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A conversation with Dr. Khalid Zaheer

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:57:51 +0000

Part 1:

Part 2:

The argument about the women’s rights bill

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:52:06 +0000

Guests: Zubair Ahmed, Marvi Sirmed, Iqbal Haider

Mac developer packages Rudix

admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:44:30 +0000

I’ve come for a very long innings of windows as a front-end and linux for development scenario. Now that I’ve switched to Macs I have native access to a fairly slick windows type interface with a linux-like workhorse in the background.

I love the fact that I can open “terminal” natively and have access to things like ssh, sftp,whois, etc. etc. But for unknown reasons (maybe obvious to some), Apple leaves out simple things like lynx, wget, and ncftp.

Trying to install any of these apps on your own only frustrates you because macOS doesn’t even package the “make” libraries by default. You need to do all kinds of things before you have access to that.

Rudix to the rescue. Rudix is a collection of Unix software delivered in packages for OS X Lion (plus Snow Leopard compatibility). “The hassle-free way to get Unix programs on Mac OS X”. Every package is self-contained and has everything it needs to work. Rudix tries its best not to add extra dependencies to anything but the native Mac OS X libraries. For the end user this translates as: install and play.

Click here for a list of packages available under Rudix

The wrath of Khan

hibahnaz — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:29:07 +0000

This article of mine was published in an online newspaper, The Nation.

Captain Kirk is trapped on a planet, and he screams the name “Khan” loudly. This is a very popular scene from the 1982 Star Trek movie “The Wrath of The Khan”.

30th October 2011. Imran Khan stood on a stage, facing thousands of people, with a gigantic Pakistan flag in the backdrop, and his wrath for those in power was loud and clear. Khan boldly went where no man had gone before. He challenged the status quo of Pakistan’s leadership successfully. Without any doubt, Pakistan’s Khan had finally arrived.

The sights and sounds at Minar-e-Pakistan that evening were powerful enough to put the fear of God in any sensible politician being challenged by hundreds of thousands of people singing the national anthem, and chanting change, in one voice. But have they actually scared anyone?

Within hours of his very successful Jalsa, Imran Khan told the press that an alliance with Nawaz Sharif is possible if the latter declares his “real” assets. Soon after, Imran Khan met with Jamat-e-Islami’s Syed Munawar Hasan to reportedly discuss an alliance.

I asked a senior member of PML-N, if PTI’s epic jalsa had sent shivers down their spine. He laughed and said it will take more than one jalsa to break down an entity as strong and deep-rooted as Mr Nawaz Sharif. He went on to say that inclusion of old faces in PTI is leaving gaping holes in its defence, through which the whole movement will collapse, and the Khan will be embarrassed.

Since then Imran Khan has rejected the possibility of alliance with any “corrupt party”, and yet made the tall claim of fielding 1000 candidates across the country, in the next general elections. In my humble opinion, without making alliances with existing players, individual or group, there is no way PTI could be in a position to even think about forming a government. Does that mean all hopes for change in the current state of affairs are lost?

Yes, if Imran Khan falls into the trap of old-school politics, and form of election. No, if he comes up with real change, which may include a change in the whole system. But how would he bring the change unless he is in power, which he can’t be without the change? Catch-22?

PTI’s only conclusive demand, declaration of “real” assets, is completely intangible and stands no ground. Millions of dollars have already been wasted by various versions of Ehtasab Bureau, and not one instance of “ill-gotten wealth” has yet been proven or recovered. What hasn’t been declared by someone as theirs, is just not theirs. It may be in the name of a son or a servant, or even a dog or a cat, but surely cannot be attributed to those accused of being the real owners of palaces and businesses.

Real change needs tangible demands. Today, with the force of millions of young Pakistanis behind him, Imran Khan wields the power to make those demands and effect real change. He holds the key to force even constitutional changes, new laws to be written and implemented, and all without actually taking office. Millions of people, standing under the one flag of Pakistan, could actually force a change in the mode of election, which is the biggest hindrance for any new leader to reach the corridors of power.

