Personal Political

Beena Sarwar

The column name is derived from the feminist principle that the personal is political.

Column Articles

Benazir’s Legacy Apr 5, 2008

How could Pakistan’s all-powerful president and chief of the army staff be dislodged -- other than through the political process?

Voting For Change Feb 19, 2008

Despite pre-poll manipulation and irregularities voters have rejected the politics of hate and religious extremism.

The Dirty Tricks Brigade Tries to Spoil a Party Jan 15, 2008

Already stunned at the loss of their leader, the PPP is now reeling from the registration of tens of thousands of FIRs against its workers including charges of attempted murder.

Resist, resist, resist: ‘The gift of a crisis’ Nov 24, 2007

General Musharraf’s announcement of an ‘emergency’ on Nov 3 stunned many among this otherwise complacent generation -- enough to finally act upon their convictions.

Boots, Beards, Burqas and Bombs Aug 23, 2007

The Lal Masjid operation has intensified Gen Musharraf’s problems - An Analysis.

Pardon, didn’t mean to kill you... Jul 31, 2005

Three frozen moments of grief, captured by wire photographs at different parts of the world in one day last week stand out... Anguished families in Brazil, Kashmir, and Iraq, captured by Reuters and AFP cameras and printed in newspapers on July 25 are tie

How Free is ’free?’ Jul 18, 2005

The Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's August 11, 1947 speech to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, in which he talked about freedom of religion, is no longer censored, as it was for years.

A Personal Publication May 29, 2005

In 1997, Gallerie was born. It had a conscience, and it 'strung art, poetry, cinema, essays, photography, short stories and ’life’ -- which would feature socio-political /human interest stories of communities in India and overseas.

Misogynist State May 23, 2005

'Forcibly preventing participation in public events by women can act only to encourage extremism, and send out a message to orthodox elements that their actions are condoned by the state.'

March for Peace May 15, 2005

Indians and Pakistanis are allowed public access for cricket, but not if they are walking for peace

No Retreat Apr 25, 2005

A large number of girls braved the threats to participate in the Sargodha marathon on April 9, but were forced to run inside the stadium of a girls’ college -- defeating the very notion of a marathon as a long distance run.

A Space of One’s Own Apr 5, 2005

Actually, a woman walking alone in public is also a rare enough sight (which explains my own initial hesitation) and why so many people asked how I felt about it. Even rarer is the sight of a woman cycling anywhere – as women of my mother’s ge

Country Visa, City Visa Mar 28, 2005

Fuzon and the MHB performed in Mumbai Feb 27, at a fund-raiser for the tsunami victims. They could have made a spontaneous detour and performed at the Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy Convention in Delhi, Feb 25-28. They would have lov

The Ultimate Violation Feb 20, 2005

What happened to Shazia should not happen to anybody. And those who want to suppress the case, hide the reality, protect the sinners who committed this act, have they ever thought that this could happen in their own house too, to their own daughter or wif

More on the Price of Love Feb 10, 2005

They hailed from different ethnic communities, lived in different cities, and their family backgrounds were entirely different. But they met, became friends, and wanted to marry.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Asif Zardari Jan 26, 2005

'Corruption,' pronounces Asif Ali Zardari, 'is a state of mind. A corrupt person wouldn't have sacrificed eight years of his life in prison. '

Report What? Jan 16, 2005

Anis Haroon, the well known women’s rights and peace activist, relates a story about the time she visited Bangalore, India in 1989 to attend a South Asian women’s conference.

Lady Reporter Dec 26, 2004

There is no simple answer to the question that people (mostly foreigners) often ask: how does it feel ‘to be a woman journalist in Pakistan’?

HREP: Bringing in the Little People Nov 22, 2004

Initiated in Karachi almost ten years ago, HREP aims to foster education that contributes to peace and understanding. Their books are beautifully illustrated and produced, but cheaply priced, available in Urdu as well as English.

Jirga injustice Nov 15, 2004

From an informal body meant to settle small claims, the ‘jirga’ in Pakistan has been allowed to emerge as a powerful extra-judicial force protecting the interests of the powerful.

To Margaret Hassan, It Matters Oct 23, 2004

“They just don’t get it!” The thought jumps out as one follows the Great Presidential Debate in the USA, with John Kerry, George Bush and their respective supporters going on and on about the “war on terror”.

No Compromise on Murder Oct 17, 2004

The heirs of the victim can forgive the murderer in the name of God without receiving any compensation or diyat (blood money), or compromise after receiving diyat.

The Commonality of ’Fundamentalisms’ Oct 11, 2004

Lalit Vachani documentary will resonate in Pakistan -- and other societies traumatized by ideologically-motivated violence -- due to the insight it gives into the minds of those involved in organizations that contribute to such violence.

The Dragon’s Teeth Oct 3, 2004

There are many more like the man with the briefcase who walked into the Sialkot Imambargah. They did not develop their warped mindsets overnight -- nor will they be wiped out overnight by military means.

The Forgotten 54 and More Sep 25, 2004

These men if still surviving have little time left for niceties now. They need to be brought home in whatever state they are. Even if there were human rights violations, releasing these men would send a gesture of goodwill and peace.

The FM Boom Sep 21, 2004

So what does this mean for Pakistan? After all, most FM stations just dish out ‘ear candy’ - easy listening, music hits, recipes, chit chat... Just more commercialisation and encouragement of ‘the burger culture’, right? Maybe, but

The Price of Love Sep 15, 2004

Hameed may not find it so easy to dispose of his daughter, who has refused to accept her fate lying down; before being locked up, she managed to contact some human rights activists.

Sister Act: Radio Free Speech in Bushland Aug 28, 2004

I can’t help thinking that it is ironic that just as people rarely know of the dissent in Pakistan, so too there is little knowledge of the vibrant dissent within the United States

Kashmir: Everyone has lost in their own way Jul 12, 2004

Four displaced women in Kashmir talk about their lives to Indian journalist and peace activist Sonia Jabbar in Autumn’s Final Country a devastating and sensitive film...

Re-thinking Kashmir Jul 4, 2004

The documentary Crossing The Lines: Kashmir, Pakistan, India

Some Mother’s Son Jun 20, 2004

There is strength and inspiration to be drawn from those who use their pain, not to cause further destruction, but to heal and move ahead. One such woman is Visaka Dharmadasa, whose young son Achinte went missing in September, 1998 when the LTTE attacked

Our ’Zamir’ Jun 14, 2004

Zamir in Urdu means conscience, and that is what Zamir Niazi, that great chronicler of media freedoms and censorships, was to so many of us – our conscience.

Managing to Get By May 25, 2004

The proportion of people living below the poverty line in 2003, meanwhile, expanded to 38.1 per cent, as compared to 30 per cent

Feeling Good May 17, 2004

Leaders – self-styled or elected – must accept responsibility for the actions of those they lead. Secondly, a government is responsible to all its citizens and not just a privileged few... Pakistanis look forward to the day when they too are a

Breaking the Silence May 14, 2004

Such torture is routine in the prisons and police stations across Pakistan, but our authorities too continue to doggedly ignore reports about such abuse... The question is, will it take graphic photographs to make our authorities address the issue?

Loudspeaker Victory Apr 25, 2004

Most people suffer the loudspeaker menace in silence.

More Cobwebs Apr 18, 2004

As in other countries, textbooks in Pakistan too, should be written by professionals in order to expand and sharpen young minds – and not to brainwash or dull them.

Musharrafising a monarchy? Apr 12, 2004

The reference to Pakistan’s president goes further with allegations that the king (Gyanendra of Nepal) will push a “guided democracy” even if he gives in to political demands for elections.

Civilisation That Isn’t Apr 4, 2004

What leads people to not just kill another human being, but to inflict pain and torture before killing, and then mutilate the bodies afterwards?

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