Urban Middle Class’s Steady Descent Into Conservatism and Religious Right "....the urban middle class’s behavior is perplexing. They until very recent past have actually been hailing the Talibanisation and have been knitting every kind of weird conspiracy theory to absolve them of all the brutal suicide attacks."

"Majority of people belonging to urban middle class, I have talked to, have been in this strange state of denial where there have until very recent past refused to admit....."

"....and consequently this class would stop their open support. But the problem is that now this segment is forcing for an accommodative policy on the media."

".....look into this drift of middle class, particularly urban middle class into conservatism and religious right."

"But the mindset of the middle class ..."

"Moreover, the middle class mindset also explains that why Pakistani newspaper reading public was fully supportive of the rise of Taliban in mid 1990s."

"Ironically this class has always been in power and has grown substantially richer since the late 1990s. If there are “gaps’ in the society, at least urban middle class does not face them the way impoverished masses are facing them."

".....this descent of Middle Class towards the more conservative side of the political spectrum"

"Pakistan army which draws its rank officers from the middle class was also agitated and finally intervened."

Do I need to point out what an A-hole you sound like in the above words taken from your article? Sounds like you have nothing but contempt for everyone but the liberal upper class....the membership to which you are clearly advertising with your not so subtle arrogance. Maybe you should move to Monaco where you'd find more upper class liberals.

"Right now the least which liberal elements can do is to conduct efforts to change opinions."

Its hilarious to think you're going to change anyone's mind with the kind of attitude you bring to the table.

Urban Middle Class’s Steady Descent Into Conservatism and Religious Right This writer is a moron. You ask for democracy and then bitch about it when the majority doesn't agree with you. You call them "middle class"...you say that are in a state of denial....you call them apologists.....but at the end of the day....you are saying it yourself that the majority feels one way and you another....in other words...you represent a fringe opinion....and thank God...what egotistical and self-center nonsense!

Anti-Americanism in Pakistan and the Taliban Menace Mr Hoodboy should have more respect for the faith of the people of the country he lives in as a protected minority. There isn't enough time in the day to argue with every rotten "journalist" who puts out stuff he knows to be littered with half-truths and distortion. As a Parsi, or whatever you are, you should respect the Muslim faith rather than play the same role played by the zionists and neocons of the west that lied their public into disastrous wars. In the US they got discovered in hindsight and and they were properly referred to as frauds and charlatans after the fact. In Pakistan our tradition of dealing with such a traitor would not leave you so lucky.

Muslims in America BTW, I love the fairness of Chowk regarding portraying Islam. Two articles on the front page; One by an Ahmadi and the other by a Parsi. Way to fucking Go Chowk! You're real SOBs when it comes to painting Islam in a fair way!

Muslims in America #63 Hamza,

LOL!! Thank you for saving me the effort of responding to this idiot YLH.

Local Liberal Dribble HP,

You seem to be a confused fellow. ANP and PML-N are not exactly secular parties.....ANP's manifestor clearly states that their faith is Islam and that this is a major part of their manifestor, while Nawaz declared himself Ameerul Momineen when he was PM and has very strong tendencies towards Islamization. Even Zardari uses the religion of Benazir rather than the religion of Islam, so he too is using a faith...albeit a twisted one. For you to speculate that these election results demonstrate Pakistan's anti-Islamic tendencies is a real stretch.

Also, you pay lip service to wanting to discuss Islam's various answers but on the other hand you seem to be saying that the point of view of those who a practicing Muslims is insane and therefore not worth discussing. I'm afraid you've already given up the facade and have demonstrated that you're just one of those people who doesn't want to let facts and truth get in the way of hating Islam and Muslims.

Dude, HP you just seem to have a gripe against anyone Muslim. You say the Pakistan army is a bunch of wusses, but you seem to be lacking the stones to even say what you think in public, while also claiming that the majority of Pakistan thinks the way you do. In my view, you're the confused wuss.

My concept of ghairat is to not be a boot licking house nigger who hates his own identity and background more than the goras who colonized him did.

Local Liberal Dribble #78 Harish,

Thats right man...why let facts stand in the way when some dude on the net says otherwise. Did I tell you my daddy was the first man on Mars?

Local Liberal Dribble Actually, I just remembered that I'm thinking of Hamidm rather than you (living in Detroit). Scratch that.

Its still a fact that that is the Pakistan Army motto regardless of whether you are aware of it or not. And people who die on duty in our armed forces are called Shaheed. One would think that the people who enjoy this protection would in turn have some respect.

Local Liberal Dribble Tahmed32,

"I never heard of this kind of rubbish from anyone other than mullahs."

If I recall, you live in Detroit with your religious wife who is an ex-classmate and major fan of Imran Khan...but I digress....just because you haven't heard of it living in Detroit, doesn't mean that it isn't a fact you retard. Check it out from someone who is actually in Pakistan and knows the army.

Local Liberal Dribble HP,

I forgot to mention....did you realize that the motto of the Pakistan army has always been, "Jihad fi sabiillah"? Our boyys have always defended Pakistan in the name of Allah and Islam...It is Islamic sentiment that protects our country because bhayghayrat anti-Islamic fanatics like you wouldn't dare take the risk to fight and die for this country...you have no faith in anything. If you insist on being a bhayghayrat...that is your prerogative, but you should recognize who has been defending this country and you should have some respect.