With the power of people behind him, Imran Khan can carve his way right through the obstructions that are forcing him to make weak statements like the ones mentioned above.

I think, PTI should not jump into the existing arena and take on old professional players in a game no one can possibly win. They will all gang up under the guise of “mufahimat” and coalition, and destroy any effort to dismantle their endless grip on power, at any price. We have already seen bloodshed on our streets caused by the same power game.

Imran Khan needs to have faith in the promising youth of Pakistan, who have the courage and will, to turn the tide. All they need is encouragement, guidance, a plan, and a leader. PTI needs to offer new solutions, a revolution of sorts.

In conclusion I would say that Imran Khan is standing at a moment when history is being written. Fate has given him a clean sheet of paper, with a pen only his hand can hold. Opportunity has opened wide, a door to Pakistan’s prosperous future. If he fears the moment, he will only fumble. But if he believes in the power of the wave behind him, and holds his position strong, he writes history in his own hand-writing. Imran Khan needs to overcome the temptation to play old games. Instead he needs to rewrite the game.

What has democracy done for you?

hibahnaz — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:54:38 +0000

This was also published in The Nation on the

I don’t want to get philosophical or academic, but there are multiple aspects of democracy. Democracy starts with an election, but doesn’t end there. In Pakistan, we have been made to believe that democracy is a method of electing a government. In reality, democracy is a way of thinking; a way of life.

In democracies, politicians go door to door convincing voters to consider electing them, so they may serve the community for its development. In Pakistan, however, politicians intimidate voters with guns and threaten to kidnap their daughters, or burn their houses, if the poor peasants don’t vote in favour of their landlords. Or maybe even have the lord’s dogs set loose to feast on their frail bodies.

In a democracy, the elected representatives are humble servants of the nation. In Pakistan, they run about like mafia dons, surrounded by police and private guards, crushing civilians under their cars. In most struggling countries, people go to election where they get to choose the least of the evils, only to be ruled by the worst of tyrants and oppressors. Term after term.

A democracy is not just built on an election of government, but also by an ongoing process of democratic involvement of the electorate. A day-to-day accountability of the “people’s representatives” is not just a right of the people, but also their duty. However, in Pakistan even the Constitution exonerates the President from all accusation and accountability. Not just the President, but all elected representatives, their relatives, secretaries, cooks, and even relatives of their servants, are above every law and system. The President uses the Constitution to avoid prosecution for widely proclaimed allegations and accusations; even the servants of members of Parliament and Senate, simply have to say how they are connected to the Cosa Nostra, aka political representative whose circle they are part of, and they can do anything to anyone.

All the flavours of government that we have tried in the past 60 odd years have done nothing, but damage to the people of Pakistan. However, the current one takes the cake. Regime after regime Pakistan’s resources have been swindled and potential clamped, to the point where we stand today.

The common man has no means of respectable transport, even in the mega city of Karachi. Education quality and availability keeps getting worse every day. Health services are as good as non-existent. Law and order has fallen into the dark depths of anarchy. The country is occupied by land grabbers, extortionists, kidnappers, car thieves, and phone snatchers.

Where Pakistan stands today, could very well be the plot of a fantasy epic where the dark forces have taken over and the realm has plunged into 100 years of darkness and evil. The only difference is that a saviour eventually arrives, fights the evil witch, and breaks her spell of death and mayhem. No such apparent luck here.

If democracy is what we’ve seen in the past few months, then democracy has surely been delivered to the people of Pakistan. It all started with democratic forces killing hundreds of people on the streets of Karachi, for reasons still unknown to the common man. Followed by Mr Zulfiqar Mirza’s hurling insults and allegations of treason at just about every champion of democracy. If that wasn’t enough PML-N and PPP decided to go head on with the loudest ruckus of this democratic season. With Shahbaz Sharif, Babar Awan, etc screaming some pretty vile obscenities at each other, democracy is beginning to sound like a third-rate dirty movie.

