The Sultan of Saints

IntroductionSince my childhood, each year on the 11th Rabius Sani, I have been attending the proceedings of the death anniversary of Hazrat Ghaus-E-Azam Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani (Jilani) Rehmat Ullah Aleh (RA), The Sultan of Saints, the Royal Falcon of mystic way. The proceedings invariably commenced with TILAWAT, reciting of Darood Sharif and few…

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The Brussels Rendezvous

Pak-Afghan relations have an interesting dynamics; just when there is a feeler of improvement, they nosedive into another crisis. Nonetheless, it is encouraging that soon after each crisis, both Islamabad and Kabul resume taking measured steps to bring the ties back on track. Latest rupture came last month when Afghanistan’s presidential spokesperson Aimal Faizi said…

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Bringing Change and Transforming the Public Sphere in Pakistan

Similar to other Islamists in the several parts of the Muslim world, Pakistani Islamists have also used intolerant and exclusivist rhetoric. They have abused religion in a heavy-handed manner as the dominating tool of their political ideology and have confined religious concepts and values to certain parties and groups, nationalizing, modernizing, Islamizing and politicizing them….

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Yaum-e-Shuhada 2013

Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death. Sun Tzu. Yaum-e-Shuhada is being observed throughout Pakistan on April 30. The purpose of observing this day is that Pakistanis as a nation…

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Why was Pakistan Created?

After over sixty six years of independence, some people still raise the fundamental question: Why was Pakistan created? Muslims and Hindus lived in India for centuries relatively peacefully. However despite many cultural, social commonalties both maintained their distinct identity. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah initially joined Congress and was known as ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity, but…

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A Hero for Ever

Air Commodore MM Alam will always live in the hearts of fighter pilots, engineers and technicians of Pakistan Air Force for his dauntless valor in air battle, for his patriotism, and high integrity. Alam was awarded Sitara Jurrat twice for valor in air combat during the 1965 war with India. He was a Squadron Leader…

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Baluchistan and Elections

Commitment by all political parties of Baluchistan about their participation in the forthcoming general elections is rather refreshing. Chief Election Commission’s recent visit to Quetta was quite reassuring. He took various steps to address the difficulties being faced by prospective candidates from Baluchistan. Caretaker Chief Minister of Baluchistan has also resolved to make all efforts…

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Return of Musharraf

If not you at least I find it perplexing to fathom out any reason for the return of Musharraf at this juncture of our political commotion. No sane person in his proper senses would return from the safe havens of Dubai and London to face three murder trials – Benazir, Lal Masjid and Akbar Bugti,…

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