Hold Them Accountable :: Reservations and Quotas
Recent articles from the archives
Why Me?
Awais Memon Nov 30, 2007He created the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS, received the first Annual AIDS Leadership Award, and addressed the United Nations on World AIDS Day.
The Empire Strikes Again in Pakistan
Karamatullah K Ghori Nov 5, 2007Throttling democracy and shackling human rights of 160 million Pakistanis, Musharraf still has the gall to liken his ignoble daylight robbery to Lincoln’s historic nobility.
The Hegemony of the “Cause”
Sangeeta Mahapatra Jul 12, 2007There is something inherently flawed about the notion of placing a cause, however just and noble, before human life.
Talking Tall on Human Rights
Joe Athialy May 15, 2007India talks tall on human rights in its attempt to seek re-election to the Human Rights Council.
Guddi
Tahera Sajid May 9, 2007'Am I forever destined to wish better luck to others when nothing good ever comes my way?'
A Profile In Courage
Rakesh Mani Apr 22, 2007A recipient of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award in Pakistan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s most prestigious human rights honour, she declined an offered post as the first female judge on the Pakistan Supreme Court, stating she thought she could effe
Mirza Tahir Hussain – the ongoing tragedy
Musa Sami Oct 31, 2006Prince Charles’ visit to Pakistan has brought into sharp focus the case of Mirza Tahir Hussain, a 36 year old dual British and Pakistani national who has been on and off death row for the last 18 years.
Children of a Lesser God
Ishrat Saleem Sep 27, 2006Last week, a number of eunuchs holding placards gathered in front of the parliament building to protest against the excesses of their leader, Bobby Guru. They also made it a point to support the debate on the Hudood laws in parliament, thereby maki
Siachen’s Non-paper and the Non-people
M I Khan Apr 10, 2006Calls for restoring road links between Baltistan and Ladakh, two perfectly peaceful places, have so far fallen on deaf ears in Delhi and Islamabad
33 Years and Counting
B Waraich Aug 26, 2005The issue of 54 prisoners from the 1971 war continues to fester- when will the truth come out?
Towards a shackled society, perhaps
Omar R Quraishi Jul 20, 2005The vague and ambiguous provision of “ensuring Islamic values at public places” is bound to open a Pandora’s box because it would be safe to assume that the person whom the NWFP government will appoint as ombudsman will share the MMAR
Sui Incident: A PR Disaster
Riffat Jahan Mar 16, 2005Officers operating in this institutional milieu can go to any length - sometimes on the orders of their chiefs, sometimes responding to their own lust.
Jirga injustice
Beena Sarwar Nov 15, 2004From 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.
Women, Conflict and Conflict Prevention
Naveen Qayyum Nov 15, 2004Women have a much bigger stake in the conflict prevention and peace process along with the other peace partners since they have remained and still are the victims to the most horrendous cruelties of war including rape, sexual slavery, prostitution, displa
Child Camel Jockeys
Reza Malik Oct 25, 2004Inhumane practice of using little children as camel jockeys in the UAE and the resulting mental and physical torture they go through.
No Compromise on Murder
Beena Sarwar Oct 17, 2004The 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.
Breaking the Silence
Beena Sarwar May 14, 2004Such 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?
Inhuman Right Organizations in Nepal
Rajeeb Satyal Apr 12, 2004It is as painful for any Nepali to see a security person die, as it is to see any Maoist die. But unfortunately the Human Right Organizations do not seem to view human right situation from this angle. They choose to take side.
Civilisation That Isn’t
Beena Sarwar Apr 4, 2004What leads people to not just kill another human being, but to inflict pain and torture before killing, and then mutilate the bodies afterwards?


