Author Archives

Rafiq A. Tschannen

Rafiq A. Tschannen is a Swiss national. He converted to Islam and joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the age of 16 after reading the German translation of the Holy Qur'an. He worked in 15 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, first as Finance Director in the private industry and later as Chief Executive Officer of NGOs and International Governmental Organizations. He is now devoting his time to The Muslim Times as Editor for Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Switzerland and as Associate Chief Editor.

Zia ul-Haq passed punitive laws that defined the practice of the Ahmadi faith as a “blasphemous” criminal offense.

Source: NY Times. Yet the birth of Pakistan was not auspicious for minorities. The original claim of Pakistan — religious equality — was the first claim proved false. Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, though he became the first foreign minister, was hounded by religious conservatives, who branded him an apostate because of […]

Old rules in New Pakistan

Since Imran Khan revealed his feelings about a minority Muslim group in Pakistan, some young voters’ opinions of him have soured. KARACHI, Pakistan — For the last two years, former cricketing superstar Imran Khan has been trumpeting talk of change to Pakistan’s public. Standing in front of beloved national monuments […]

Elections 2013: Live updates

Source:ET Recent Update   JI announces election boycott in Karachi, Hyderabad 01:52:PM Two people die in a fight at Karachi polling station 01:46:PM Karachi rigging: Bogus votes and abduction in Malir Cantt 01:40:PM ANP workers took away ballot boxes from PS-96 Karachi: Polling officer   More:

Wait till you see the idiots I put there.”

Source: The Conservative  Papers. God was missing for six days.  Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found him, resting on the seventh day.  He inquired, “Where have you been?”God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, “Look, Michael.  Look what I’ve made.”Archangel Michael looked puzzled, and said, “What is it?” […]

Pakistan Elections May Go to the Terrorists

Source: The Conservative Papers. As one waits for a clearer indicator of the likely outcome of the polls, one has to be worried over the possibility of rogue elephant terrorist organisations such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Sunni extremist Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LEJ) causing major disruptions in the elections, particularly […]

Day of decision

Source:ET Election on May 11 is a truly historic one, marking the first constitutional transition of power from one democratically-elected government to another. DESIGN: EMA ANIS What happens today will decide our immediate future, hopefully for the next five years. Intense games of number crunching are, of course, on everywhere; […]

Pakistani minorities leery of democracy – Violence by Islamic radicals on rise since 2008 elections

LAHORE, PAKISTAN – In majority Muslim Pakistan, religious minorities say democracy is killing them. Intolerance has been on the rise for the past five years under Pakistan’s democratically elected government because of the growing violence of Islamic radicals, who are then courted by political parties, say many in the country’s […]

King No More

Source:Spiegel REUTERS Lions are becoming a threatened species. Trophy hunters and the loss of savannah grasslands have drastically reduced the number of prides. Scientists and conservationists are calling for improved protections for lions — even if that means fenced-in enclosures. More: