On Tuesday April 27, a professor of Balochistan University was gunned down in Quetta. Ms Nazima Talib was killed when two masked men opened fire on the rickshaw she was sitting in. She received two bullets to the head, and died in the Civil Hospital before any medical treatment could take place. Members of the Balochistan Liberation Army took responsibility for the attack, claiming it was in retaliation to killings of two Baloch women and torturing of female political workers; two incidents seemingly unrelated to Nazima Talib or the Balochistan University.While some officials claim it may have been a targeted killing, it is difficult to understand what merits the killing of an academic or even what links her to the incidents in question. Whether targeted or simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, there is little evidence to suggest that Nazima Talib deserved to be killed.
According to a report in Dawn News, a technical college in the Murree area is being converted into a prison. The building was constructed in 1987, when locals donated 200 kanals of land which was complimented with an additional 100 kanals purchased by the federal government. The result was a massive multi-block college campus with a 100 bed hostel; the cost: millions of rupees spent on a perpetually empty building. In its entire 23 year life the building's only use was as temporary headquarters for an earthquake-relief NGO in 2005, whose members managed to damage the premises beyond further use; even breaking down a few walls.It seems the federal government is applying fairly simple logic: if the building is empty, why let it go to waste? Indeed, a building of this size can be useful for just about anything with the right investments; the question to be asked is why this investment is directed towards establishing a prison, rather than making the college operational. In this particular case, locals donated their own land and it is unlikely that they would prefer a prison in their locale.
With the leaked release of FIFA World Cup 2010 for the Xbox 360 hitting stores all over the country, Pakistani console owners have been reminded of the sad fact that football and Pakistan just don't go together. Those of you who haven't played the game have probably assumed that the green & whites have been excluded, but its actually far worse than that. The Pakistan national football team is among the 199 licensed teams present in the game, with players like Zesh Rehman, Imran Niazi, and Pakistan's highest paid player Muhammad Essa (Rs 50,000 a month); but from a possible team rating of 5 stars, Pakistan stands at half a star.
So what is it about Pakistan that just wont let it get anywhere with the world's most watched sport? Why is it that economically inferior countries like Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria can qualify for the World Cup, but Pakistan can't even qualify for the qualifiers? For those who missed that, The Greenshirts were beaten, bruised, touched in funny places, and tossed away by war torn Iraq 7-0. Indeed, a comprehensive investigation is needed to answer those questions; answers soon to be posted.
Keep checking in for the following posts:
1-Why Pakistan is No Good at Football
2-The Economic Benefits of Becoming a Footballing Nation
3-How Pakistan can Become a Football Powerhouse
French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently ordered that a bill be submitted to parliament on the banning of Islamic face veils in all public places. This move came some time after the Belgian parliament decided to take up a similar bill, whose voting is to take place on April 22. The issue is much more controversial in France however, as they have a Muslim population of 5 million; the largest in western Europe. The issue may be problematic for the Sarkozy administration, as the French Constitution provides for freedom of religion.
The key difference between France and Belgium is the reason stated for proposing such a bill. Belgian parliamentarians claim the bill is needed because of the security threat of being unable to see a person's face, especially when burqas and veils have been used by militants and criminals before; a seemingly valid reason. On the other hand, the French President stated that the Islamic face veil stigmatizes and threatens the dignity of women. Well then, take a look at the women pictured below. What poses the greatest threat to their dignity? Would the forceful removal of their face veils not stigmatize them?
According to a recent survey by the BBC, Asians are the least likely to vote during the coming UK general elections. Within Asians unsurprisingly, British Pakistanis are the very least likely to vote. Only 38 percent of Pakistanis said they intend to vote in the coming elections, compared to 45 percent for Asians as a whole. Is it because 62 percent of British Pakistanis aren't fond of any of their local candidates, or more likely, is it because they don't know their candidates at all?
Here is the inherent problem with Pakistanis anywhere in the world; be it the US, UK, or Canada, Pakistanis fail to assimilate. In fact, as most of them ignore local customs, practices, and values, it seems they refuse to integrate. Over the years they've developed a strange practice of leaving Pakistan, and creating 'Little Pakistans" in every major city of the world; managing to disrepute the nation in the process. So how would you expect Pakistanis to vote during British elections, when most of them think they're still in Pakistan?
