the smokescreen of secondary issues and non-issues with which we are daily blanketed by the media, it is easy to lose sight of the central importance of the counter-insurgency campaigns being waged to save the citizens and the … Continue reading The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned