Dispelling Some MFN Myths.

Published in English Daily Express Tribune.

http://epaper.tribune.com.pk/PUBLICATIONS/THEEXPRESSTRIBUNE/TET/2011/11/23/ArticleHtmls/Dispelling-some-MFN-myths-The-decision-by-Pakistan-23112011007022.shtml?Mode=1

Nusrat Bhutto and J .M Synge's "Riders to The Sea".

Published in English Daily, Daily Times.



Begum Nusrat Bhutto passed away on October 23. Her "natural" death has broken the spell that had overshadowed the Bhuttos for decades — one Bhutto after another had been assassinated one way or the other.

Her sad, but natural, demise reminds me of J M Synge's ever cherished play, Riders to the Sea. In the Irish playwright's masterpiece , all members of an Islander family drown at sea one after another, deprived of a land burial. When the last son of Mauria, the protagonist, also dies young at the sea, luckily his body is retrieved. The mother at this tragic loss with tearful eyes and trembling voice rejoices that her son is going to have a land burial at least.

Mrs Bhutto's sad departure reminds me of the tragedy by J M Synge. Like Synge's protagonist, the Bhuttos' story is also ridden with tragedies. Their sufferings are even greater than that of Synge's protagonist. The charismatic Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's relentless services to the nation were rewarded with his judicial murder. Then Shahnawaz Bhutto was poisoned to death and later Murtaza was shot dead in Karachi. His own sister was a sitting prime minister at the time of Murtaza's murder. Finally, Benazir Bhutto, too, was mercilessly killed in December 2007 while addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi.

Begum Bhutto suffered all these miseries and at last her torment came to an end . The spell is broken. As Mauria's last son after his tragic demise got at least a land burial , the fifth Bhutto at least came across a natural death.
May she rest in peace.



Tassawur Bosal
Mandi Bahauddin
Daily Times
Tuesday November 1st, 2011

Good Going.

Published in English Daily Pakistan Today

Is Imran Khan the third major political entity in Pakistan?

 Published in English Daily Pakistan Today. 

Is Imran Khan going to prove the third political power on national political landscape? May be yes but, if we peep into the realities of electoral politics in Pakistan, the answer is nothing but a big no. I do not intend to hurt the feelings of anybody, but in my humble opinion, he isn't going to be the third political power, at least not in the coming elections. Popularity graphs do show him as one of the most popular leaders and a giant political figure, yet electoral politics has its realities.

Khan’s party doesn't posses competent candidates who have the ability to compete with the strong contenders of other political parties. He is not at all going to have seats more then Q league, MQM and ANP and may be MMA if it gets united. Analysing the political landscape and our national electoral system, one comes across the following harsh realities about khan’s political party. In rural Sindh, PPP will not let Khan win even a single seat, and in urban locale MQM will do the same.

In Balochistan, politics mostly revolves round tribal leaders and elders. There remains no space for the captain there.

In KP, Khan can perform a little better. However, there also ANP, PPP, JUI and JI would not let him play openly and would restrict him to few seats. If ANP and PPP, contest with seats adjustment then these seats may be squeezed even more.

Then there is Punjab, in South Punjab Khan's party seems to be in no position to perform well against strong heavy weights of PPP, N League and Q League. The expected seat adjustment between Q League and PPP is likely to minimise Khan’s chances even more.

In rest of the Punjab, PTI has visible power. But here it has to face the strong wrath of N League N League’s giant candidates armed with the popularity of Sharifs and confidence of home ground are ready to push PTI to the wall.

This scenario suggests that Khan is not going to be the third power in the next general elections. Therefore, while predicting the future of PTI, one should not be oblivious of the ground realities of Pakistani electoral landscape.

But the question whether he has bright chances in the future has an answer in yes. Yes, he can perform better if he leaves the politics of solo flight. He can have a good natural coalition with N League and the Likeminded group of the Q League. In such a coalition, both he and the League will benefit to a larger extent where he is likely to add to his seats, Sharifs would also be in a better position to face the wrath of PPP and Q League. It can be a win-win situation for the both. Otherwise, the sole beneficiary will be the PPP.

However, even then he isn't at all going to be the third political entity in Pakistani politics in the coming general elections.

TASSAWAR BOSAL

Mandi Bahauddin 

September 17, 2011. 

http://epaper.pakistantoday.com.pk/E-Paper/Lahore/2011-09-17/page-11/detail-1

Fatwa by a political mufti

 Published in Daily Times. 
 The outspoken Punjab law minister, Rana Sanaullah, thrives on controversies. Be it his alleged relationship with militants or his long-running tiff with late Salmaan Taseer, he remains the centre of attention. Recently, he has gone as far as proclaiming Senator Babar Awan wajib-ul-qatl (liable to be killed). Mr Sana, while defending himself, argued that he merely repeated some lawyers’ opinion, an excuse I deem fictitious and hence unacceptable considering the turmoil engulfing our country. He has rightly received censure from not only the political fraternity but also the Senate, which has passed a resolution against his statement.

Sadly, this is not the first time that the Punjab law minister has been in the news for saying something scandalous. And again his political party has failed to keep him in check. Mr Sanaullah should keep his personal grudges to himself, considering how intolerant and extremist our society has become. His party should monitor his behaviour to prevent any irreparable damage to the already fragile law and order situation.
TASSAWUR BOSAL
Mandi Bahauddin
Daily Times
June 22, 2011.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C06%5C22%5Cstory_22-6-2011_pg3_7 

Sana’s Statement

Published in Daily The News 

 The ever-outspoken Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah 
thrives on controversies.Be it his alleged cordial entente with 
defunct groups or his long-running tiff with late governor 
Punjab Salmaan Taseer, he remains at the centre of controversies. 
Recently, he has gone a little too far by declaring 
Senator Babar Awan ‘wajibul qatal’. Mr Sana has
defended himself by saying that he only repeated the views
of some lawyers, an excuse which is too lame and unacceptable 
especially in the dangerous times we live in. 
This has brought an all-out censure on him from all over the country,
especially from the political fraternity. The Senate has passed, 
and rightly so, a resolution condemning his irresponsible statement. 
However, the leadership of the PML-N has failed to take notice of it.

Tassawur Bosal
Mandi Bahauddin
Tuesday June 21, 20011
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=53735&Cat=11 

A Polotical Mufti

Published in Daily Pakistan Today

The outspoken and loud spokesman Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah keeps on thriving on controversies. Be it his alleged cordial entente with defunct groups or his long running tiff with the late Governor Taseer, he remains at the centre of controversies. However, recently he has gone too far by giving a fatwa declaring Babar Awan wajib-ul-qatal. Mr Sana has defended himself by saying that he only repeated the words of some lawyers, an excuse which is too lame and unacceptable in the dangerous time we live in. This has brought a barrage of censure against him all over Pakistan, especially from the political fraternity, and the Senate has rightly passed a resolution condemning such irresponsible statements.
This is not for the first time that the Punjab law minister's tongue has slipped, though this time it has crossed all bounds. However, Rana's leadership hasn't bothered to take notice of it and has turned a deaf ear to such irresponsibility. Keeping his personal grudge to himself would be absolutely essential for him to live up to the dignity and status associated with his office. Keeping in view the fate of the late Mr Taseer and being cognizant of growing extremist trends in our society, it is high time that the leadership of Rana Sanaullah took stern action with regards to the sheer irresponsibility perpetrated by a key man in their fold.
TASSAWUR BOSAL
Mandi Bahauddin
Monday June 20, 2011. 
http://epaper.pakistantoday.com.pk/E-Paper/Lahore/2011-06-20/page-11/detail-1