Published in The News on Sunday, Feb 19, 2012
Memories of an unassuming Marxist
The progressive movement of Pakistan has lost one of its best sons in the death of Dr. Manzoor Ahmed
By Shahid Husain
Memories of an unassuming Marxist
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Great post by the Indian journalist and blogger Shivam Vij in Kafila.org, compiling information from several articles, interviews and videos: ‘A Hundred Years of Manto‘. Excerpt:
Where would we be without Manto? He died in 1955 but lives on in the hearts of millions of people in both Pakistan in India because his work has by now helped generations understand, and if I may say so, come to terms with the Partition of 1947 whose ghosts haven’t left us yet. Manto’s centrality in understanding Partition remains despite a growing body of historical research on the subject…
Filed under: History, Progressive politics | Tagged: India, Lahore, lakshmi mansion, manto, Pakistan, shivam vij | 1 Comment »
Faisal Khan (in cap) with Tara Gandhi, giving Khudai Khidmatgar membership to Tanzila. Photo: courtesy TCN
The Khudai Khidmatgar (Red Shirts) movement will be launched in India on Jan 20, 2012, marking the 24th death anniversary of the ‘Sarhadi Gandhi’ Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, with a membership drive, and addresses by distinguished peace activists, writers and poets
Date: January 20, 2012
Time: 3.30-5.30 pm,
Place: 5 Tees January Marg New Delhi
Contact: +91-9911292235 and +91-999050543
Speakers include Continue reading
Filed under: Progressive politics | Tagged: Faisal Khan, frontier Gandhi, India, khan abdul ghaffar khan, khudai khidmatgar, Pakistan, Peace, red shirts, sarhadi gandhi | 4 Comments »
Citizens’ statement of concern about the democratic process in Pakistan democratic and safety of human rights defenders, to be released to the media on Jan 5, 2012 (to endorse, please enter your information in the form at this link)
We, the undersigned, express our grave concern that Pakistani human rights defenders are being threatened and intimidated for their stance in the ‘memogate’ case. We are also concerned at the danger this crisis poses to Pakistan’s democratic political process that had taken a step forward with the elections of 2008. Continue reading
Filed under: Pakistan, Progressive politics | Tagged: Activism, agencies, Asma Jahangir, democracy, Human rights, Husain Haqqani, judiciary, memogate, Pakistan, security establishment, supreme court | 1 Comment »
Benazir Bhutto on her arrival in Karachi in Oct, 2007. Photo: Beena Sarwar
It’s four years since those pistol shots and bomb blast in Pindi’s Liaquat Bagh ended the life of Pakistan’s most promising politician and hope for democracy. There is no one to replace Benazir Bhutto but her legacy lives on in many ways. This is the first legitimately elected government ever in Pakistan to remain in office for as long as it has – and it will be the first to complete its tenure if allowed to do so and hand over power to the next elected government. This political process is essential to move Pakistan out of a quagmire that has taken decades to push us into. There are no quick fixes, no magic wands that can change things overnight. What’s important is the process and at least that is under way – thanks to Benazir Bhutto.
Thanks to YouTube, archival footage is now available to remind us of her legacy. Continue reading
Filed under: Progressive politics | Tagged: Benazir Bhutto, death anniverary, democracy, Lawyers movement, marvi sirmed, Pakistan | 1 Comment »
Ad pubished in The Daily Times, Dec 23, 2011
Please note, the names on the signatories list will be updated as more endorsements are coming in.
PRESS RELEASE, December 17, 2011
Civil society terms “memogate” scandal an attempt to thwart democracy; Says threatening the representative system tantamount to attack on sovereignty of people. Read on for the text of the statement and the signatories’ list Continue reading
Filed under: Progressive politics | Tagged: Activism, civil society, democracy, memogate, Pakistan | 10 Comments »
Hamza Alavi: eminent sociologist, addressed issues of nationality, gender and fundamentalism
Ayesha Siddiqa: political analyst, author of Military Inc.
The Tenth Hamza Alavi Memorial Lecture (free and open to the public)
Keynote speaker: Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa – Bringing Change in Praetorian State (see her recent essay in EPW on Pakistan’s Modernity: Between the Military and Militancy: Sunday, Dec 18, 2011, at 4.00 pm
Venue: Dr. Zaki Hasan Auditorium, Jinnah Medical & Dental College, Shaheed-e-Millet Road, Karachi.
Chair: Dr. Jaffar Ahmed; Introduction of Speaker: Dr. Mohd Ali Siddiqi
Followed by high tea (thanks to Dr. Tariq Sohail).
The lecture, published by the Irtiqa Institute of Social Sciences, will be available for just Rs.30 per copy. Donations to this cause are always welcome. Please make cheques out to the National Council of Academics, mailing address D 61, Blo0ck 2, Clifton, Karachi 75600
Filed under: Progressive politics | Tagged: Ayesha Siddiqa, Hamza Alavi, Hamza Alavi Memorial Lecture, Irtiqa, Irtiqa Institute of Social Sciences, karachi, National Council of Academics, Pakistan, Politics, sociology | 1 Comment »
Just received via email: The Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) announces with deep sense of bereavement pain and profound sorrow, to all the fraternal parties, comrades and friends, that Comrade Chacha Maula Bux Khaskheli, the Secretary General of the CC of CPP, has passed away at 11 pm on 30th August, 2011. He was 76 years old. The Communist Party of Pakistan offers LAAL SALAM (RED SALUTE) to Comrade Khaskheli for his unforgettable militant struggle and sacrifices for the party and people of Pakistan.
A BRIEF PROFILE OF COMRADE KHASKHELI: Continue reading
Filed under: Progressive politics | Tagged: Chacha Maula Bux Khaskheli, cpp, Pakistan, progressive politics, trade unions, workers federation | 1 Comment »
Sadiqa Waheeduddin, looking at a newspaper report about the DSF event held in Karachi Jan 2010
Sadiqa Waheeduddin, passed away peacefully in Karachi this morning. She was the eldest sister of late Dr M. Sarwar and widow of late Dr Waheeduddin who was a great supporter of progressive politics, mother of Dr Irshad Waheed, Dr Iqbal Waheed, Naseem (‘Geti’), Shireen, and Islam Waheed.
As high school students at the time, Iqbal and Geti also participated in DSF processions. Many political meetings, including DSF, were held at their house in Guru Mandir. As my mamoo, the journalist Zawwar Hasan used to say, she was ‘Jagat Apa’ to many of Akhtar and Sarwar’s friends. Continue reading
Filed under: Progressive politics | Tagged: Allahabad, Dr Waheed, DSF, history, Indira Gandhi, Iqbal Waheed, Katra, Lawyers movement, Pakistan, sadiqa waheeduddin, Saeeda Gazdar, Shahida Haroon Saad | 7 Comments »
Karachi, you were wonderful tonight. Photo: Sabeen Mahmud
April 17: Karachi, you were wonderful tonight. Great event, attended by about 30,000 people. See the text of the resolution (long version as well as short version read out in the plenary) at the Citzens for Democracy blog.
Congratulations to the CFD team for making this happen. This is our Pakistan.
Filed under: Progressive politics | Tagged: Activism, art, blasphemy law, cfd, Faiz, jashne faiz, karachi, music, Pakistan, theatre | Leave a comment »
