Political reforms needed in Pakistan to bring peace

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On a late evening at the Cooney Island in Brooklyn area, popularly known as little Pakistan of New York City, a group of Pakistan-origin Americans at a restaurant listen to Iqbal's masterpiece Shiqwa, where the poet laments the God for the plight of Muslims. The group's sudden interest in Shiqwa written by Iqbal, national poet of Pakistan who is popularly given the title of Shakespeare of the east, was not surprising. The lament of Pakistan Americans is with the ruling elite who acted with rare consistency of being autocrats when in power. New York City is home to .2 million people of Pakistan origin. The city is also the place where the Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari lived during his years of exile. For Zardari and his more famous wife, late Benazir Bhutto, the engagement with the Pakistani diaspora was part of political activities which the exiled leaders....

Abdullah Anew

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After more than two decades, the National Conference and Congress have come together to govern Jammu & Kashmir. Will the alliance deliver? "The party needs a young and energetic person at the helm of affairs. It's time for me to rest. Omar will be the next National Conference president," longtime National Conference President Farooq Abdullah had announced at an April 2002 meeting of the party's working committee before the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections were held that year. It was only seven years later that the father's wish came true. On 5 January 2009, at 38 years of age, Omar Abdullah became the youngest chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir. Despite their continued political prominence, the past decade has been a rocky ride for the Abdullahs. At the national level, in 2002 Farooq Abdullah's hopes of being nominated for a vice-presidential term by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led....

Omar's Journey

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"To accept that the man (Farooq Abdullah) will accept anything that you throw at him like some sort of grateful dog waiting for scrap is to add salt to the wounds you have inflicted", Omar Abdullah said in an interview to a TV channel much to the dismay of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The statement of then 32-year-old Omar Abdullah in June 2002 demonstrated his political immaturity. Actually the statement was adding salt to the wounds of the already alienated people of Kashmir as it only proved that National Conference's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was for getting family benefits rather than based on sound political reasoning and convictions. Exactly six years later, Omar made a remarkable speech on the occasion of no confidence motion in the Indian Parliament against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. His core argument was....

Religious extremists make him live a life of oblivion

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Religious extremists make him live a life of oblivion Songs of Haroon Bacha, a Pashtoon singer living-in-exile, have been plagiarized by India's Bollywood, one of the largest cinemas of the world, and he is the darling of thirty-seven- million Pashtu speaking population living on both sides of the Durand Line which divides Pakistan and Afghanistan. Here in New York he is living a life of virtual non-existence as his only introduction to fame and his legendary status is the microscopic Pashtoon diaspora of both Pakistan and Afghanistan settled in New York. "I do not belong to this place. My source of inspiration is the land where I belong to and the people I live with. I cannot go there due to threats, " says Bacha who came here on a tourist visa three-months back after being threatened by the religious zealots in North Western Frontier Province of Pakistan.....

When New York became a political laboratory

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Insurmountable challenges face Barrack Obama after his ascendancy to the White House. Executive skills and the factor of chance will determine whether he will be able to meet raised expectations and the hopes of his country and even the rest of the world. But his victory has already brought a transformation what no policy imperative will be able to bring in the decades to come. A simultaneous process of political empowerment and reconciliation to which I was a personal witness in the streets of New York on the intervening night of November 4 and November 5. New York streets on that historic night symbolised a political laboratory where the ideas of political empowerment and reconciliation engaged and converged. The world saw outpouring of emotions and celebrations. The narrative and scenes I heard and saw in the streets pointed to me the importance of the event for....

From Republican supporter to Republican baiter

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Traditionally Republican supporters, Muslim Americans have swung over to Democrats in the 2008 U.S. Elections with the youth of the community being the principle drivers of the electoral shift. "It feels great to vote for the first time. f I voted for McCain, it would have been voting for Bush in proxy with whom I have serious differences on various issues," says 20 year old Waquas Shaffi who studies in New York City's Hunter College where he's doing his under-graduate studies in information technology. Waquas belongs to the Muslim community of Brooklyn borough of New York City which according to a 2003 survey by Brooklyn based Council for People's Organisation has a total population of 190,000. Muslim American voters who till 2000 U.S. election used to vote for Republicans shifted their electoral allegiance to Democrats. According to Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) the number of American....

Economic crisis fails to deter Halloween celebrations

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Just like economic slow-down in India failed to dampen the spirit for Diwali, here in United States which is seeing one of the worst economic phases since 1929 Great Depression, the story was no different. Joe Sperrazza, 26, a full-time graduate student was scared that he may not get a study loan to pursue his studies but this failed to deter him to go shopping and prepare himself for the Halloween celebrations. "Economic crisis did affect me as banks are not approving my loan application for my second semester and it seems that it will be difficult for me to fund my studies the next semester. But this did not deter me from celebrating Halloween this year," said Joe. Joe spent $40 for his costume which was way up from the amount which he spent last year which was $19. Infact the....

US Elections and the World

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United States of America to use a cliche is a melting pot and it's a place where the people of diverse cultures and background live and dissolve into a common cultural, economic and political space. US elections come at a time when the world's image about the country is at the lowest ebb in the contemporary political history. Due to economic recession,the issue of US foreign policy may not be a primary issue in the election campaign but it retains its importance. Unlike the rest of the world, it's not difficult to find reasons for the importance of foreign policy in the US electoral arena. The country founded by immigrants still has large first-generation immigrant population who are directly or indirectly connected with their land of origin. The electoral process has initiated a debate about the role of US in world affairs and at the same time....

US economics crisis fails to impact Broadway Theaters

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Notwithstanding the unprecedented jobs cuts and economic recession in United States,the famous Broadway Theaters of New York City continue to attract packed house. Broadway Theaters in New York City is the prime destination for Theater lovers all over the world during the weekends. The amazing diversity of plays and artists coupled with extravaganza sets it apart from many theater destinations in the world. And even the financial crisis has failed to affect the Theater industry. "We are running packed house and even this month has been no different from the previous month," says a staffer at the famous Broadhurst Theater Joeyowes. Coming to theater is not just a random decision that the tourists take. "Theater in New York is lot more professional and enjoyable than in our area. So I had already listed it in my schedule before coming here. Our budget may be tight but leaving the....

US economic crisis worries the elite B-school students

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Economic crisis facing United States of America is leaving its impact on the employment prospects of the students including many Indian students studying in the top B-schools of the country. Getting admission into a B-school like New York University's prestigious Leonard N. Stern School of Business is competitive and the world's best make it to the school. The School's proximity to the Wall Street,the nerve centre of financial activity in US provides it a locational advantage.An average job for a Stern graduate is around $160,000 a year,way above the average US salary. But the recent economic crisis has changed the scenario as the students are finding it difficult to even get summer internships not to speak of full-time jobs. I came to New York to study finance as this place provides a great exposure.But right now it seems all the business models are going wrong therefore it seems....