Tag: Imran Khan

Imran Khan calls Osama bin Laden ‘Shaheed’ in Pakistan National Assembly
30Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Imran Khan calls Osama bin Laden ‘Shaheed’ in Pakistan National Assembly

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has raked up yet another controversy by calling a slain terrorist and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden a "shaheed" (martyr) while addressing the National Assembly.A viral video clip showed how the PTI leader lashed out at the United States for how Laden had been killed in Abbottabad."We helped the Americans in 'war on terror' but the embarrassment we had to face for their allegations of Pakistan being a safe haven for terrorists is very terrible. Our ally is secretly coming into our country and killing a terrorist and we don't even have an idea," he said.Osama bin Laden was the head of the Al Qaeda and the brains behind the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States in 2001.Osama bin Laden was killed in a military operation by US Navy Seals in 2011 at the ga...
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Creeping religiosity in Pakistan
30Jun By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

Creeping religiosity in Pakistan

It is not by accident that the dark forces of bigotry and obscurantism have become stronger than ever in Pakistan. The regularization of madressahs and the reform of their curriculam were given top priority in the National Action Plan of 2014. While that plan remains unimplemented due to the obduracy of the religious lobby, some school textbooks will not be published unless they are approved and cleared by a religious body. Where is the sanction for this extraordinary decision?It sounds strange that even after 40 years of effort by Ziaul Haq and his successors to impose their version of Islam on the people, a law has to be enacted and executive orders issued to persuade young people to study the Quran Sharif. Now, if there are any hearts in which the fear of God should be planted, then the...
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Analysts discuss oppression of Pakistan’s indigenous minorities during COVID-19
29Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Analysts discuss oppression of Pakistan’s indigenous minorities during COVID-19

Senior analysts, academics and experts came together for an online panel discussion titled “Oppression of Pakistan’s Indigenous minorities during COVID-19 “, to contemplate on the challenges, discrimination and religious and cultural ignorance that the minorities in Pakistan have had to face during the coronavirus pandemic.Tariq Fateh, a Pakistani-Canadian journalist and author, well-known for his outspoken views on Pakistan, stated that the people, including the minorities in Pakistan would continue to suffer until the country breaks into contiguous independent parts.“Sooner or later, Pakistan has to collapse and break away. And until Pakistan breaks away into four or five of its contiguous parts, it’s not that the minorities will suffer, it’s the people who will suffer. Their destiny wil
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Creeping silence
29Jun By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

Creeping silence

It is not new to hear about the curbed academic freedom in Pakistan. What is somewhat new is the frequency with which lecturers, professors, researchers, students, and even writers feel threatened now in both private and public-sector universities. These threats are of multiple nature and presumably emanate from various quarters.For Pakistan, it is essential that people everywhere are encouraged – and especially young people – to think critically and come up with ways to tackle the problems that have darkened the lives of so many in the country. Social inequality, bigotry, ethnic division and other kinds of hate are problems which we simply cannot ignore for long. Yet people who are able to effectively convey the meaning of critical thinking and dissent, in many nations, are being weeded o
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Enforced disappearance policy is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan as terrorist state: Baloch leader
28Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Enforced disappearance policy is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan as terrorist state: Baloch leader

Instead of discouraging the Baloch youth through abductions and torture to end politics, the policy of enforced disappearance is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan a terrorist state at the international level, Chairman of Baloch National Movement (BNM) Khalil Baloch said.In just a single Twitter post, Baloch highlighted the case of Zakir Majeed, a student leader, who is in Pakistani torture cell since last 11 years.“Zakir Majeed has completed 11 years in Pakistani torture cells. Instead of discouraging the Baloch youth through abductions and torture to end politics, this policy is becoming a stimulus to declare Pakistan a terrorist state at the international level,” Baloch tweeted.Zakir Majeed was enforcedly disappeared on June 8, 2009 along with two of his friends Waheed and Basit Ba
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