‘Any attempts to dislodge parliament will be resisted’

National Dialogue on Challenges to Democracy and Role of Civil Society in Pakistan Joint Declaration: Any attempts to dislodge parliament will be resisted LAHORE, January 23, 2012: Civil society representative  and concerned  citizens (Intellectuals, legal activists, journalists, women, students trade union activists, religious minorities and academia) of Pakistan from all over the country shared their deep concerns [...]

Pakistan: The ‘blasphemy’ issue | No shortcuts

Originally published in Viewpoint Online, Nov 3, 2011 No shortcuts Beena Sarwar Watching Libyans celebrate the toppling of their dictator two things come to mind. First, Gaddafi’s apparent extra-judicial murder after being captured must be condemned. Secondly, a cautionary reminder: don’t expect the death or removal of a dictator to mark the end of the [...]

Aman ki Asha Press release: Dialogue on ‘A Common Destiny’

Delegates at the first of Aman ki Asha’s series of discussions on issues of strategic importance to India and Pakistan, titled “A Common Destiny”, agreed on the need for peace between the two countries, and the importance of a sustained dialogue to resolve bilateral issues including Jammu & Kashmir, terrorism, water-sharing, trade and investment.

Hope for young Ateeq, a real life ‘Ramchand Pakistani’

Release orders were passed for the 12 year old Pakistani boy in Indian Juvenile (Hoshiarpur) Prison after Asma Jahangir appeared in the Juvenile Court in Amritsar on Feb 26. Now the Pakistan authorities have to complete procedural matters and bring the boy back home.

‘Looking back to look forward’ – amazing response to an uplifting event

What an amazing response to ‘Looking Back to Look Forward – Celebrating the 1953 Student Movement’. “It’s not just the event, it’s the timing of the event that’s important,” said Hiba Ali Raza, one of the student volunteers. “At a time when things look so bleak, and people are so depressed, this was very significant”.

IAR on NRO ruling

‘Pause, sirs, and ponder’ – comment by I.A. Rehman, one of the clearest, sanest voices in Pakistan on the NRO ruling in an op-ed in Dawn

‘Bridging Partition: People’s Initiatives for Peace between India and Pakistan’

“In these essays, leading scholars, activists and writers from India and Pakistan reflect on the political and personal impact of crossing the border, and explore the possibilities and limits of this new movement in its quest to chart a path to peace between the two countries.”

Zaheda Hina on Jagannath Azad

Since writing about the first Pakistani anthem by the acclaimed poet Jagannath Azad, I have learnt that my ignorance on the matter was all the more deplorable given the previously published material that I have since come across. This includes Adil Najam’s June 2009 post – and most significantly, the well-known writer Zaheda Hina’s beautiful obituary on Azad in 2004 which contains several verses from Azad’s anthem for Pakistan (uploaded here)

Honouring Zaheer Kashmiri and the PWA

Remembering the life and works of Zaheer Kashmiri, the legendary Marxist, progressive poet and activist, a literary critic, and a strong influence of and upon Progressive Writers Movement (Anjuman-e-Taraqi Pasand Musanafeen). Sept 9, 2009, Lahore

Dr Sarwar Reference, Aug 8, HRCP, Lahore

Press release: A Reference for the pioneering student leader Dr. Muhammad Sarwar will be held here at HRCP’s Dorab Patel Auditorium on Saturday August 8 at 5 p.m