Bilawal Zardari is a spoiled brat. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, spent most of his time in the nightclubs of London but now he wants to lead the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He made his debut by condemning the Taliban and called the Islamic Sharia a throwback to the Stone Ages.
Who was behind the kidnapping of Pakistani anti-drone activist Kareem Khan from his house in Islamabad? He told a press conference after his release that 20 men, some wearing police uniforms kidnapped him in the middle of the night. Khan was about to leave for Europe where he was to testify before European parliaments about the massive civilian casualties caused by US drone strikes. He lost a brother and son to such strikes in 2009.
The Pakistani Taliban have put forward a set of proposals for negotiations through their nominees (shown in photo). Will the Pakistan government respond positively or unleash its media dogs to discredit it without even looking at the proposals? Some points may not be workable but others should be seriously considered if the government wants to bring an end to the chaos that has engulfed the country.
Aitizaz Hassan, a 15-year-old boy who sacrificed his own life to save 2,000 fellow students has been hailed a hero in Pakistan. He tackled a suicide bomber on January 6 outside his school and prevented him from detonating his bomb inside that would almost certainly have killed most of the students present there. He has been awarded Sitara-e Shujjat, Pakistan's highest civilian award, posthumously.
Pakistan under Nawaz Sharif is trying to wriggle out of its commitment to build the gas pipeline from Iran. Sharif has close links with the Saudis and the Americans. Neither wants the pipeline.
The once strongman and military dictator of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf is a worried man these days. Under house arrest since April, he faces a number of charges, the latest being treason that could send him to the gallows. While this is highly unlikely, his fall from grace and humiliation offer salutary lessons for would-be dictators.
The US continues to murder innocent people in Pakistan under what it describes as targeting “militants.” No proof is ever provided; what the US says, goes. Under mounting public pressure, Pakistan has said it will raise the issue at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Will the Washington warlords listen, or care?
The apartheid disease is spreading even if it ended in South Africa nearly two decades ago. The Zionists have continued their apartheid policy on the Occupied West Bank by building a separation wall and now the Indian occupiers of Kashmir plan to build a similar wall. As usual, the excuse is to keep Kashmiri militants from “infiltrating” into its side. The Kashmiris have never accepted India's occupation of the state.
The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is trying to wriggle out of its agreement with Iran to construct the gas pipeline that would provide major relief to energy starved Pakistan. Industrial production has been badly affected by shortage of electricity with many industrialists shutting their factories and relocating abroad. The people of Pakistan have historical suffered at the hands of incompetent and selfish rulers.
Droning innocents to death in Pakistan is official US policy. This is implemented by US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on behalf of Barack Obama who has escalated drone strikes alarmingly since becoming president. Hagel was in Islamabad today to insist the drone attacks would continue while the people of Pakistan are adamantly opposed to them. There have been protests for several weeks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to get such attacks stopped.
Most Muslims do not subscribe to the divisive ideology of hate and killings among different schools of thought in Islam. This, however, needs serious effort to bring the majority together and to isolate the hate-propagating minority. In recent weeks, some tentative steps have been taken that are likely to yield positive results. Unity and harmony in the Ummah are desperately needed to overcome the myriad problems confronting Muslims.
Contrary to popular misunderstanding, Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan but about the right of the Kashmiris to determine their own future. This has been recognized under International law and enshrined in several United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The US has become addicted to killing innocents with drones but ultimately, it is the responsibility of the Pakistani government to protect its people.
Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI), the party headed by cricket-star-turned politician Imran Khan, has named CIA director John Brennen and the CIA station chief in Islamabad, Craig Osth as the principal accused in the murder of six people in a drone strike on a madrassa in Tall, Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district. PTI Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari made the announcement at a press conference in Islamabad on Monday.
People's anger over continued US drone strikes was evident in the massive rally organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) party led by Imran Khan. Tens of thousands blocked the ring road in Peshawar leading to Torkham border with Afghanistan. They demanded an immediate end to drone strikes that have killed thousands of people in Pakistan since they were first launched in 2004.
he choice of Pakistan's new army chief has the chattering classes in a tizzy. Who will get the nod: will it be Lt Gen Haroon Aslam, Lt Gen Rashad Mahmood, Lt Gen Tariq Khan or Lt Gen Raheel Sharif? In less than 10 days, people will find out but the question on everyone's mind though not uttered is whether the new chief would keep out of politics.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced in Islamabad today that the government would press treason charges against General Pervez Musharraf. The charges relate to Musharraf's suspension of the constitution, imposition of a state of emergency and the sacking of judges that refused to provide legal cover to his illegal moves in 2007. Most people, however, are skeptical about whether Musharraf would be punished.
Drones have become the weapon of choice for the US because no American casualties are involved. If innocents are killed, that is just “collateral damage”.
The manner in which the plight of two Pakistani girls—Malala and Nabeela—has been addressed or not addressed, says much about the West’s policies and values.
It is unusual for military men to be tried for their crimes. General Pervez Musharraf is unlucky in this respect when he decided to return to Pakistan last March. Who advised him to do so? While on trial for the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and possible charges of treason, his chances of being imprisoned much less hanged are considered very low.
