Conflicting Ethnicities
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 29, 2008 · 7 Comments
(I wrote this piece exclusively for the first issue of “India and Global Affairs”, an Indian journal which was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Sing last month in a New Delhi ceremony.) By Malik Siraj Akbar When Pakistan was celebrating its 60th Independence Day on August 14, 2007, hundreds of women observed a ‘black day’ … Read more
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Aaj Kal
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 11, 2008 · 7 Comments
LAHORE: The Media Times (Pvt) Ltd, following the success of Daily Times, has launched its Urdu newspaper Aaj Kal, with the intention to raise another for a progressive and modern Pakistan. The launch was announced at a ceremony held at Royal Palm Club on Monday, with former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as chief guest. … Read more
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Plotting Pakistan
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 11, 2008 · Leave a Comment
Pakistani writers Kamila Shamsie, Shahbano Bilgrami and Moni Mohsin would rather not be peas from the same pod, finds NISHA SUSAN (From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 5, Dated Feb 09, 2008 ) FATIMA BHUTTO, niece of the late Benazir Bhutto was, without doubt, one of the headliners of the Jaipur production. Three of her … Read more
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Dear Departed
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 10, 2008 · Leave a Comment
“OK doctor, over to you. I am going. Bye,” I said before stepping out of Ziarat Hall of Sarena Hotel in Quetta two days before the murder of Dr. Chushti Mujahid, a senior fellow journalist. As the veterain cliche goes: I didn’t know it was our last meeting. Dr. Chushti Mujahid, a senior fellow journalist, … Read more
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Charsadda carnage
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 9, 2008 · Leave a Comment
A suicide bomb attack at an election rally in Charsadda killed at least 20 people. The Voice of America quoted eye witnesses as saying that activists of the Awami National Party were listening to speeches. The explosion injured scores of people and doctors say the death toll could rise. The message is clear: The secular … Read more
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Turkish headscarf changes
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 9, 2008 · Leave a Comment
There is this good news from Turky. They have a strong civil society. Today thousands rallied in Ankara to protest the plans, saying the government is introducing Islam by the backdoor. However, according to Euro News,the Islamist-based AK government has a safe majority in parliament, and insists the proposed changes mean only loose-fitting scarves will … Read more
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Shiek Chilli
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 9, 2008 · 1 Comment
This is something embarrassing for me to share. But I still have to. So lets’ put it in some non-English language!!! Hama wadan ka ma kasanin zagg hey than goda ma school hey katahbani thaha Shiek Chiilli hey kisa bazz mashoor ha. Hama her wadha hami samjay k shiek chilli yak incheen zag hey yea … Read more
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Profile: Ali Ahmed Kurd
Posted by Malik Siraj Akbar on February 6, 2008 · 55 Comments
By Malik Siraj Akbar 60-year old flamboyant lawyer firebrand, Ali Ahmed Kurd, has spent most of his life in judicial activism and fighting dictatorship. He went to jail for the first time when he was merely a 17-year old student in Mustung district of Balochistan. For him, that was understandable as he came from a … Read more
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