Over the past few years, it seems like all people ever talk about is how great India is.
[More]
"Oh India is one of the fastest growing economies!"
"Look at them, they have Tata, they have Birla, they have Ambani! What do you have?"
"If only we were more like India...."
Indeed, it must hurt to be India's ugly little sister; especially when Mommy and Daddy wish you were just like her. Its true, India is one of the worlds fastest growing economies; averaging an annual growth rate of 5.8% over the last two decades, and now holding the title of 4th largest economy. So how do you expect Pakistan to compete with that? Wait... oh my god, she's come home pregnant! Oh she's getting a beating today.
Well the 2010 statistics are out, and it doesn't look too good for big sis. Apparently the 4th largest economy in the world has now added 100 million people below the poverty line over the past six years; totaling 410 million people, which is 37.2% of its population. If that wasn't enough, India also has a third of the worlds poor population; which is below $2 a day.
So stand up Pakistan, step out of your sister's shadow! Its your time to shine.
Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi has added a public park to his Islamabad Sector F estate. The Rs90 million, 10 kanal park was taken from the Capital Development Authority citing security threats to the minister's family. The chairman of the Capital Development Authority concurred with Mr. Afridi, and also added that the minister had provided Rs1 million for the development of the park; which included stream pipes and a perimeter fence. Both the minister and the CDA rejected the notion that the park was closed to the public. So should it be assumed that the fence is to keep out robots?
[More]
Its undoubtedly strange that a minister would grab a piece of land and put a fence around it, usually taken as a sign to keep people out, and say it was open to the public. The federal minister stated he needs the park for security reasons, or in other words to keep people out; yet he stated that people were allowed to enter as they please. Contradiction maybe?
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Sunday. Among other issues, Prime Minister Singh expressed concerns over US providing Pakistan with military aid; he also made it clear that his government had no intentions of holding bilateral talks with Pakistan. The Prime Minister further added his reservations over Pakistan's attempt to gain nuclear status.
To some extent, Prime Minister Singh's reservations are justified. Apart from a history of tense relations between the two countries, which so far has prevented troops from vacating the border, India has still not received any closure on the Mumbai attacks. India has made it clear that they would not make any progress unless the perpetrators of the attacks are brought to justice, and Pakistan may have to respect that. At least this sounds like a credible argument when presented by the Indian Prime Minister.
The truth is, major progress has been made in the Mumbai case; key actors of the attacks have already been tracked down and arrested. This means India now no longer have an excuse for holding off crucial talks with Pakistan. If these age old issues are not addressed, social, political, and economic progress cannot be made; this is not only a hindrance for the two countries, but for the entire region. On observing the insistence of India on not holding talks with Pakistan, one might say India has no intention of normalizing relations and restoring peace and stability to the region.
President Asif Ali Zardari recently signed the Eighteenth Amendment Bill after its approval by parliament. Many has seen this move as noble and heroic, as the bill includes a major clause relating to the powers of the President; particularly, his ability to dissolve parliament. In purely technical terms, the passing of the bill will lead to the President losing much of his power in favor of a parliamentary system of government. However, this may not be the reality.
Though the passing of the bill will mean that Prime Minister Gilani is the official head of government, President Zardari holds a position far more valuable in a country with a weak political framework. This position does not refer to the seat of President, but to the seat of chairman of the ruling party. As Co-Chairman of the Peoples Party, President Zardari still dictates the plays much like a football coach: he need not be on the field, but all moves go through him.
If the football metaphor does not suffice, here is a more practical comparison. In Russia two years ago, President Vladimir Putin was replaced by Dmitry Medvedev. As Putin was ineligible to be re-elected as President, United Russia decided to give their Chairman the subordinate position of Prime Minister. Any Russian political analyst can testify however, that Vladimir Putin is still very much in charge.
For an example a lot closer to home, take a look at neighboring India. The Prime Minister has been Manmohan Singh the economist for some time now. However, it is clear from his lack of political experience that Congress would never give him any real power, and Congress President Sonia Ghandi is much more likely to be in charge.
So is Pakistan really returning to the parliamentary system, or will President Zardari take on the Putin-Ghandi role?
Last night on March 31st, the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms signed the draft document of the 18th Amendment. Among the many reforms are curtailment of the President's power in favor of Parliament, renaming of NWFP to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and an organized system of appointing Superior Court judges.
