Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi Zia’s policies produced a generation whose intellectual and psychological ties are weak with Pakistan as a nation-state and it invariably views the domestic and international processes within religious parameters. The main discourse of this generation is Islamic-conservative, and greater emphasis on public display of religiousness Two mutually unrelated incidents last week show the growing dilemma of a large number of Pakistanis to relate themselves in a meaningful manner to the imperatives of citizenship of a nation-state. They may talk of Pakistan and its sovereignty when it is relevant to achieving their individual and group agendas or to … Continue reading Mullahs and the destruction of cricket in Pakistan

Indonesian extremists block horror film A man holds pirated DVDs of Indonesian horror movies at a streetside market in Jakarta. A new Indonesian horror movie about a menstruating ghost ran foul of the country’s highest Islamic body. –AFP Photo/Bay Ismoyo JAKARTA: Indonesian film producers said Friday they had withdrawn a horror-comedy movie about a menstruating ghost from cinemas due to threats from extremists. “We did this because the reaction to the film is outrageous. The situation is still tense,” K2K production house manager Evelin Hutagaol told AFP. “Hantu Puncak Datang Bulan” (The Menstruating Ghost of Puncak) was screened to a … Continue reading A Menstruating ghost, The Mullah and Indonesia!

Christians pray during a rally to condemn attacks on fellows Christians, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 in Karachi, Pakistan. — AP Photo Metropolitan Peshawar celebrates Christmas amidst terror Peshawar celebrates Christmas amidst terror WASHINGTON: Pakistan plans within this year to revise its laws against blasphemy, which have long been criticised as a way to abuse minorities, a government minister said. Shahbaz Bhatti, minister for minority affairs, said religious reconciliation was a little-noticed priority for President Asif Ali Zardari’s civilian government in Pakistan, which lies on the frontline of the US-led war against extremism. Bhatti, a long-time Roman Catholic activist whose position … Continue reading Minority affairs’ minister sees blasphemous blasphemy law revision this year – Mullahs will stoke fire

Smokers’ Corner: Right click for revolution By Nadeem F. Paracha Anyone questioning the padded extremism and soft authoritarianism peddled by enlightened moderation is a liberal extremist who is undermining religion and promoting corrupt politicians and violent ethnic thugs. Just what exactly was Pervez Musharraf’s ‘enlightened moderation’? Though vague, it did seem to have enough bite to at least create (a malformed) narrative amongst a new generation of young middle-class urbanites. If you observe closely much of what is being emitted by this section of society, you can safely suggest that ‘enlightened moderation’ was, at best, a heavily padded and soft … Continue reading Right click for revolution in Pakistan

By Kunwar Idris “There is a solution for rehabilitating both law and order and railways in Pakistan. We have Lalus and Kumars among us. It is the system that is in disarray.” – Photo by APP. Law and order and the railways were among the best of our colonial inheritance. But they were squandered after independence. Today, they are arguably among the worst services that Pakistan renders to its citizens. In the colonial era, people were not free because they were British subjects but they were secure in their homes. While travelling they had the assurance that the train would … Continue reading Nostalgia for colonial era

By Huma Yusuf Women weep for relatives, who were killed in the attack on a bus travelling to a religious procession, during their funeral in Karachi February 6, 2010. – Photo by Reuters. Coming on the heels of the Ashura tragedy, the two blasts in Karachi on Friday are a reminder that sectarian violence poses one of the greatest threats to Pakistani society. Well over 4,000 people have been killed in the past two decades in sectarian — involving primarily Shias and Sunnis — violence. Although no group has claimed responsibility for Friday’s attacks, fingers are pointing at banned sectarian … Continue reading Takfiri Mullahs make an intolerant and backward society

Through a Jungian Lens Beyond Good and Evil – Apologies to F.W. Nietzsche Moments before dawn the moon descends behind the trees on a hill to the west.  With the dawn and sunlight, the ghosts and presences that hint at evil are banished so that the good will rightfully claim its place in the light of day.  As a child and in all the years since, the world has taught me that there is good and evil.  Good wears white and evil wears black.  Evil feeds at night while good celebrates in the sunshine.  Think of the white knight versus the … Continue reading Beyond Good and Evil – Apologies to F.W. Nietzsche

Dead or Alive? BY JOSHUA E. KEATING FPR HAKIMULLAH MEHSUD Location: Pakistan Last appearance: Last video released Jan. 9. Audiotape released Jan. 16. The evidence: U.S. drones have had a number of near misses with the Pakistani Taliban leader, who generally releases a videotape after a failed strike to taunt his pursuers. But after drone strikes aimed at Mehsud on Jan. 14 and 17, White House officials say they are “95 percent” sure that he was killed. The Taliban denies that Mehsud was killed but has offered little proof — only a short audiotape. They have declined to provide further … Continue reading Five world leaders who may or may not still be with us.

Posted By Stephen M. Walt If today’s New York Times was reporting accurately, you should be very skeptical of anything that Afghan commander General Stanley McChrystal says. Not because he’s inherently dishonest, mind you, but because misleading everyone about the situation in Afghanistan may be part of his strategy for victory. To be specific, today’s Times also contains an article with the headline “Top U.S. Commander Sees Progress in Afghanistan.” It quotes McChrystal as follows: “I am not prepared to say that we have turned the corner. So I’m saying the situation is serious, but I think we have made … Continue reading General McChrystal says we shouldn’t believe him