“We Refuse to Be Held to Ransom By Terrorism”: Veena Masud, Pakistan Women’s Swimming Association

Pakistani female swimmers are making a splash despite the hurdles, which include “little government support” and social conservatism, says Veena Masud, one of the small group who started women’s competitive swimming in Pakistan

Dirty Tricks Brigade grinds on: “Salary for a Member of NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (MNA) (No wonder we are in this mess)”

These below about Pakistani parliamentarians’ salaries and perks have been emailed around since at least 2006. I thought the figures were inflated but didn’t bother checking until a well-known journalist and women’s rights activist forwarded it from Shaheen Attiq-ur-Rahman (daughter of General Atiq-ur-Rehman, former parliamentarian and a member of the PML-Q)…

‘Kary Logar’ ain’t the issue

The traditional nexus between the religious right and the military is no secret. Superficial divisions surfaced after the army, under Gen. Musharraf, took a U-turn on its traditional pro-jihadi stand following the cataclysmic events of 9/11 but the bond remains strong. They share notions about defending Pakistan’s ideological frontiers and the ‘real enemy’ (India), and distaste for democracy (especially the Pakistan People’s Party).

A 1991 NYT report, sadly still relevant

“Reactions to the American-led war against Iraq have created political havoc in Pakistan, where the Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been trying to stabilize the country and restart the economy after a year of domestic turmoil,” wrote Barbara Crossette in Feb, 1991. Some lessons from history here…

When a kiss is not just a kiss

This tantrum at LUMS about a peck on the cheek is indicative of the mentality that leads security guards to shave the heads of a poor couple chatting under a tree at a rural university campus. Catch any mullah type condemning the attack on the Islamic University that killed so many students

DEVELOPMENT-SOUTH ASIA: Women’s Peace Offensive

Aware of the repercussions of remaining silent on a host of issues, including peace and security, that affect them as much as men, women today are increasingly raising their voice in a bid to be heard in the corridors of power and at the policymaking levels.

Happy 25th Spelt, and good luck with the conference

My observations about the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (Spelt) as the organisation celebrates its 25th birthday. Spelt is a voluntary body for professional educators, that my mother Zakia Sarwar and a few other colleagues started 25 years ago.

Kerry Lugar Bill – Myths, facts, and alternatives

The US is obviously concerned that their taxpayers’ money is used for illegal and dangerous activities such as nuclear proliferation. It is after all a US law that makes the US govt accountable to the US elected representatives about how US taxpayer money is spent. If they need to ensure that the monies they give us are NOT used for illegal and dangerous activities that is their prerogative. Why are we so jumpy? Anything to hide? If so, the alternative to Kerry-Lugar will be appropriate…

India and Pakistan: Bridging the gap

Gen. Durrani suggested, among other things, opening up the visa regime between our two countries; allowing broadcast of TV programs from one country to the other; setting up a joint “lndo-Pak “Arid Agriculture Research Centre”; including agriculture as a major component of the composite dialogue; cooperating in areas like water, coal, wind and solar energy; and supporting “any solution which is acceptable to the majority of the Kashmiris. The bottom line – Kashmir for the Kashmiris.”

Video Journalism Movement: ‘Milne do’ – Let Kashmiris meet (documentary, 7 min)

‘Milne Do’ – Let them meet – My 7 min documentary on the importance of people-to-people contact