The North Waziristan military operation and appeal to help internal refugees

Posted on July 5, 2014 by beenasarwar
IDPs Bannu. Courtesy: Dawn

IDPs Bannu. Courtesy: Dawn

While supporting the much delayed military operation against the militants, we need to also support the democratic political process and strengthening accountability and the rule of law in Pakistan. See ‘Recapturing North Waziristan: A tragic necessity‘ – interview of Pervez Hoodbhoy in Viewpointonline. Meanwhile, the fighting is taking a toll on the people of North Waziristan, thousands of whom have fled the fighting and are now refugees in their own land – internally displaced people or IDPs in development jargon.

Here are links to three moving articles on the issue that highlight the humanitarian aspect and suffering, by Rashida Dohad, Owais Tohid and Taha Siddiqui. Rashida and Taha also make the point that militant organisations are reaping dividends in terms of goodwill “while the state fidgets or forsakes”; credible organisations are made to obtain non-objection certificates while religious and extremist organisations are allowed “to operate freely”. Continue reading →

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Changing the media landscape – article about ‘The News on Sunday’ for The News 20th anniversary issue)

Posted on February 26, 2011 by beenasarwar

Editor with Reporter: Probably discussing what to get for lunch. Photo: Rahat Ali Dar

For The News 20th anniversary supplement, published Feb 22, 2011.

The News on Sunday:  Changing the media landscape

By Beena Sarwar

The News on Sunday was launched in 1994, as The News on Friday, Pakistan’s first weekend newspaper – Friday was then a weekly holiday. In 1997, the name change itself reflected the ideological confusions that abound in Pakistan, where religion is freely used for political purposes, and as an excuse to retain the status quo.

Clearly, religion is conveniently dispensed with if it clashes with, say, financial interests, as when Nawaz Sharif, the country’s businessman-prime minister who was otherwise careful to keep the ‘religious’ lobby happy, reverted to Sunday as Pakistan’s weekly holiday. In doing so, he overturned a move made 20 years earlier by Z.A. Bhutto who had sought to consolidate power by playing the religious card. Nawaz Sharif’s decision was motivated by financial considerations, over-ruling the opposition of the conservatives. It indicated that anything is possible with political will, even reversing a decision taken in the name of religion. Continue reading →

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