Oakley speaks out against America’s Colonisation of Pakistan

By Majed Iqbal- ‘We’ve alienated them tremendously. Whether we agree or not” says former US ambassador to Islamabad Robert Oakley. Airing his views on Americas role in Pakistan, Oakley was responding back to a host of views presented by Obama and his team on dealing with this ‘hotspot’ in the world which has drew international attention in the last years.

Americas increasing role in Pakistan through the Bush administration and the man of ‘change’, Obama, the new President of America who singled out Pakistan in his presidential campaign and within days of coming into office resumed drone attacks has clearly highlighted that Americas next target is Pakistan

“If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will” Said Obama in 2007 outside the Woodrow Wilson Centre in his Presidential run up campaign.

Oakley, who served in Islamabad from 1988 to 92, has criticised Americas approach to Pakistan airing views which present a clear picture of a structured policy to colonise Pakistan.

Asian Leader Article on Benazirs Assassination

The following article was published in the North West “Asian leader” Newspaper on 9 January 2008 looking into the events of the aftermath of Benazirs assassination. The article was written for the blog and then consequently submitted to the newpaper for publishing.

Click on the image for full screen display. Please click here for full text of article.

SLIDESHOW- After Benazir- What next for Pakistan?

Published on the Asian Image Website

By Majed Iqbal- Ever since Benazir stepped backed into Pakistan, security was the key concern for her to ensure she could kick start her Political rallying after securing her deal with the then ‘uniformed’ Musharraf. Her episode in the Karachi Rally where she narrowly escaped death re-asserted the lack of Political security offered from the state and highlighted a new phenomenon on Pakistani terrain- that of suicide bombings, something which was unheard of prior to Pakistan engaging in the War on Terror.

However, last Thursday, Benazir became the new casualty in the episode of this External War which has found a front in Pakistan through the discredited military dictatorship of Musharraf. But this has not been the focus of discussion! Both national and international media have been glued to the tug of war taking place between the government and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s version of events. What exactly happened? Who was the Assassin? Where was security? Was it Bullets, Shrapnel or the bang on the head?

Democracy more about Power than the People

By Moh Bloggs

Democracy by some is seen as the one stop fix for all the ills of the developing world. It is in the poorest regions of the world which have been exploited for years by mis-management that the “free” choice of the people is pushed the most, by the media and the political elite of the developed world.

In the modern world a counties intellect and acceptance into the mainstream of the “global village” is measured on how democratic it is (so we are told), in reality many other factors play a role but that’s a discussion for another time. Economic benefits are offered and based on democratic reforms in a particular nation.

The Phony Politics of Pakistan

Published on the Asian Image Website

By Moh Bloggs- The events of the last 36 hours in Pakistan should have shown us all something , beyond the death of Benazir Bhutto and above the billowing black smoke as Pakistan burns in rage there should have been an epiphany (a sudden insight into the reality) for the people and press Pakistan. It was a moment in History where you would hope a people would collectively stop, look and think about the situation they are in.

However the media on mass have refused to question the very status quo that has allowed Benazir to be killed in almost broad daylight in front of scores of people. Rather as is the nature of Pakistani’s there is nothing more they love than a good old conspiracy theory, so theories of who and why someone would have Benazir killed have been doing the rounds on channels such as GEO and the like.

Benazirs Assassination- A Product of Foreign Intervention

By Majed Iqbal

No week has elapsed without Pakistani politics being thrust onto the international media in the last couple of months. The tragic event of Benazir’s assassination has once again shed the spotlight on the volatile nature of Pakistani Politics; something which no one is currently aloof of. However, the debates continue to rage within Pakistan as well as outside of the country in Europe, USA and the Middle East where many Pakistanis reside on attempting to understand and reason out the events.

Without a shadow of doubt, military despotism and anarchical conditions created by Musharraf’s government echoes sole responsibility for Benazir’s assassination. Despite the government highlighting Islamic extremism in the country as the root cause of the unrest and consequent assassination of the opposition leader, the Pakistani population no longer seems to be buying the argument any more.

SKY News Interview on Bhutto Assassination

In light of the current events in Pakistan with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Sky news visited Rochdale to ascertain the views of young Pakistanis on what they thought about the events of Rawalpindi.

In line with other participants from Rochdale, i also presented my views today on the current predicaments in Pakistan.

Watch the Interview here

Benazir Bhutto Blames Musharraf for her Assassination

Former prime minister and chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in an attack yesterday, plunging the nation into turmoil less than two weeks before elections.

Whilst News Channels and Newspapers focus on the minute details of the tragic event, it is important to take a step back and look at some of the real causes which has led to this dire situation.  The following report points fingers clearly at Musharraf and American interference in the region.

The gruesome assassination of the leader has plunged the country into deep political uncertainty ahead of general elections set on January 8. The next few days will be important to evaluate the steps now America and Musharraf will be taking to concoct a new plan to deliver to the Pakistani Nation.

KARACHI BLASTS- Ballot or the Bullet?

KARACHI BLASTS- Ballot or the Bullet? By Majed Iqbal

“There are some powerful figures behind the assassination attempt on me”. These were the words of Benazir Bhutto in response to her “brush with martyrdom” during her explosions-ridden homecoming rally in Karachi last week which left over 140 dead and 500 seriously injured.Her widely anticipated arrival on Pakistani soil, welcomed by over thousands of supporters was turned into scenes of carnage, death and destruction. After striking the ‘deal’ with the ‘uniformed’ President Musharraf, her comeback was set to mark a new era in Pakistani Politics with promises of restoring civilian rule in the country of 160 million with general elections looming in the horizon in January.

However, her welcoming was a bitter deja-vu of the reality of the country’s Politics which has been plagued with violence from state level to street level, both under Dictatorships and ‘Democracies’.Yasmin, whose husband was a victim in the blast said “We will never forgive Benazir for this. Why did she not take the helicopter provided to her? She put so many people’s lives in danger just to show off her popularity.” Her comments echoed concerning facts on Benazir’s continual popularising of potential attacks on her arrival and despite being warned by PPP activists on the day on the arrest of a man with a suicide belt about an hour before the attack. It begs the question- why did the PPP not pull Bhutto out of the procession?