by Eefa Khalid dawn Among the various encroachments on Pakistan’s footpaths are the bright-kurta clad local fortune-tellers sitting with their parrots picking up ‘fate’ cards for their customers. This old practice has been flourishing in various ways; some of them grab a small space on the footpath and use parrots to pick an answer while others read palms. Some reach the elite by sitting at different restaurants and hotels, offering their skills through tarot reading, palmistry and numerology. But the questions are typically the same; revolving around health and marriage mostly. The pursuit of knowing things is an undefined part … Continue reading The pursuit of happiness

By Masud Alam dawn.com Pakistani villagers watch breaking news on the Indian court verdict against the sole surviving gunman of the Mumbai massacre, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, at a house in the remote town of Faridkot on May 3, 2010. — AFP FARIDKOT: The comment itself was quite innocuous. The voice tone was balanced and the expression clear and un-halting. And yet there was something conspiratorial about it. “Indians have demonstrated double standards in the case of Ajmal Kasab. The Pakistani suspect gets four death sentences and the Indian suspects go free. It’s a shame for all Pakistanis and specially … Continue reading Tell-tale silence in Faridkot

Dawn Editorial Sadly, our security establishment only acts when Pakistani or Pakistan-based militants attack or threaten to attack others. –Photo by APP The recovery of jihadi paraphernalia from a Karachi mosque is a sobering reminder that militant outfits are quietly carrying on their business in Pakistan. Copies of computerised national ID cards and alien registration cards belonging to Afghan nationals and local supporters of the Jaish-i-Muhammad were also confiscated by law-enforcement officials from the mosque. The material seized in the raid, carried out in the wake of the failed Times Square bomb plot, included speeches of Jaish leader Masood Azhar, … Continue reading Jihadi infrastructure

By Sanaullah Baloch dawn.com While remote-controlling the province via civil armed forces may breed more resentment and violence, support for apolitical tribal chiefs as an alternative against the popular Baloch leadership will solely promote corruption, bad governance and will lead to a harmful future. — Photo by Reuters The situation in Balochistan has reached its lowest ebb since the military operation that began in January 2005. The entire province is besieged: the provincial government has been abandoned while the centre is directing policies according to its will with the gun and the stick, terming this ‘development’ for the people’s betterment. … Continue reading Balochistan: a flawed policy

dawn.com “I am actually encouraged from what I have seen from the Pakistani govt over the last several months,” said the US president. — File Photo by Reuters WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Wednesday he was “encouraged” by Pakistan’s anti-extremist efforts, but warned the operation to flush out militants would take time. “I think what you have seen over the last several months is a growing recognition that they have a cancer in their midst,” Obama said. “I am actually encouraged from what I have seen from the Pakistani government over the last several months. “But just as it’s … Continue reading Obama praises Pakistan’s anti-militant push

Cameron’s cabinet: A guide to who’s who Details of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government are beginning to emerge. Here is a guide to the key cabinet posts confirmed so far. PRIME MINISTER – DAVID CAMERON Conservative David Cameron was virtually unknown outside Westminster when he was elected Tory leader in December 2005 at the age of 39. The Old Etonian had dazzled that year’s party conference with his youthful dynamism and charisma, reportedly telling journalists he was the “heir to Blair”. He has sought to match the former PM by putting the Conservatives at the centre ground of British politics. … Continue reading The Cabinet: A guide to who’s who (- so far its looking good :))

// Radical hypersonic glider vanishes above Pacific Envelope pushed a bit too hard, perhaps By Lewis Page • Get more from this author Posted in Space, 27th April 2010 13:16 GMT Some details are beginning to emerge regarding the failure of an advanced US military hypersonic glider test above the Pacific last week. However, a complete picture of what happened to the HTV-2 test platform may never appear, as communications with it were lost early in the flight. That’s the last time I’m letting you drive The HTV-2 was a relatively simple craft as hypersonic experiments go, being intended to test … Continue reading Aliens did ‘not’ nick hypersonic glider above Pacific

Christian Right’s Favorite Muslim Convert Exposed as Jihadi Fraud from alertnet.org Liberty Seminary President Ergun Caner claims he traveled the road ‘from jihad to Jesus,’ but Baptist bloggers say his stories of terrorist training are false. May 10, 2010 | LIKE THIS ARTICLE ? Join our mailing list: Sign up to stay up to date on the latest Immigration headlines via email. // Petitions by Change.org|Get Widget|Start a Petition » EDITOR’S NOTE: Since AlterNet’s publication of this story earlier in the day, Liberty University announced the formation of a committee to investigate the allegations against Ergun Caner, president of the … Continue reading Christian Extremisms Favorite Muslim Convert Exposed as Jihadi Fraud