Salman Tarik Kureshi Incompetent or do-nothing or internally divided parliaments, however constitutionally or otherwise appointed, failed to satisfy the people’s demands. They therefore left a vacuum of effectiveness, into which stepped the more action-oriented, better organised institutions: the civil bureaucracy and the army Poor President Zardari! Here, on the one hand, he is the duly (and, moreover, constitutionally) elected president, the heir anointed of his martyred wife, deeply involved in the processes of rescuing the nation from the follies of his predecessor and the violence of the extremists. However, on the other hand, his name is rapidly becoming a term … Continue reading The land of the Higher Twits! An elite conflict in Pakistan

Posted by Amber Rahim Shamsi  Asim just wanted a nice romantic dinner with his wife. It was their ninth wedding anniversary and a new Japanese restaurant had opened in the Diplomatic Enclave. Run by a former Marriott chef Terry, whom Asim knew well, Kampai was where the couple wanted to wine and dine. Chef Terry insists on reservations for the weekends, so Asim made his. And to make sure the evening would not run afoul of security personnel, he asked the chef and owner what kind of numbers he had to provide to get in. Asim is no stranger to … Continue reading Separating the yolks from the whites

By Baqir Sajjad Syed Nirupama Rao expressed Indian government’s willingness to discuss issues besides terrorism which would remain the focus of the parleys.— Reuters photo World India changes tune; offers high-level talks ISLAMABAD: Renewed international pressure and growing realisation in New Delhi that the rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan could deprive it of its strategic leverage in the region has forced the sudden change of heart in India regarding ties with Pakistan, according to diplomats and analysts. “It was being increasingly felt by strategists in New Delhi that after recent conferences on Afghanistan that endorsed President Hamid Karzai’s plan for … Continue reading Why India came back to the negotiating table

The lessons of history By Irfan Husain Cumulative misinterpretations of past events have made the Americans hugely unpopular with Pakistanis. –File Photo Is there — can there ever be — such a thing as accurate, objective history? If history is a true record of the past, how do we know we can trust the record-keepers? And years later, as historians sift through the past, can they be depended on not to let their own biases creep in? As a student of history, I have long been fascinated with the problem of ascertaining which set of facts about the past to … Continue reading The Takfiri Mullahs are a direct threat to Muslims and Islam in Pakistan

Pakistanis attend a funeral prayer of the victims of Friday’s bombing in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. – AP Pakistan Government must target militants in Karachi: MQM KARACHI: Thousands of people Saturday attended the funeral of 14 people killed in Friday’s double  bomb attack in Karachi, as the death toll from the assault rose overnight to 31. “Six more people died overnight, raising the death toll to 31,” provincial government spokesman Jameel Soomro told AFP. He said at least 170 wounded people were being treated at various hospitals around Karachi. At a funeral Saturday for some of those … Continue reading Mullahs silent and smiling as thousands attend funeral as death toll rises to 31

ORAKZAI AGENCY: Taliban commander Noor Jamal alias Toofan Mullah has been declared as new caretaker chief of banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistab by Taliban Shura, SAMAA reported Wednesday. Taliban Shura met at the area of Argonga in Mamozai. Taliban Shura decided to appoint Noor Jamal alias Toofan Mullah as the new caretaker chief of banned outfit TTP. Taliban commander Noor Jamal alias Toofan Mullah was the commander of Orakzai Agency and Kurrum Agency. Noor Jamal alias Toofan Mullah have been involved in torturing common people and beheading his own companions. Toofan Mullah is very famous in Taliban for his militant thinking. … Continue reading ‘Toofan Mullah!’ as new TTP caretaker chief Takfiri Terror Mullah in Pakistan

New digital tools, such as RjDj and MXP4, are set to transform the way we listen to music from a passive to fully interactive experience. By Emma Barnett, Technology and Digital Media Correspondent RjDj joined forces with Little Boots last year to launch an iPhone app which allows her music to be altered by people’s environments. Photo: RjDj Despite the rapid evolution of music media in the past 30 years, from vinyl to MP3s, the industry is acutely aware that the way we listen to music has hardly changed – it has remained a passive process, allowing little interactivity. The … Continue reading The future sound of music

Equality: a two way street Religious minorities rightly demand freedom from discrimination. But they must offer the same in return Tehmina Kazi guardian.co.uk, The question: Does faith trump equality? The government’s recent defeat on religious exemptions in the equality bill has propelled us into difficult, yet depressingly familiar, terrain. How do we make our way through the panoply of groups that comprise society, and preserve a balance between the conflicting interests that arise? According to the pope, the balance has swung too far in favour of non-religious groups. In a speech to UK-based Catholic bishops this week, he claimed that … Continue reading Religious poeple rightly demand freedom from discrimination. But they must offer the same in return

S Khalid Husain The Punjab chief secretary left the scene of the accident after his chauffeur-driven vehicle knocked down and killed an ex-army officer; this was a cold-blooded act no different from that of a hit-and-run driver. This was a grave error on part of the chief secretary and speaks volumes for the arrogance and colonial mindset of the country’s bureaucrats. Maybe saying ‘colonial mindset’ is being unfair to the colonial civil servant, who would never have left the scene, and never mind if he was not driving, without making absolutely certain that the victim was fully tended, in good … Continue reading Hit and left to die