Category: Politics

  • The image that led to the ransacking of the Shanakht Festival

    The controversial image of the Shanaakht Festival has been taken down from this post due to repeated insistence of the organizers as they continue to receive threats from various sources, so in light of the seriousness of the issue I must condemn these instigators but take down these images for the sake of public safety.…

  • The Long Road to Talibanisation

    By Nosheen Ali Published initially in The News on April 7th 2009 The crisis in FATA and Swat has increasingly become reduced to a narrative of the evil Taliban versus the helpless state and society. That the Taliban have instituted a horrendous regime of terror is beyond question. But it is evasive and dangerous to…

  • An Incomplete Revolution

    by Ameer Bhutto son of Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto Given the repeated sellouts and betrayals of politicians masquerading as awami leaders, it is a miracle that Pakistan has not only survived but still holds the possibility to flourish, given some measure of integrity and honesty in those who haunt the corridors of power. But though the…

  • Pakistan Youth Alliance – A Ray of Light In Darkness

    I grew up in a country plagued with uncertainty. A country whose bases of formation, clear as a mirror are fogged by stains of provincialism, sectarianism, feudalism, terrorism and exploitation. The high frequency of crisis which this piece of land has seen in its nascent years has resulted in an exodus of people who would…

  • Imran Khan’s political ‘short selling’

    Guest Blog by Islamabad Observer Short selling is a term widely used in financial world and equity markets. In simple words it is promise of selling something which you don’t own actually. Every year many traders gather fortune through short selling. Infect last year half of top 1000 richest of the world were traders and…

  • The ultimate FATA and PATA policy

    Guest Blog by Insocuient Much has been already written criticizing the performance of the government in FATA areas as Pakistan fights as the ‘major non-NATO ally’ of the U.S. in this so-called ‘war on terror’. Discussions have largely been focused on the growing resentment against collateral damage and the increasing extremism that is now engulfing…

  • Swat Flogging and PTI’s Stand

    Guest blog by Dr. Arif Alvi Secretary General Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf There has been a lot of sadness and condemnation of the Swat flogging incident. The day on which Mr Imran Khan’s statement was issued by me there were many press reports in Frontier newspapers in which some elements of the Taliban had condemned the incident…

  • 23rd March Parade, went Missing, so what!

    Guest Blog by Omar Javaid The Parade on 23rd march was canceled by the prime minister out of austerity. The cancellation was announced a couple of week back. Then 23rd march came and went without the grand event which was considered the hallmark of this day. It was astonishing to see the legacy getting broken…

  • Political Insights into PTI & MQM

    Faisal K of Deadpanthoughts has initiated a very interesting political series where he poses hard hitting questions to various political parties and then publishes a post. His previous effort on MQM generated some heated discussions while the latest Q&A on PTI with Firdous Shamim Naqvi, a PTI CEC member who shares some candid responses on…

  • I Told You So – by Mumtaz Ali Bhutto

    This article was sent via email claiming that it has been banned from publication in newspapers by the Zardari government, as it has issued directives to all news agencies preventing the publication of all articles by Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto. His previous article Choas & Collapse was also prevented from going into print Readers will…

  • More drones and more suicide attacks – Where are we going?

    Guest Post by Insouciant As the new Afghan-Pakistan policy of Obama is unfolding it is now evident that the drones attack will be an essential part of it. Another drone attack in Orakzai agency was carried out yesterday that left nearly 14 dead and several injured. The victims included foreign militants, locals, women and children.…

  • Zardaris upcoming Joint Session speech – 58-2(b) & the 17th?

    President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to grace and address the Joint Session of the two houses, in preparation Mr. Asif Zardari made a swift preparatory powder and puff exit to Dubai while his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has in turn made his way to Pakistan and will most likely expected to grace the visitors…

  • The Politics of Containers

    Guest Blog by Naeem Sadiq Published in Dawn, Sunday, 22 Mar, 2009 Containers were originally used for the transportation of goods. Today they still carry goods but only when not being utilised in the service of the state. In the absence of a more rational argument, the weight, size and shape of a container provides…

  • Judiciary is restored! What’s next?

    Guest Blog by Naeem ur Rehman Lawyers have achieved their historic objective after the restoration of the Judiciary on March 16, 2009 and now they can get on with their lives and profession. The question is what lies ahead of PML-N, PPP and us as a nation. As we are quite aware that this is…

  • Pakistan is the ‘Most Dangerous Country’ – Rethink Afghanistan

    The Brave New Foundation has launched an effort Rethink Afghanistan to better help the American people understand the ongoing problem in Afghanistan and has produced the second video in its initiative. In the second video Bruce Riedel the leading foreign policy expert for President Obama’s Afghanistan review, has called it “the most dangerous country in…