Source: Reuters A powerful Pakistani religious body that advises the government on the compatibility of laws with Islam on Thursday declared a new law that criminalizes violence against women to […]
02/29/2016 Aparna PandeDirector, India Initiative, Hudson Institute The execution in Pakistan of Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri — the bodyguard who in 2011, under influence of religious zealots, killed secular Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer — has strategically coincided with the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue taking place in Washington DC. Given Pakistan’s history […]
Suggested Reading Shariah and Constitution: A Personal Journey
Daily Times: LAHORE – Pope Francis has accepted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s invitation to visit Pakistan this year, a media reported said on Thursday. The last pope to have visited […]
(RNS) Some right-wing Islamist leaders in Pakistan are denouncing a newly passed law criminalizing violence against women in Punjab province, saying it contradicts the Quran and will increase divorce rates. “This law is in conflict with the Holy Quran, the life of [Muhammad], Constitution of Pakistan and values of our country,” Maulana […]
Source: BBC The funeral is taking place in Pakistan of the former bodyguard executed for killing Punjab’s governor over his opposition to blasphemy laws. Security was tight as about 50,000 […]
Huff Post: The execution in Pakistan of Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri — the bodyguard who in 2011, under influence of religious zealots, killed secular Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer — has strategically coincided with the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue taking place in Washington DC. Given Pakistan’s history of embracing Islamist extremism, the […]
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy delivered one of the most powerful speeches as she won another Oscar for Pakistan at the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy poses with her Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject, “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness,” in the press room during the 88th […]
Waseem Altaf Beauty and the beast Women are inferior to men and husbands have every right to beat disobedient wives. Wani (exchange marriage) can be overlooked and fixing a minimum age of marriage for girls is un-Islamic. Obscenity is all due to women and acid throwing can be neglected. […]
The Express Tribune: by Abdul Manan A file photo of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. PHOTO: AFP ISLAMABAD: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is considering establishing a ‘Jinnah Chair’ at the institute in recognition of the achievements of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This was informed by LSE Director […]
Source: The Indian express Pakistan parliament on Tuesday became the first in the world to completely run on solar power, a venture supported by China with USD 55 million funding. […]
Source: The Guardian Laws that allow families to murder their daughters in the name of “honour” and avoid punishment will be changed as soon as possible, Pakistan’s prime minister has […]
theguardian: by Jon Boone — Call for perpetrators to be ‘punished very severely’ puts Nawaz Sharif on collision course with religious conservatives Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, makes a speech condemning ‘honour’ killings at an Islamabad screening of A Girl in the River: the Price of Forgiveness. Photograph: AFP/Getty Laws […]
Source: Daily Times By Saad Hafiz Asking for the repeal of the blasphemy laws is not about wishing to deny people the right to feel offended or to defend their beliefs; these rights should be available for the religious and the non-believer alike. And this is what it finally comes […]
Dawn: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is a documentary film-maker whose 2012 film about acid violence, Saving Face, made her the first Pakistani to win an Academy Award. This year, she is nominated again for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness, which tells the story of 19-year-old Saba Qaiser, from […]
by Huma Nisar February 16, 2016 Two Pakistanis were members of the team of scientists and engineers that discovered gravitational waves in the fabric of space and time, confirming Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, and heralding new era of uncovering mysteries of cosmos. Imran Khan from Quetta Mr Imran […]
Source: BBC A province in Pakistan has become the first in the largely Muslim country to give Hindus the right to register their marriage officially. The bill was passed on Monday […]
By Maham Idrees 2 hours ago tribune.com.pk Everywhere in the world, winter comes with chilly days and hot chocolate but in Pakistan it brings along wedding season. It is my friend’s wedding this season also and as all the wedding plans were materialising, the last thing on my friend’s mind […]
Hindustan Times: The Sindh Assembly on Monday passed the Hindu Marriage Bill 2015, becoming the first provincial legislature in Pakistan to formalise the recognition of marriages of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain minorities. Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) general secretary Deepak Kumar Bhagchandani said the bill fulfilled a long-standing demand of […]
Source: Daily Times It is a losing proposition for liberals to engage the clergy, especially given that there are no liberal scholars of Islam grounded in Islamic history and jurisprudence, at least in Pakistan, who can challenge the established sectarian narratives of Barelvis and Deobandis Justice A R Cornelius, being […]