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 

Woes of girl students in Mandi Bahauddin

Published in Daily Times 
Female students of a government polytech institute, are suffering from a nuisance and may drop out without completing their courses. Owing to the emergence of a wagon stop and a mini-market of second-hand winter articles in front of their institute, it has become nearly impossible for students to walk on the footpath making their way to the institute. Besides denying the girls the right to enter their institute, owing to the presence of an assortment of people waiting for transport right outside the gate of their college, girls are suffering mental torture as abusive remarks are passed on them every now and then. This has not only destroyed the peace of mind of the students but has also worried the parents of some 250 girls being trained in the institution in various fields. The parents of the students have repeatedly approached the principal, but she maintains that despite concerted efforts and stern protests on her part, the authorities concerned have turned a deaf ear to her appeals as these encroachments seem to have emerged with the active support of the administration. All the concerned authorities are strongly appealed to to take this matter seriously and remove these encroachments, which have put the future of some 250 students at stake.
Tassawur Bosal
Mandi Bahauddin
Friday, December 03, 2010

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C12%5C03%5Cstory_3-12-2010_pg3_7 

Woes of Mandi Bahauddin girl students

Published in Dawn
THIS is apropos of a news item (Nov 30). Girl students of a 
government p institute s, are up against a problem 
and may resort to dropping out without completing their courses. 
A wagon stop and an illegal mini-market of secondhand 
winter clothing have emerged in front of their institute, 
making it nearly impossible for girl students to walk
on the footpath towards the institute.

The girls are reportedly denied the right to enter their institute 
as people of all kinds of backgrounds hurl abusive remarks on 
them every now and then, causing mental torture
and anguish to the girls. Parents of these 250 girls are worried 
about their safety. The parents have repeatedly approached 
the principal but she maintains that despite efforts 
and strong protests the authorities concerned have turned a deaf ear.

The authorities must take this matter seriously and
remove these encroachments as soon as possible.

TASSAWUR BOSAL
Mandi Bahauddin

http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/03/woes-of-mandi-bahauddin-girl-students.html 

Small farmers’ miseries

Published in The News 
With the advent of the wheat-sowing season the miseries of the already marginalised poor growers have increased manifold. The lives of millions of poor farmers depend on the production of wheat which is a source of livelihood for them. But shockingly, the price of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), one of the most necessary fertilisers for the crop, jumped by around Rs700 per bag from Rs2500 to Rs3200. Coupled with this burden is the steep rise of Rs5 per litre in diesel price. Diesel is needed both during ploughing and for irrigation. The increase in the prices of these two will affect the small farmers badly. On these two heads, the growers will have to bear a cumulative burden of Rs24 billion.
It is believed that the increase in the price of DAP is the outcome of the cartelisation of fertiliser importers. It is true that a hike has been observed in the price of the said fertiliser in the international market, yet this can’t serve as a pretext for the almost 20 per cent increase in its price in the domestic market. Firstly, the surge in its price in international market was minimal and secondly no fertiliser has been imported during this hike. Therefore the government should compel DAP importers to make possible its availability on a fair price.
The News.
Saturday, November 13, 2010.


http://www.thenews.com.pk/12-11-2010/newspost/15213.htm 

CJ doing Politics

Published in Pak Tribune
The recent remarks by the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Lahore High Court (LHC) advising the PPP to quit the Punjab government if it does not agree with the appointment of Rana Maqbool as secretary prosecution have left everyone stunned.

Judges should refrain from politicking and giving such statements. They should rather speak through their judgments. It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government had requested the Punjab government not to appoint Maqbool as he was an accused in the case of cutting President Zardari’s tongue in the mid-1990s.

This incident has raised a number of serious questions. First, is the CJ authorized to speak on behalf of a proclaimed offender, and can he advise a major political party to quit the government? Second, when the CJ has openly admitted that he has relations with the Sharif brothers, was this the reason for him to be retained in Lahore rather than being promoted to the Supreme Court (SC)?

Without any iota of doubt, this amounts to sheer misconduct on the part of CJ Khawaja Sharif. Ali Ahmad Kurd, Aitzaz Ahsan and Hamid Khan, all being staunch supporters of the present judiciary, were left startled. These remarks have not only put a question mark on the credibility of Justice Sharif, but have also given legitimacy to the criticism of those who call the current judicial set-up biased. Besides, when these assertions have been condemned by all, the silence of the PML-N is indeed regrettable. Justice Sharif has brought a bad name to the judiciary and has invited open criticism. The honorable CJ of the SC is expected to take sou motu action and send the case of Justice Sharif to the Supreme Judicial Council. This would not only silence the critics of the free judiciary but would also establish a precedent that no one is above the law.
Pak Tribune
July 4, 2010
 http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=229460

Politics and Judges

Published in Daily Express Tribune
This is with reference to the recent remarks made by the Honourable Chief Justice of Lahore High Court wherein he said that the PPP should quit the Punjab coalition government if it had any objections to Rana Maqbool’s appointment as chief prosecutor.