And then someone decided to add Imran Khan for good measure. By the time this goes to the press, we will be expecting a rally by MQM, in Karachi, to protest Shahbaz Sharif’s insulting words against Asif Zardari, who incidentally was MQM’s arch enemy not so long ago. Imran Khan’s supporters would be gathering for a jalsa for the rights of the people. PPP representatives, too special to name here, would be shouting obscenities against the Sharif Brothers.

It’s a Mexican standoff where every political party has a gun pointed at the other. Unfortunately, in this drop scene the innocent people of Pakistan are standing in the middle and there are guns going off all around them. Guns of poverty, joblessness, hopelessness, killings, and general chaos.

If democracy means misery for the people, absence of food, non-existent opportunities, rampant corruption, senseless ministers making ridiculous statements, and an endless list of absent governance, then democracy has surely been a great success in Pakistan.

If democracy means railways shut down, airline grounded, corporations bankrupt, institutions headed by the corrupt, and lawmakers, who even lied about their education, then democracy is a sure winner in Pakistan.

http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Opinions/Columns/30-Oct-2011/What-has-democracy-done-for-you

But I must admit that the democratic forces have played it well. Pakistan is a nation of 180 million people with great capabilities and potential, yet a handful of despots have managed to hold them hostage in the name of sacrifices and favours. My question is that if these self-proclaimed leaders and saviours were even remotely capable or loyal, this country would be doing a million times better. Pakistan has such immense potential that its democratic leaders are actually having to work real hard to keep it in such dire straits.

On a side note, today, October 30, 2011, will be a decisive day for Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) sand Imran Khan’s politics. Lately, they have been claiming to be riding a wave of change. Imran feels he is about to sweep the nation off its feet, even if only because of the failures of other parties, and not necessarily because he’s such a great leader. If today PTI can’t gather a crowd at least five times what PML-N managed last Thursday, then its claims would be nothing more than elusive dreams.

As one leader put it quite aptly, democracy is the best revenge. Sadly, the people are its victim.

Pakistan and India: Enemies forever?

hibahnaz — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:52:14 +0000

An editorial I wrote was published in Pakistan Today, an online newspaper, on the October 22, 2011.

India and Pakistan don’t have to be enemies forever. The real question is: Will they ever become friends?

Before I dive into this question, let me make a quick mention of Hillary Clinton’s visit to the region. While speaking in Kabul, last Thursday, she warned Pakistani leaders to crack down on the Afghan insurgents based in Pakistan or pay “a very big price.” While Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that America “will have to think ten times” before launching a unilateral action in North Waziristan, because “Pakistan is not Iraq or Afghanistan.” And then in Islamabad Madam Clinton said that the United States expected to see concrete operations in a matter of “days and weeks.” In a separate interview, she said: “Pakistan has to be part of the solution, or they will continue to be part of the problem.” Strongest words used by both sides during this ongoing disagreement.

Differences, interests, and aspirations of countries like Iran, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, make this the most complicated regional dynamics known to modern history, and Pakistan is right in the middle of it. Pakistan’s geographical position, and its great asset has become its greatest liability. There are countries fighting and funding proxy wars on our streets, while others are trying to get access to our routes to warm waters. A violent tussle to take control of its assets by various countries has divided the people of Pakistan to the point of a civil war. Drained its resources, almost triggering financial collapse. Weakened a nation with great potential to the extent that it is being openly called a “failed State” ready to split into political or tribal fiefdoms.

But what does all this have to do with India and Pakistan becoming friends? Quite a lot. The Indian leaders have on many occasions predicted and wished for Pakistan’s collapse. We keep hearing across the border voices demanding the re-inclusion of Pakistan into India. It is no secret that India has not only engineered trouble in Pakistan, but also instigated USA to hurt us whenever possible. Right after the Osama incident, the Indian leaders also aired their desire to take unilateral actions into Pakistan. India’s intentions are not a secret.

The rhetoric, which originates from various Indian politicians and leaders, are indicative of a hidden common sentiment of most Indians; Pakistan as an independent State is not acceptable to them, and they want it to be re-assimilated into India.

Maps change, boundaries are redrawn. India needs to come to terms with the fact that Pakistan is now a sovereign State, and will stay that way. We too had to bite the bullet with East Pakistan becoming Bangladesh.

Since partition, India, in alliance with England, gave Pakistan an unfair deal in the division of money, assets, industry, land, etc. The gap has only deepened with every blow, hidden and apparent, that has come our way from India. In 1947, England favoured Hindus against Muslims, and now United States is openly helping India gain regional supremacy at the cost of Pakistan’s annihilation. In return, America will get a bully in the region, and India’s Chanakyan spirit will get schadenfreude.

Conspiracy theorists believe that India is interested in an unstable Pakistan. However, I believe that is far from true. An unstable and untamed Pakistan doesn’t suit anyone’s interest, especially not India’s! What India really wants is a subservient Pakistan, which can only be achieved through its division or complete economic collapse.

India knows very well that it is almost impossible to conquer Pakistan as long as it stands united, under one purpose, and under one flag. But a divided and shattered Pakistan would pose no opposition to occupation on ground, through mind, and in pocket.

Just the other day, Pakistan was forced to give India “the most favoured nation” status, which would work as a first step to more open trade between the two countries. A step that I believe would be disastrous for Pakistan, even though the policy’s proponents keep trying to sell its benefits. Even India had its imports shut tight till very recently, until their own industry had been strengthened to the point where it faced no threat. An open trade policy with an industrial giant like India would decimate Pakistan’s economy overnight. It will take away the already dwindling job opportunities from millions of people. This is exactly what India wants.

Simultaneously, the American backed governments of Pakistan have successfully destroyed the country’s industrial base. Be it through law and order crisis, or pathetic policies, industry has been categorically pushed out of Pakistan to countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. What’s left has been crippled by energy, gas or other infrastructure shortages. Even most of our top politicians have huge industrial investments out of Pakistan. The very same politicians have also been dividing the nation on basis of language, sectarianism, provinces, and anything else they can come up with.

At the same time, campaigns spending huge amounts of money from unknown sources have been claiming to bring India and Pakistan closer through art and music. If only it was that simple. I get into these arguments every time and I’m told that our real roots lie in India; that genetically and historically, we are closest to them, thus, an alliance of homogeneity is but natural. Again, I believe that this is impossible because of differences and interests that go much deeper than a song or a dance.

If America had any real interest in settling this region, it would force a settlement of the Kashmir dispute through a plebiscite. If America was sincere with Pakistan, it would stop manipulating our downfall through leaders who are really just agents of disaster planted through the NRO or other deals brokered in (or by) Washington. America claims they give us billions of dollars in aid; if it really wanted to help Pakistan, it would invest directly in infrastructure, hospitals, power generation, and things that matter, instead of greasing palms of corrupt leaders, who are loyal not to the people of Pakistan, but to their personal investments and children in the West.

Failing to do so poses a real problem not just for Pakistan, but also for those meddling in its affairs. Pakistan may be small, militarily ill equipped, led by weaklings intimidated by the US, but it has a unique ability to form some very key alliances, which are capable of becoming a formidable power, if the need ever arises.

India and Pakistan may have the same history, but definitely not the same interests, nor direction. Given India’s lack of acceptance of Pakistan as a reality, the best one can hope for is a cautious calm. Individuals from both sides may become friends, sing a few songs, or even do business together; but as nations, I believe, India and Pakistan will never be friends.

Can Pakistan survive without America?

hibahnaz — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:50:11 +0000

Pakistan Today, an online newspaper, published this on October 16, 2011.

What may sound like a rhetorical question, is actually a statement made every time the United States of America turns up the heat against Pakistan. American politicians start with, “we should cut Pakistan’s aid”, which is followed by “…….do you really think we can afford to live without America?” by their Pakistani counterparts. The truth is that not even a fraction of this aid has benefited the average Pakistani, and yet every one of us, even the unborn, are under a debt that is impossible to pay.

We need to start by looking at what we actually get from being “with” America. We sacrifice thousands of civilians and soldiers fighting a war we didn’t start. We are juggled between incompetent and corrupt regimes, which are provided support by America, as experiments in governance. Our growth opportunities are restricted and our reputation hostage to careless statements by insignificant politicians and journalists in the West. No matter how hard Pakistan’s armed forces fight the war on terror, their efforts are disregarded and all we hear is “do more or face the consequences.”

