I ask you, nay demand, to spend an hour listening to the The Musharraf Government Makes Its Case at the Asia Society. You will hear from such luminaries as: Dr. Nasim Ashraf, Minister of State, Government of Pakistan; Chairman, National Commission for Human Development. Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, Minister of Tourism and Youth Affairs, Government [...]
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(Suggested listening while reading this review: click here; don’t bother to watch the clip, since it’s just a fan slideshow) The film version of Etgar Keret’s novella “Kneller’s Happy Campers” (which is also recreated in the graphic novel Pizzeria Kamikaze) has finally been released in the US (see the earlier review of Keret’s work here). [...]
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Pervez Musharraf became a civilian today. The elections are scheduled and candidates across the country are filing their candidacy papers – in great numbers, especially in the troubled regions. This despite great debate across the two major political parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz on whether to participate or [...]
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The time has come to take Sepoy to task with regard to his blanket condemnation of the New York Times. I am willing to cede the point that numerous op-ed writers for that newspaper of record often appear to lack even the most basic skills needed in making a logical argument. In the case of [...]
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Missing in Pakistan is a short documentary written and directed by Ziad Zafar, an independent journalist and filmmaker. It was shot in February and March 2007 and highlights one of the key causes of the judicial and political crisis in Musharraf’s Pakistan: the extra-legal disappearances of ordinary citizens at the hands of Military Intelligence. It [...]
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In today’s Chicago Tribune is a special geography section. Of special note is Howard Gardner’s Crosswording India. Gunga Din, included.
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I have been lucky enough to be a member of Cliopatria – the group blog of historians – for a long while now. We host an annual Cliopatria Awards, where we highlight the best in history blogging. Please take a moment to nominate someone or some post from the desi/history blogosphere. I hope to do [...]
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Who or why, or which, or what, is Maulana Fazlullah of Swat? Recent headlines from Pakistan have been grim – pitched battles with many reports of casualties and mass migration of civilians from the conflict region. Yet, the foreign media hasn’t really focused on Maulana Fazlullah – perhaps thinking that the story of “Talibanization” covers [...]
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Bush has called the General an all-around great guy; the SC in Pakistan has cleared the General for take-off; BLA leader was killed somewhere in Afghanistan; Imran Khan is out of jail; they kicked Pakistan out of the Commonwealth. More later.
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The General’s crackdown on media involves the key “code of conduct” which prohibits making fun of His Enlightened Excellency. It is a healthy decree – no society can survive if its Elders are Targeted by Base Humor. Perhaps it was after his trip to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he was treated with [...]
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On Friday, we organized a Teach-In on Pakistan at the University of Chicago, The Past and Future Emergencies in the State of Pakistan“. Alongside me were Atiya Khan, Aqil Shah, and Naim Sahib speaking on various historical and political aspects of this here crisis. We hope to have another event on campus after Thanksgiving. If [...]
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Today, November 18th, 2007′s New York Time op-ed page is the absolute worst piece of printed tripe. ever. I know I haven’t read every op-ed page ever printed, but I am sure I can defend my assertion. Exhibit A: Shake, Rattle and Roll by Maureen Dowd. Exhibit B: Channeling Dick Cheney by Thomas Friedman. Exhibit [...]
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» Bowing to The General’s pressure, UAE has shut down Geo TV transmissions from Dubai. Even though it was shut from cable, Pakistanis could catch Geo over satellite or the internet. Not any more. Prior to November 3rd, the people in Pakistan could enjoy news and analysis from Dawn News, Aaj, Geo, Ary One World, [...]
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You can hear me on Chicago Public Radio’s Worldview with Jerome McDonnell and ABC Radio National’s The Media Report with Antony Funnell. If you are so inclined.
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Several senior administration officials said that with each day that passed, more administration officials were coming around to the belief that General Musharraf’s days in power were numbered and that the United States should begin considering contingency plans, including reaching out to Pakistan’s generals. NYT, U.S. Is Looking Past Musharraf in Case He Falls, Nov [...]
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» Following last week’s military crackdown in Pakistan and the detention of hundreds of lawyers, the Harvard Law School Association has decided to award Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry its highest honor: The Harvard Law School Medal of Freedom. » “Mentally and in my heart, I am not a dictator. In my heart, I have [...]
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The high school kids in Islamabad got lathi-charged right after the footage above finishes. The youth, the numbers and the “spirited” response by the police – your tax dollars at work. Things to keep in mind: Thursday, November 15th is officially the end of Musharraf’s current term as president. Which means The General has to [...]
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The tide seems to be receding. The protests are not spreading beyond the lawyers and the students. The opposition parties have had no luck mobilizing. Benazir Bhutto’s me-first strategy is d.o.a. That robust media, Aaj TV, Geo TV, ARY TV remain inaccessible to the majority of the population. The Supreme Court justices are in house [...]
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Bibi/Pinky was put under house arrest and then released. I think BG has it about right. Boston Globe, Nov 10, 2007, Pakistani make-believe This is a political shadow play. Many Pakistanis know that Bhutto’s family and entourage presided over egregiously corrupt and incompetent governments, and that Musharraf’s military cronies have been placed in key business [...]
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In Pakistan, a popular way of showing support is to wear a black arm-band. I would go buy a black suit but I think I might break some Pakistan Bar Association or Johnny Cash Appreciation Society rule. So, in the meantime, just more news. It is heartening, seriously, to see so many people, putting so [...]
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