In the shadow of the gun I on April 21, 2012Mr Ikram Sehgal’s “Of Empire and Army” (Newsline, March 2012) is a bundle of misinformation and bias against the Baloch. Perturbed that the media holds the security establishment solely responsible for the Balochistan crisis, he claims, “Most of our problems stem from jumping to conclusions that are based on misinformation, and then deliberately distorting those […]
For reasons of state on April 14, 2012“In public life…from the standpoint of patriotism, when these things are done for the greater glory of the State, for the preservation or the extension of its power, it is all transformed into duty and virtue. This explains why the entire history of ancient and modern states is merely a series of revolting crimes; why […]
The iron hand mentality on March 31, 2012The Balochistan Cabinet, reports say, in order to maintain the writ of the government, has decided to clamp down on anti-Pakistan elements “with an iron hand”. This ‘earthshaking’ decision implies that previously the Baloch people were being dealt with with velvety hands and utmost compassion. The art of dissembling and deceit should be learnt from […]
Bereft of reason on December 24, 2011“Brute force bereft of reason falls by its own weight. Power with counsel temper’d even the gods make greater. But might which in its soul is bent on all impiety, they hate” — Quintus Horatius Flaccus. Recently the Punjab Assembly supported Nawaz Sharif’s stance on Balochistan after his meeting with Sardar Ataullah Mengal. He had […]
Terror outsourced on August 27, 2011On August 14, Munir Ahmed Shakir, a Baloch journalist, was gunned down in Khuzdar, which, along with Mastung, Pasni, Turbat and Hub, has become the death capital of Balochistan. This brave journalist persisted with the truth knowing that those who had murdered Mohammad Khan Sasoli and Faiz Mohammad Sasoli, the former presidents of the Khuzdar […]
Quem deus vult perdere, prius dementat on August 20, 2011Robert Fisk, in his piece ‘Syria agitation begins to look like Egypt-Tunisia revolt’, details how the revolt began in Deraa. He writes, “Take the first uprising against Bashar al-Assad in Deraa — home to the old steam train station, by the way, in which T E Lawrence was supposedly assaulted by an Ottoman officer in […]
Potters wares on August 12, 2011Watayo Faqir is to Sindh what Mullah Naseerudin is to Turkey, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Once someone informed Watayo that his mother had gone crazy and was writhing in the dust in the city centre; knowing his mother acted oddly at times he was nonetheless surprised. Reaching home he inquired; she replied that having seen […]
Aung San Suu Kyi: the beacon II on August 6, 2011“…That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute […]
Saggaan ra kushaada-and, o sing ra basta on July 30, 2011Dissembling, deceiving and denying are the coveted tools of statecraft for those who essentially fear people and their rights. These tools have been the cornerstone of the state policy in Balochistan with which the state tries to convince the world that it is the Baloch people who are to blame. Talking to the press recently, […]
Aung San Suu Kyi: the beacon I on July 23, 2011“It is not the strength but the duration of great sentiments that makes great men” — Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche’s quote always reminds me of Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela for their persistent uncompromising struggle for rights and human dignity. In case of Daw Suu, as she is respectfully addressed, because of her frailty […]