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                        <title>Latest Happenings, News Blogs | The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>Wrong end of the stick?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97852/wrong-end-of-the-stick</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97852/wrong-end-of-the-stick#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 11 17:54:54 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[aamer.ahmed.khan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=97852</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Since moving to England, well over two years ago, I continue to find it difficult to explain Pakistan to westerners.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Since moving to England, well over two years ago, I continue to find it difficult to explain Pakistan to westerners. They know Pakistan as a volatile nuclear state reeling from the combined impact of al Qaeda, terrorism, a dodgy army and a corrupt political leadership. The part of the country that is never mentioned whenever Pakistan is discussed is its people. There seems to be an underlying assumption that they are getting what they deserve.

Take the furore over the government's attempts to amend the blasphemy law. Most people seem to be aware that this law was promulgated by a dictatorial general in pursuance of an agenda that gave us al Qaeda and the Taliban, years after his death. Many may also be aware of the fact that the democratic governments succeeding General Zia were, too, short lived to do much. But still, westerners generally find it impossible to understand why a law as comprehensively deficient in legal propriety as the existing blasphemy law in Pakistan should not be changed.

Videos and photos coming off the wires of anti-government demonstrations to protest the planned changes do not impress many. A few thousand people gathered in a few cities, mostly in front of press clubs, clearly do not a mass uprising make. Those interested enough in Pakistani politics also know that the country's religious groups spearheading these protests hardly account for 10 per cent of the polled vote whenever a relatively free election takes place in the country.

As such, they are at an even greater loss to understand why a government that claims to be a liberal, democratic dispensation, and is backed by allies who claim the same, should find it so difficult to rationalise such legal absurdities. Why, for example, should a party like MQM, that claims anti-fundamentalism to be its raison d’être and is consistently at loggerheads with all the religious groups that have a presence in Karachi, would not support a move to rationalise the blasphemy law? And why would the PML-N, led by born-again democrats, actively support demonstrations in support of such an institutionalised miscarriage of justice?

At times like these, it becomes almost impossible to explain to westerners how Pakistan works. No one seems to have the time, the inclination or the patience to go through three decades of Pakistan's political history to try and understand why it has come to be where it is. Could there, then, be another way of explaining our collective failure in correcting some of the wrongs spawned by a vile dictator's evil mind?

Perhaps the whole thing has nothing to do with religion at all. Maybe it is purely a credibility issue. Imagine, for example, a government that was generally seen as competent, efficient and genuinely committed to making something of its five-year rule. A government that did not shirk its responsibility by conceding more and more political and administrative ground to the army. A government that had a genuine plan for an economy currently characterised by inflation, unemployment and corruption. A government that relied more on its management acumen than emotional dynastic appeal.

Would it really be difficult for such a government to throw a black law out of the window? I really doubt it, no matter what the religio-emotional appeal behind the law may be. The PPP government has demonstrated its ability to address major constitutional issues but at the same time is perceived as a disaster when it comes to effective administrative control. If it can get a grip on that, it may not be long before it can put an end to black laws that militate against established human rights norms, but can serve its rivals as emotional levers, powerful enough to overturn the status quo.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Boney M frontman found dead</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97390/boney-m-frontman-found-dead</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97390/boney-m-frontman-found-dead#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 10 16:29:31 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Farrell died the same day as Grigori Rasputin, the infamous mystic whose story made the subject of Boney M’s hit...]]>
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				<![CDATA[Boney M’s frontman Bobby Farrell was found dead in his hotel room in St Petersburg on Thursday, the day after a performance in the city where the band rose to stardom in the Soviet era, his agent said on Thursday.

“He did a show last night as part of Bobby Farrell’s Boney M and they found him dead  this morning in his hotel room,” agent John Seine told Reuters by telephone from the Netherlands. Farrell was 61.

“He did not feel well last night, and was having problems with his breathing, but he did the show anyway,” he added.

The cause of his death was not immediately clear, said Sergei Kapitanov, representative of St. Petersburg’s branch of Russia’s investigative committee.

Farrell was famous for dancing and lip synching for the disco band that rose to prominence in Europe, the United States and the Soviet Union with songs like “Ma Baker,” “Rivers of Babylon” and “Rasputin.”

The irony of the situation is that Farrell died the same day as Grigori Rasputin, the infamous mystic whose story made the subject of Boney M’s hit song.

Boney M was put together by German singer-songwriter Frank Farian who also produced most of the vocals for the group, which stormed to the top of the charts in the late 1970s with a string of disco hits.