Local Liberal Dribble HP,

You're a total hypocrite man...why don't you see it?

"I would attribute this more to the mullah threats of declaring anyone opposing them blasphemous or non Muslim. Mullah supports the laws used against the naysayers. The reason for the aggression is to stifle the debate."

You're the one saying that those who you disagree with are insane and therefore cannot be reasoned with!! Now you say that if the other side holds this same point of view about you....its unfair? There is your hypocrisy right there! Also....personally I dont believe you wont say what you think in public because of this reason...I feel it has more to do with the fact that you realize you are just a fringe burger boy who's out of touch with reality and too scared to to speak in public IN PERSON.

"I would welcome the opportunity. Can you suggest any newspaper in Pakistan to publish my thoughts against mullah and his ideology? For starter, can you take the initiative and ask the mullah to support the removal of the anti blasphemy laws from the books? The only purpose of that law is to block any challenge to the religious bigotry in Pakistan."

I am glad that you keep showing your intolerance. You keep referring to a whole segment of society that you disagree with as "mullah" as if you are talking about one single person. And...if you have the guts to say what you think...then you shouldn't need laws to support you...cmon dude...be a proud burger.

Really? Is that all you got man? A little ranting and pissing about "mullah" and "i hate you people" kind of tantrums? Can you picture a loser burger like you leading any kind of movement in Pakistan except his little group of 3-4 bhayghayrat burger friends?

Forgotten President & Shape of Things to Come? Jayp,

#120....shows that you're just a racist behind all your bullshit talk about the modern world, secularism, peace, etc. Your opposition, no matter how you mask it, is based on your hatred of people who practice Islam just because they are Muslim. Those who proclaim to be secular-liberal would do well to recognize the type of bedfellows that their agenda brings.

Local Liberal Dribble HP,

I think it only makes sense to say what you're willing to also say in public, otherwise you're either a hypocrite....or so much on the fringe that you dont have enough people who agree with you to have the guts to say it in public. Honestly I find it pathetic that there are so many fanatic secularists who say so much about mullahs that they would not dare say in public. I wonder if its because they're hypocrites and know what they're saying is bullshit and unrealistic, or they know they're such a marginal group that they'll be talking to a loser/fringe audience of extremists who are out of touch with reality. Which one are you HP? Can I invite you to present your anti-mullah manifesto anywhere in Pakistan on a public podium?

Local Liberal Dribble Grandtruckroad,

I totally agree with you.

HP,

You are basically doing the same thing that Piracha is and that is to divide between into an "us" and "them"....the "them" being mullahs. Furthermore, to feel that you have the power to label a group insane or crazy because you don't agree with their views or logic is the definition of intolerance and I think it is YOU and PIRACHA who have adopted that takfiri brand of logic.

Local Liberal Dribble Piracha,

You are a fanatic who sugar coats his words to make it sound as if he's the one who's the true moderate.

"It offered nothing new (or "offensive") as answers. It simply repeated the dreadful old act of a "moderate Muslim" soft-feathering a hardliner with counter quotes from the Hadith and certain worn out clichés about social and parental responsibilities."

So in your view....the answer must be offensive to Islam and observant Muslims in order to qualify as an answer. Anyone who does not take your totally confrontational and arrogant approach is dismissed by you as a "moderate"....well at least you admit that you're an extremist.

"Also, I think it's time we start addressing irrationally-charged matters like religious fanaticism as a psychological issue rather than an intellectual or an ideological one."

Its a good thing nobody gives a **** what you think Piracha. In your words here you are saying that the views that you are disagreeing with do not even qualify as legitimate views and those people are mentally ill. Therefore you are likely against any form of dialogue with insane people and your only solution would be violence. Its a good thing that you're only a loser writer and have no say in any affairs of importance.

"And was Fawad really cured when he went into the mosque and deliver the azaan in a baseball cap?"

So you come out of your shell......it is clear that you believe that people who have deeply held religious beliefs are inferior to you at some level, but to go to the extent of viewing those other people as insane is the very definition of intolerance. You're damned lucky that civil society in Pakistan is totally bhay-ghayrat and that your twisted views are widely held in these circles.

May I ask...will you be volunteering yourself for these proposed military operations against these insane people whom you disagree with?

Why the American War on Terror is Failing Miserably Personally I dont think that it makes sense to be so paranoid about an Indian invasion. In this day and age, the idea of an invasion can only be entertained by the sole superpower who too has suffered as a result of these kinds of misadventures. So, I feel that there is absolutely no need to defend ourselves against India beyond our nuclear capabilities.

With so much of our budget going to the army, there is no way that we can advance ourselves so we should realize that the Indian threat is more of a locally concocted bogeyman than a reality. Besides, we Muslims (and I'm not talking Jihadis) have enough pull inside India to destabilize that country entirely and bring it to its knees so I doubt very much that India would ever attempt such a foolish thing regardless of Pakistan's difficulties. However, I think its best to leave that kind of adversarial thinking behind and focus on our real problems which are a true economic and political independence from the US and the western powers. We are not yet totally free and its not the Indians we need to worry about, its the Americans and our own situation.