By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn
NUCLEAR arms have had vocal advocates in contemporary times. Knowledge of the horrors of the atom bomb, as witnessed in Hiroshima, has not deterred them.
In its latest issue, the American magazine Newsweek (Sept 7) advises the US president to learn to love the bomb, sending shockwaves through peace lobbies around the world. This at a time when President Obama has been speaking out for a nuclear weapons-free world.
Continue reading Our armament concerns
By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn
THE fate of the National Education Policy (NEP) continues to hang in the balance. A revised draft was to have been taken up by the cabinet in early August but it was not.
Meanwhile, some NGOs working in the education sector and grouped under the umbrella body called the Pakistan Coalition for Education reacted strongly to the new document.
Continue reading The language enigma
By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn
Remember Lockerbie? Yes the Scottish town that made headlines when a PanAm aircraft exploded in mid-air in 1988 killing 270 people.
It was said to have been blown up by a bomb planted in a passenger`s luggage. Lockerbie is making news again. Last Thursday the Libyan convicted of planting that fateful bomb, Abdel baset Ali al-Megrahi, was released from a Scottish prison and sent home to die. This was done ostensibly on compassionate grounds as the man has terminal cancer and doctors believe he has just three months to live.
Continue reading Lessons from Lockerbie
By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn
At an informal meeting between a group of Indians and Pakistanis in the Swiss village of Caux, the venue of the second forum of human security in July 2009, one suggestion put forward was for the governments in New Delhi and Islamabad to abolish capital punishment.
It was argued that it would help improve relations between the two neighbours. Yes it would, if this suggestion were to be taken seriously.
Continue reading A plea for Sarabjit Singh
By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: The WIP
A few years ago, Pakistan’s newspapers and magazines were awash with pictures of shirtless men displaying scars on their torsos indicating they were organ donors. There were villages where practically every male adult claimed to have sold a kidney to earn extra money to repay his debts.