I was not privy to the US OBL operation

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Ever since the Memo scandal broke, our media mongers, whose previous almost daily predictions over the past four years about the demise of the democratic government had fallen flat, seem to have got yet another dose of oxygen in their life-support system. They are now hallucinating and misusing some of my first reactions following OBL operation on May 2, 2011, to launch a charge sheet against me. A section of the media has even ignored all professional ethics by twisting my clarifications to the media. They have been resorting to cherry picking from my comments to various channels subsequent to Osama's killing. The media has ignored the mysterious circumstances in which Osama was killed. I would like to remind them that initially everything was overly shrouded in ambiguity following the OBL operation. Pakistan's security institutions were subjected to most humiliating comments by some of the leading....

A progressive and liberal Pakistan will be the best tribute to Begum Nusrat Bhutto

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As I sit down to write a sort of obituary of Begum Nusrat Bhutto, I find my eyes dried of tears. Before me rolls a life of sacrifices that cannot be measured in words. Neither can we compare it with that of any one. Not many suffered as she - as a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grand mother and godmother to an entire nation especially those under-privileged who found in her a voice for themselves. It was not just that - on March 23,1929, to Isphanis of Karachi was born a daughter, Nusrat Khanum, and that destiny chose her to be the great woman behind two of the greatest leaders of our time - Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and martyred Benazir Bhutto. Begum Sahiba's life was a tragedy worst compounded. She continued many years to suffer in silence - unaware of the brutal assassination of her dearest....

President Zardari's transformation

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President Zardari has been frequently targeted by the media whether being the head of the Pakistan Peoples Party or as president. His politics has become the subject of innumerable commentaries touching at times the boundaries of impoliteness. While offering their views on political issues being tackled by the democratic government a few commentators even suggest unconstitutional remedies which have historically been responsible for political instability, disintegration and miscarriage of socio-economic justice in the country. The most recent commentaries are a kind of a satire about the person of President Zardari, who, in their wisdom, has outmatched Mian Nawaz Sharif, and also outplayed the extra-constitutional forces. The crux of this argument hinges on their frustration at the equilibrium attained by the country's polity in allowing room to all stakeholders to play their constitutional role - be they in the opposition or the armed forces. One....

Pakistan: Floods again

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Pakistan's socio-economic life was topsy-turveyed by devastating floods last year described four times deadlier than Asian tsunami. While it was yet struggling to get back one-fifth of the country's population and land inundated by water on its feet, it has again been hit by torrential rains and flooding of enormous magnitude. This time its second largest province - Sindh - has had the worst of rain and floods have wreaked havoc. Approximately five million lives have been uprooted besides causing huge devastation to livestock and standing crops. Hundreds of people have lost their lives; over four million acres of land is under water; 2.5 million acres of crops have been destroyed; and over a million houses have been damaged or washed away. The situation is worsening with forecast of more widespread rains in the area. Initial estimates paint a grim picture with economic losses caused by....

Karachi: Need of the hour

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My eyes have dried of tears over Karachi killings and my heart is full of vow. It is my city where I grew up and lived best of my life. Now the city is bleeding, not because of ideological or party differences, but being a hostage to thugs, mafias and, of course, terrorists who want to establish their control over it. Its horrendous plight being a legacy of the dictators, political parties regretfully are being blamed for the rot. The immediate remedy prescribed by quake zealots is to bring peace by inducting army in Karachi. There is no doubt that rampant killings are on. The victims are voiceless common people. They do not make big headlines; they are merely numbers for the newspapers and TV channels. There is no doubt that law and order is a provincial subject. Sind government needs to do more to improve its law....

Revisiting Bhutto's "reconciliation"

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For me she is still around. Though conspirators against democracy, empowerment of the less privileged, perpetrators of obscurantism, extremism, bigotry, interfaith conflicts and doomsayers of the clash of civilisations had thought that by physically eliminating Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 they had changed the course of history in their own favour. Now when I look back and join millions in remembering her on her birthday anniversary (born June 21, 1953) I feel how wrong her opponents were. Earth-shaking events following her assassination have turned the tide in giving birth to a new world order. Take Pakistan's case as an example. By sacrificing her life her pristine blood has been responsible for the rebirth and blossoming of democracy. Never before in Pakistan's roller-coaster journey through various phases that included long periods of dictatorship, did we ever succeeded in practising politics of consensus, national reconciliation and totality in support to....

OBL: Victory out of the jaws of defeat

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Dead Osama bin Laden's (OBL) ghost has struck again claiming over 80 lives in Charsaddah. As a consequence of May 2 Abbottabad episode such incidents are not unexpected. Pakistani nation, its leadership and military shall have to brace themselves more for such tragedies. In normal circumstances elimination of OBL, should have been a cause for relief since he symbolised global terrorism. The UN Security Council resolutions 1267 and 1373 provided the necessary legal framework for taking OBL to account. This objective was achieved on 2nd May 2011. However, within hours of the operation the media onslaught against Pakistan left bitter taste in the mouth. Was it a deliberate attempt to malign Islamabad to pressurise it to "do more" or was it aimed at diverting the attention from the main debate. After OBL's killing, Pakistan is in debate as to how he could live in a garrison town without....

Pakistan: Beyond the Crisis State

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Since Pakistan has been in the eye of the storm, many books are being published on the future of the state. Not many are objective while others are overly subjective. In a book 'Pakistan - Beyond the Crisis State' by eminent scholars edited by Dr Maleeha Lodhi, a sincere attempt has been made to set the record straight. The contributor and compiler of the book Dr Maleeha Lodhi needs no introduction. She made her mark in journalism, academic life and as an ambassador too. Her own analysis in the book makes it an interesting reading. The book is timely and helps the readers to understand -- to a great extent -- how we have slipped into the eye of the storm. Despite what the doomsayers have been forecasting about the future of Pakistan, the message of hope in the book dispels most of the apprehensions about Pakistan being a failed....

Will Pakistan go Middle East way?

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Patience should be the name of the game if political stability is intended across the board in Pakistan. In politics stability comes through institutions. Unfortunately, during six decades of our independent existence there have been so many extra-constitutional interventions-- Praetorian instigated and backed by civil and judicial bureaucracy-that the democratic and liberal sense of direction chosen for us by the founding fathers was waylaid. We, however, forget--notwithstanding military interventions-that extra-constitutional interruptions drew strength from their respective institutions while political leaders and elected representatives did not contribute towards strengthening the institution of Parliament or media that could withstand a political crisis and serve as fountain-head of all power. This view is least intended to malign any one. To the credit of political leadership, indeed, is their dauntless determination to withstand dictatorial onslaughts and to never give legitimacy to dictators despite the machinations of Trojan horses in their ranks and files. ....

Cameron's visit to Pakistan

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Prime Minister David Cameron made a landmark visit recently to Pakistan. It has gone a long way in reinforcing and cementing the profound relationship enjoyed by the two countries despite a negative perception created in a section of media. His categorical pronouncement that "Pakistan-UK relationships are unbreakable" not only echoed the true feeling shared by the rationale minds in the two countries-it is rather a manifestation of confidence and trust shared by the two nations. With over a million Diaspora and approximately 1.4 million visits annually by the people on both sides how such a bonding can be ignored. This visit had its importance in many ways in consolidating Pakistan-UK relationship. It was the first visit of Mr. Cameron to Pakistan after becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. His meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani further reinvigorated the strong relationship....