November 2012

Raising the edifice of Pakistan’s stance on the basis of principles of international law having customary value can fortify Pakistan’s position at all levels. However, for this, a concerted and knowledge-based effort is needed; off the shelf tactical and adhoc stances will demolish Pakistan’s case. International law is regarded as the language of international relations; for a country with limited …

The historians believe that Iqbal conceived the idea of Pakistan and Quaid-e-Azam matured this idea into reality   Allama Iqbal (November 9, 1877 ‘ April 21, 1938) was a great poet and philosopher. In his early age Iqbal preached nationalism and said, ‘Hindustan Hamara, Chine-u-Arab Hamara’. Iqbal was a man of integrity and believed in intellectual honesty so as he grew …

The term ‘Islamophobia’ refers to demonstration of hatred or fear of and the prejudice against the Muslims on the basis of their religion. British Runnymade Trust defined the term as ‘the dread or hatred of Islam, and therefore to the fear and dislike of all Muslims.’ The western response to the 9/11 attacks on Twin Towers led by the United …

Negotiation is a two-way traffic. Have Taliban ever made any sincere desire for negotiations and peaceful coexistence? Most barbaric and dastardly attack on the bold and brave young innocent student of Swat Malala Yousufzai’ infused with the irresistible desire to acquire knowledge’ cannot be ignored or regarded as an ordinary incident of violence. Mere condemnation even in forceful terms of …

The drone war will continue unabated and there is nothin­g that Imran Khan can do about it. Imran Khan’s speech at Tank was laced with his usual toxic anti-Americanism but he also managed a few sensible words. Marchers at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) South Waziristan peace march were prohibited by the military to enter the tribal areas. To call this …

By contrasting the Turkish and Pakistani military interventions it becomes obvious that Pakistan has endured longer spells of dictatorship without any formal ‘memorandums of warning’ to the elected governments. The Turkish courts have even convicted elderly leaders of Turkey’s 1980 military coup, Kenan Evren and Tahsin Sahinkaya. On the other hand, in Pakistan, the former president and chief executive, Pervez …

The bitter reality of the entire process is that instead of proving to be ‘a game changer’, elections are considered merely a tussle among the big business entities to sell their corporate agenda to public effectively and that is why some people consider elections ‘a usual business’. The quadrennial presidential elections in the US are critically observed by the friends …

Whether we talk about the attack on Indian parliament in 2011 or 26/11 Mumbai attacks, those incidents also became as the major cause of economic and political destability in Pakistan. So I feel that there may be a better chance for a real improvement in the bilateral relationship whether it is through cricket diplomacy, arts and culture or purely on …

The cancellation of President Putin’s visit to Pakistan and the rescheduling of the Quadrilateral Summit of Pakistan, Russia, Tajikstan and Afghanistan planned for 2-3 October, 2012, for whatever reason, was obviously one of those hiccups. The fact, however, that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Islamabad, apparently on a damage-control mission, soon after the cancellation of President Putin’s visit …

Mr. Sharjeel Inam Memon Jahangir’s World Times: What PPP has in store for the youth as the elections are approaching? Sharjeel Inam Memon: Well, we have attended to the unemployment issue and the educational reforms programme for the youth. We have solution to both the issues. We shall implement that programme after we win the general elections. JWT: Considering Liyari …