The quartet of Farrell, Maisie Williams, Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett were one of the most popular bands of the late 1970s. Known for their unusual costumes and dances, the band sold around 80 million records.

Their “Rivers of Babylon” released in 1978 became the highest selling single of all times in UK, selling nearly two million records in Britain alone. “Brown Girl in the Ring” spent 19 weeks in the UK Top 10.

The group disbanded in 1986.

Celebrities send out their sincerest condolences

 

Khurram Waqar (Qayaas)

In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, they (Boney M) were the best. Though I wasn’t a big fan of them, I respect them as artistes.

Taimur Rahman (Laal)

I have always been a big fan and loved to dance to their music. Boney M stands for disco. They took disco to a whole new level. Everyone who grew up in 1980s even Nazia Hasan used to listen to them and their musical influence could be felt in that era. Most artistes of that time consciously and unconsciously mirrored their music aesthetic. I didn’t know he had passed away. That’s really sad. Bobby Farell was the real talent behind the band.

Farhad Humayun (Overload):

It’s really funky quintessential disco music. Their music was the anthem for the people of the 1970s and 1980s. They brought funk music to the forefront. I loved their drumming in particular and the singer who would act in a foolish way on stage. They were a spectacular live act.

I was quite saddened by the news. He was a great show man. I expected that they would release something new and even googled them in anticipation and that’s when I read that Bobby Farrell had passed away.

Omar Ali Khan (Filmmaker)

I never bought their music. The worst form of German disco crap. That guy didn’t even know how to sing! He would just prance around with the microphone. It had to be the worst band in the history of recorded music. Shiekh Amer Hasan, whose shows always had ‘Ma Baker’ as background score, even brought them to Pakistan. Needless to mention I did not attend.

Natasha Raheel

Boney M introduced the disco scene. ABBA and Boney M are my first few references to the disco music.

Faez Najeeb

I totally loved them. I have their music on 24/7 in my car. I’m totally shocked to hear about it (death of Bobby Farrell).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Blast damages oil tanker in Chaman, injures one</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97355/blast-damages-oil-tanker-in-chaman-injures-one</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97355/blast-damages-oil-tanker-in-chaman-injures-one#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 10 10:40:03 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=97355</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Explosive device was planted on the rear of the tanker; one person injured.]]>
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				<![CDATA[A blast badly damaged a Nato oil tanker in the bordering town of Chaman  in Balochistan on Friday.
Official sources said unidentified people had planted an explosive  device on the rear of the tanker. The device went of with a huge explosion when it reached near border  with Afghanistan. Tanker caught fire because of blast.
One person sustained injuries as fire also engulfed a nearby car.
Fire fighters extinguished the fire. The blast and fire however badly damaged the oil tanker. 
Attacks on Nato tankers have become a frequent occurrence.]]>
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			<title>Blasphemy backtrack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97851/blasphemy-backtrack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97851/blasphemy-backtrack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 11 17:23:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=97851</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It seems quite obvious that religious groups have more bark than bite.]]>
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				<![CDATA[It takes only a miniscule drop of rain to send the government scuttling for cover. The threat by religious parties to protest any change in blasphemy laws has lead to an immediate process of backtracking. This has not been enough, however, to prevent the nationwide strike which went ahead on December 31. The pressure then is on.

The new minister for religious affairs, Khurshid Shah, told the National Assembly this past week that the PPP had no plans to repeal the law or make changes in it. Other members of the government have expressed similar sentiments. These contrast quite markedly with the bold assertions made previously about changing laws that have been misused to put hundreds behind bars. Most of them are innocent people who have been victimised by rivals attempting to settle some score. The blasphemy clause has become a highly convenient way to deal with those who become caught up in a row of any kind. The government should be emphasising this point, rather than cowering each time extremists come out on the streets to demonstrate their power. The degree of menace they present is overrated. After all, nothing of note had happened when major changes were made in the Hudood Ordinance during the Mushurraf era. It seems quite obvious that religious groups have more bark than bite.

In the past, the PPP had spoken out strongly against the blasphemy laws and the manner in which they were put to use. It is sad to see the party now moving backwards along the track without so much as an explanation. It is important that the blasphemy law be relegated to history. The courage to do so needs to be found. Even though they do not speak out, the ‘silent majority’ as it were, many people will applaud this. More and more citizens are shocked by the manner in which religion has come to be abused in our country. They seek from their leaders a willingness to undo the damage inflicted during the Zia years and ensure that the true values of Islam — peace, tolerance and mercy — once more become the norm in society, rather than engaging in political point-scoring. It is the rights of the people that need to be given priority.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>‘No objection to IPL participation’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97875/%e2%80%98no-objection-to-ipl-participation%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97875/%e2%80%98no-objection-to-ipl-participation%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Jan 11 08:21:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=97875</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Foreign ministry dismisses political tension played influence.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The foreign ministry said that there was no objection on Pakistan players participating in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). A spokesman for the Pakistan foreign ministry clarified the impression that the decision to send players is based on political tension between the two neighbouring countries.

