by Asif Haroon Raja Liberals and seculars calling themselves modern and progressive were in high spirits during Gen Musharraf’s rule because the Islamic militants and those sporting beards dubbed by them as bigoted, obscurantist and uncouth were continuously bashed from 2002 onwards. Several Jihadist groups were banned and extremists were hounded and Madrassahs raided. Many christened as terrorists were han ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Some of the reasons that have given rise to religious extremism in Pakistan are as follows:- Early demise of Quaid-e-Azam resulted in leadership crisis, which persists to this day. Uneven development of provinces and growth of regionalism gave rise to fissiparous tendencies and strengthened centrifugal forces in smaller provinces. Insensitivity and callous attitude of the elites towards ...

 By Sajjad Shaukat After accepting the demands of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the present government has decided to release some prisoners of the militant outfit in exchange of those Individuals who were kidnapped by the Taliban. But as part of its double game, the TTP has been employing shrewd tactics in order to distort the image of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and the security forces throug ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Authenticity of 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. It has so far not been established whether 9/11 episode was real or engineered and whether Osama bin Laden (OBL) was behind it. Why Terrorism Confined to Muslims Only? George W. Bush led neo-cons most immoral act after 9/11 was to attribute terrorism to Muslims only. Global war on terrorism was hence confined to Muslim world only while the non-Musl ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Unlike late Hakimullah Mehsud who disfavored talks, his deputy Waliur Rahman favored dialogue and had convinced sizeable number of TTP Shura members to make an offer of dialogue to the government.  His group suggested Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Munawar Hassan, Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan to act as guarantors to preclude possibility of backtracking from the agreement. The offer was not taken ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Anti-peace lobby is making hue and cry as to why the government is insisting on holding talks with the TTP when the hands of its new leader Maulana Fazlullah are dripping in blood of people of Swat and surroundings and is a captive of Afghan government. They argue that it is pointless to hold talks with Fazlullah who has a history of breaking deals and had terrorized Swat. Those suggesti ...

By Rida Zaheer Lahore: Sports circles and  analysts  predicted that Pakistan will beat West Indies. Pakistani team will reach in Semi Final too. The local supports will be available to "Sheens".  Pakistan has strong bowling  attacks of spinners with experience fast bowlers too. ...

 By Ali Sukhanver Sometimes memories prove a gigantic hurdle in our way to progress particularly when they are nightmare-like bitterly unpleasant and horribly painful; but for a brighter future and a successful present, it is always advisable to get rid of all such pinching memories. But unfortunately there are some people who love to remain in the darkness of their past; Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh is also ...