Being an ally of America only ensures an economy in nosedive, with no visible possibility of recovery. We are ruled by dictatorial democracies, or democratic dictators, who keep breaking their own records of corruption. This alliance has engaged the whole nation in an unwinnable war. Yet, Pakistan is being forced to wage war on a people who are not our enemies, and could even be of benefit to us as an ally. At the same time, America herself is opening doors for talks with the very same people, i.e. the Haqqanis.

Today we are governed, or misgoverned, by an assembly of so-called people’s representatives with fake degrees and charges of atrocious corruption, pretending to understand complex documents like the Kerry-Lugar Bill. An assembly of gutless politicians who take hours to pass multiple resolutions against drone attacks on our soil, but don’t have an iota of courage or any intention to actually do something about it.

We have leaders who have amassed unimaginable wealth illegally, and placed most of it abroad. Their children go to school there; their businesses and properties are in the swankiest areas of Manhattan and London. They buy mansions in Spain and palaces in Surrey. They live on properties spread over thousands of acres and speak of the poor man’s plight.

Pakistanis have been pushed into a state of turmoil, divided into factions, and drowned in hopelessness. An environment which keeps pushing our best brains out of the country; leaving behind a population that is dependent not only on its failed leaders, but also their foreign masters who help engineer their entry and exit from power. In addition, this exodus provides a highly capable, yet cheap workforce to countries like America, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. Eventually our own brains, our assets, are used against us in more ways than one. Truly Machiavellian.

Pakistan was a nation poised for greatness. An agricultural country capable of not just feeding itself, but a few others as well. A country with great natural resources. Pakistan’s sportsmen dazzled the world of Cricket, Hockey, and Squash for decades, and are capable of much more. This soil has produced philosophers, scholars, artists, poets, painters, physicians, and even nuclear scientists. A people with more than average intelligence by any standard. Even today, the world’s record setting students are Pakistanis.

Pakistan is the only country whose armed forces defend their land and people for a belief, a faith, and a purpose. If Pakistan’s American-influenced governments had not made blatantly bad choices, we could have been seeing China and India face to face in matters of economy and international importance. We could have been standing shoulder to shoulder with the world’s most productive nations. It is still possible.

Pakistan had and has the potential to be a buoyant nation with no lack of opportunity, resource, or manpower. Good or bad, Pakistan’s majority population is young and vibrant; an asset that could very easily be turned into a great force for development. If we could only remove the hurdles of incompetence and corruption from our systems, this young force could be launched in the direction of unmatched growth.

Pakistanis can prosper only if they break away from being allies of America. Pakistani youth will be educated and employed if and only if their fate is not in the hands of leaders whose children go to school in Oxford, and have businesses worth billions all over the world. Pakistan’s foreign policy will be in Pakistan’s interest, and not that of a Foreign Minister who carries a handbag worth tens of thousands of dollars to meetings. Pakistan’s security and defence will be ensured only if her ambassador to the United States of America doesn’t issue hundreds of visas to paid mercenaries in one night, after office hours.

If anything, American warmongers would be left without a supply route to their forces in Afghanistan and without the 180 million Pakistanis fighting and paying the price for the war on a terror America began, but has not itself paid as dearly for.

So, can Pakistan survive without America? I would conclude that Pakistan can survive ONLY without America. I wish I could say the same about Pakistan’s self-proclaimed saviours and leaders.

Being bad is easier than being good

hibahnaz — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:55:22 +0000

"Why is it that we have to "try" so hard to be good. But being comes to us effortlessly and naturally?"

The meaning of freedom of speech

hibahnaz — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:41:03 +0000

"Does freedom of speech mean you can misbehave, use foul language, or attack someone else personally?"

Believing in a religion when you don't practically follow it

hibahnaz — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:21:44 +0000

"Is there any purpose in believing in a religion that you don't practically follow?"