Pakistan players were snubbed for the IPL and no one featured in the list of 416 cricketers who were auctioned for the event that starts in April this year.

“We don’t decide on giving clearance to sportsmen on the basis of political tensions between the two countries,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told The Express Tribune. “It sends out a wrong message. Pakistan didn’t have any problems in sending players to India.“We’re only concerned with the safety of our players.”

Meanwhile, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) keenness to send players to India for the lucrative tournament, the players are awaiting a response from the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).

According to details, The Express Tribune has learnt that the BCCI is reluctant to include Pakistan players while also trimming its auction list from 416 to 350. The auction will be held on January 8 and 9. “First, it’s up to both boards if they want the players to play in the IPL. But the PCB is yet to approach us for any preliminary clearance for the players,” said Basit.

Pakistan players, however, did take part in the inaugural IPL in 2008 before missing out on the 2009 edition due to security concerns in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. They were then ignored for the 2010 tournament in which most of the players of the 2009 World Twenty20 winning squad were on the auction list.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Little that is new</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97439/little-that-is-new</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/97439/little-that-is-new#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 10 17:31:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[amina.jilani]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=97439</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Now we all know what 'establishment' refers to — it is the army and its agencies who poke their noses into...]]>
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				<![CDATA[Going by the majority of predictions made by our local pundits who analyse to death the political situation, on that front 2011 is destined to bring in much of a muchness. Though, as in this country plans tend to go no further than a day ahead, it is never safe to foretell what may happen even tomorrow.

Of late, in certain sections of the press, there have been mumblings and grumblings about the lack of a proper perspective in the military-civil relationship. Why, it is asked, is an essential principle of public service not evident? Why is it that elected governments are unable to set policies that are implemented by the army? How is it that it is the reverse in Pakistan (despite last year’s prime ministerial bloomer about ‘my army’), that the generals set the policies and the government — all governments — follow. How is it that the generals openly manipulate both government and parliament when not in direct power?

A brief surf through history should explain all. Since 1954, the army has been involved in politics, that is, since the country was but seven years old. The then army chief was invited into a civilian cabinet and appointed as defence minister. What does that tell anyone? It took him four years to take over the country and appoint himself president.

In Pakistan, the past is not another country — it hangs over the present as a suffocating pall of gloom. That overused string of words, subservience to Allah, America, the Army (in whichever order they are placed) encapsulates Pakistan’s past and present just as that other string of words, Unity, Faith, Discipline (in whichever order they are placed) do not exist in this country’s scheme of governance or politics. So much for Mr Jinnah!

Does anyone doubt, after WikiLeaks, that our army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, is the most powerful man in Pakistan who heads the most powerful, the richest and the most disciplined party of an undisciplined lot? Are any of our international interlocutors in doubt that he is the man to talk to when they come to Pakistan — or even when a top flight delegation from this country departs on a begging trip? (One mistake the general made post-WikiLeaks was to have his spokesman tell us that he held the government and politicians in high esteem. After having picked them to pieces with the Americans, he would have done better to have remained mum.)

A spout of righteous indignation has been spurred by the leak that told us that General Kayani at one point, in one of his many conversations with the American ambassador, had discussed the possibility of getting rid of the president and appointing a man of his choice. How could he possibly do this? Is it not out of the bounds of all legality, constitutionality and what have you? Well, yes it is, but that is how things work in this country and always have worked. It would not have been a difficult task and could have been accomplished without the movement of one pair of boots. All one has to do is revert to 1993 when the then army chief, the now reclusive General Waheed Kakar, in one fell swoop, without waving his swagger stick, obtained the resignation of both president and prime minister.

And now this week, with various political movements in and out and lots of ‘demands’ (blackmail) being made by the movers and shakers, we are told that it is the ‘establishment’ that is behind it all. Now we all know what that word, used coyly in Victorian fashion as a cover up, refers to — it is the army and its agencies who poke their noses into every conceivable nook and cranny (even hassling media commentators).

There is little that is new under the Pakistani sun.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2011.]]>
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