Category: Musharraf

  • Romancing Glory – legacy of General Zia ul Huq

    In my childhood whenever we were asked what would you become when you grow up. The most common answers included joining the army or becoming a pilot (fighter). It may be because the 80s were spent under General Zia’s dictatorship. Later, it was the turn of being a Mujahid, fuelled by the Pakistani romance with…

  • The Deal Undone: Pakistan, its Army and the Americans

    The deal undone explores the strenuous relationship between the Pakistan – US military establishments. The documentary analyzes a specific period in the history of this relationship during the, following the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. From the heights of friendship during the early years of the war on terror to the falling out with the…

  • Bang-e-Dara “Mushie Tushie” with Faisal Qureshi & Awab Alvi

    On October 1st I was invited by Fasial Qureshi on his show Bang-e-Dara on TVOne to discuss the earlier annoucnoment by Pervaiz Musharrraf to re-enter Pakistani politics. I believe we had a field day, watch the show

  • Mesmerization of Pakistani Politics

    Guest blog by Agha Haider Raza Politics in Pakistan mesmerize me. Not only does one enjoy the daily dose of rhetoric that is spewed from the mouths of our beloved politicians, but the one track mind of those in and out of government baffles the mind. Politics in Pakistan, much like the political parties themselves…

  • 16 Dec decision of Supreme Court – A Critical Analysis

    By Barrister Amjad Malik 16 Dec Supreme Court short order was an expected response of superior judiciary. Federation and all provinces through their lawyers jointly consented to its repeal, and none came to rescue the beneficiaries and even academic discussion was not made possible on the topic of powers to issue and right course of…

  • NRO declared Null and Void – What Now?

    After a lapse of over two years, today a full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan came through with a historic judgment declaring the 2007 National Reconciliatory Ordinance null and void. It must be recalled that the NRO was the mastermind of the then President of Pakistan General Pervaiz Musharraf who in October 2007…

  • He who is Not a Sinner should Cast the First Stone

    By: Amjad Malik, MA, LLM I have been vehemently advocating the need to erect a system of accountability by invoking a new commission and an Act of Parliament to curb mal practice, plundering and looting whilst one is holding a public office. This new Commission can truly ensure compliance with the Clauses of Article 62…

  • So what it’s just the NRO!

    By: Agha Haider Raza So the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) beneficiaries list comes out.  The media is happy that those persons who enjoyed taking advantage of the NRO have light casted upon them, while the government is trying to push forward the argument of how they have respected the Supreme Court’s judgment and have publicized…

  • MQM’s 3800 Criminal Cases withdrawn under the NRO

    The NRO mudslinging competition continues to go on, each party/individual boldly underplaying his/her own association with the controversial bill. What seriously amazes me, is that we still do not have access to the full and complete list of beneficiaries and are at the receiving end of confusing reports where the totals have seemingly fluctuated from…

  • The NRO (Dis)Honor Roll

    Much has been discussed about the in-famous National Reconciliatory Ordinance where 5,800 crooks were pardoned by the then President Pervaiz Mushrraf as an attempt to broker a deal for his own extended stay as the President of Pakistan. This NRO in effect opened the flood gates to allow thousands of white collar criminals and murderers…

  • Dictators and their Sons

    Guest Post by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla I have no experience of dealing with dictators or even their sons. Our generation however witnessed the brutality of former dictator Zia ul Haq against media, civil society, poets, writers and political workers. It has been two decades since former dictator burned in skies and things have changed drastically.…

  • Supreme Court overturns Nov 3rd Emergency by Musharraf

    In mammoth decision yesterday late evening – the Chief Justice of Pakistan Honorable Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry and a bench of 12 Supreme Court Judges passed an order declaring the actions of Nov 3rd 2007 Invalid and unconstitutional. This comes after a struggle of over one year and 270 days since that fateful date in November…

  • Gen. Musharraf’s re-launch from Britain, a Challenge to Democrats

    General Musharraf , no doubt is counting on the follies of the signatories of ‘Charter of democracy’ which is the core reason of his re launch from UK. He could not successfully achieve any one item of his 7 points agenda when he came in power on 12 October 1999 and he is now coming…

  • ‘Judicial Coup’ Democracy in Pakistan is under threat

    Long term military dictatorships, shorter civilian rules, where accountability of politicians takes place on the name of corruption with the nexus of judges with civil & military establishment, is the destiny of Pakistan’. Thanks to our rulers as this notion is well supported by their inefficiencies. People came whenever the true leadership called. They came…

  • Judicial Taliban

    Lawyers have emerged as a great force in Pakistan who carries weight in the future law making and day to day running of the judiciary as well as executive in the country. Pakistan’s short history is full of lawyer’s contributions and in particular judges who never bow before a dictator to take oath under any…