Clearly, this is a political statement made by someone who should not have made it. If anybody had to say this it should have been a spokesman of the PML-N or the Punjab government. The fact is that Mr Maqbool was declared a proclaimed offender in a case involving the president some years back and should a sitting chief justice of a high court be making such comments in the first place? With due respect, judges are supposed to be impartial and are assumed to steer clear of politics and making political statements. 
 Daily Express Tribune
July 04,2010.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/25661/politics-and-judges/ 

Kainat Soomro’s Case

Published in Daily Times
How can any sane and humane person stop his tears after seeing the victim of a brutal gang rape collecting the dead body of her younger brother who was killed in search of justice? Sabir Soomro was first arrested a couple of months ago by the local police on fabricated charges in order to silence his family, who had been clamouring for justice. This incident has completely shattered my confidence in the law and law enforcement agencies, especially the police. Kainat Soomro has not lost heart; rather she has remained steadfast in her quest for justice. Is there no one to wipe the tears of that sorrow-stricken girl? Has the home minister of Sindh spared a moment’s time from his fiery political statements to listen to her cries? If she is not provided with justice and those who have inflicted pain upon her are not prosecuted, the confidence of even those who are optimistic about the system would shatter.
Daily Times
Friday, July 02, 2010
Daily Dimes 

Going for coal?

Published in Dawn
THIS is apropos of Khurshid Anwer’s letter, ‘Coke the coal’ (Dec 23), in which he raised apprehensions on the use of coal for producing electricity.

I strongly agree with the writer’s ideas. Indeed, the menaces of global warning and pollution are getting uncontrollable and are slipping out of the hands of man.

In such fragile conditions, the thought of using coal, one of the chief contributors to the problems of pollution and global warning, would increase the vulnerability of the mighty challenge our planet is facing today.

But just because we are facing energy shortfall does not mean that we can endanger the stability of the planet as a whole. Why coal, when we have much better and safer alternatives available at home.

Fortunately, nature has bestowed us with mighty rivers capable of producing endless electricity, a vast coastline gifted with the treasure of wind power and an everlasting potential of solar energy. These, if utilised properly, can produce energy sufficient for both our present and future needs. Therefore, if we have to make this planet a happy place, we should opt for safe and environment-friendly energy resources.
DAWN Sunday, 27 Dec, 2009

When life is History

Published in Daily The Nation
Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal is one of the most written about poets of Urdu. However, an authentic and reliable biography of Iqbal took a long time to appear. ‘Hayat-e-Iqbal’ was the first ever book on Iqbal, which appeared in 1938. After that, no year went by with out new books and articles on Iqbal being published. All these books provide the scholars with good source material but the need for a detailed and authentic biography of Iqbal was badly felt. Dr Javed Iqbal’s Zinda Rood, first published in 1984, filled this gap and is regarded as the most authentic biography of the poet-philosopher.

Recently, a fourth edition was published. Dr Javed Iqbal, being his son, was in a unique position to take advantage of all the original sources necessary to carry out an authentic research on Iqbal. This is the reason that Zinda Rood is by far the best biography of Iqbal to date.

According to the famous Iqbal scholar Professor Rafiuddin Hashmi, “Dr Javed Iqbal has very capably fulfilled his responsibilities as a biographer in Zinda Rood, which is a balanced and objective biography that describes all the aspects of Iqbal’s life in detail.

It makes you feel that Iqbal’s life was that of a great man”. If we want to take our country out of its present dire challenges, we would have to understand and follow the teachings of Iqbal. Zinda Rood is the best book to understand his teachings. One hopes that Dr Javed Iqbal would bring out a fifth revised edition with some more additions to this valuable book soon.

Daily The Nation
Published: November 12, 2009

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Opinions/Letters/12-Dec-2009/When-life-is-history

Textile Policy

Published in Dawn
The first ever national textile policy announced by the Government to fix the ailing industry and lift dwindling exports is a stitch very much in time.

The most important thing about this policy is that it has been developed after taking all stake holders into confidence, which is why it has been applauded by all.

Textiles, the major export of Pakistan which contributes a lion’s share in our gross domestic product, has been declining for internal as well as external reasons.

Therefore, there was a dire need on the part of the Government to save this industry as it is considered as oxygen for our economy.

However, this policy will be instrumental only if it is implemented in letter and spirit with the same zeal and zest with which it has been formulated.
Dawn
Thursday, 20 Aug, 2009