CHUP! (Changing Up Pakistan)

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84728286641637030282024-09-20T10:03:46.684-04:00CHUP! (Changing Up Pakistan)"Chup," meaning "Quiet" in Urdu, is an effort to override the hard-line voices of Pakistan so that "moderates" can speak out. CHUP! aims to encourage discourse and probe discussion on topics politically and socially pertinent to the country. The site will be a mix of news briefs, interviews, op-ed articles and various other forms of news and media.CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-55785219761637363782008-03-04T18:00:00.002-05:002008-03-04T18:01:29.408-05:00NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED!

Dear CHUP readers,I am happy to report that our new and improved website is up and running - please note the site for your records! http://www.changinguppakistan.com.For those who have email subscribed, I apologize for you having to subscribe again. I promise this is my last shift!Thanks,Kalsoom (CHUP editor)

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-38366613696817889212008-03-03T09:45:00.002-05:002008-03-03T11:59:06.664-05:00Violence Spirals as Pakistan Awaits New Government

On Monday, Reuters cited analysts who said, "A spate of suicide attacks by Islamist militants could spark a war of revenge among ethnic Pashtun tribesmen in Pakistan's northwest just as moderate, secular political parties appear poised for power." On Sunday, a suicide bomber blew himself up among thousands of tribal members discussing resistance to the Pakistani Taliban [the meeting was

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-67115000250129116922008-02-29T15:16:00.003-05:002008-02-29T15:56:04.813-05:0040 Killed in Funeral Bombing

A suicide bombing occurred today at a funeral for a police official in Swat Valley, killing at least 35 people and wounding 50, according to the latest newswire updates. According to Pakistan's The News, the blast struck just after the funeral prayers for the "martyred" police officer, Javed Iqbal, who was killed in a roadside bombing earlier on Friday. The News presented a slightly higher death

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-12171941754777437372008-02-29T09:02:00.002-05:002008-02-29T09:03:20.274-05:00Inside Pakistan's Elections - CAP's Wadhams Video Journal

An interesting perspective by Center for American Progress' Caroline Wadhams on the elections in Pakistan.

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-67046098075828887952008-02-28T10:47:00.008-05:002008-02-28T18:44:39.603-05:00Frontline Documentary- Who is the Radio Mullah?

PBS Frontline presented an insightful program entitled, "Pakistan: State of Emergency," a look into the NWFP/FATA region which has largely become a battleground between Pakistani security forces and Pakistani Taliban militants. Frontline/World reporter David Montero visited Swat Valley, "once the crown jewel of Pakistan's tourism trade," but now a haven for these extremists. In the Frontline

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-9696193752259987532008-02-27T10:14:00.006-05:002008-02-27T11:46:55.723-05:00Details Emerge on YouTube Ban

This morning, several Pakistan-related stories were prevalent in the news. However, the YouTube ban, a story that has developed over the past few days, especially piqued my interest. For those who aren't aware, officials announced Sunday that the Pakistani government had ordered all internet service providers to block YouTube because it contained "blasphemous content, videos and documents." A

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-63366231424430356432008-02-26T10:18:00.008-05:002008-02-26T15:02:27.453-05:00SUMMARY: Wilson Center Election Analysis Event 2/25

Yesterday, I attended a fascinating event at the Woodrow Wilson Center where Eric Bjornlund of Democracy International spoke of his observations while monitoring the Pakistani elections last Monday. Also on the panel were Hassan Abbas, a research fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and a former Pakistani government official, Hasan-Askari Rizvi, the Pakistan

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-12489100064275199222008-02-25T09:56:00.002-05:002008-02-25T11:02:48.671-05:00Bomb Attack Kills Pakistani General

A suicide blast in Rawalpindi today killed 8 people, including Pakistan's top army medical officer, Lt. Gen. Mushtaq Ahmed Baig, reported newswires. According to Reuters, the general "was the most senior military officer killed by militants to date." The NY Times reported, "The attack took place in a crowded, commercial neighborhood of Rawalpindi. The blast, which could be heard from several

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-66708135859549885372008-02-23T12:46:00.004-05:002008-02-23T14:33:15.557-05:00And the Talk of Coalitions Continue...

On Saturday, the Daily Times reported that elected members of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) endorsed Makhdoom Amin Fahim, the party's vice chairman, for their candidate as Prime Minister. The news agency cited a PPP official statement, which said, "In a meeting at the Zardari House in Islamabad, they also vowed an end to the presidential powers to dismiss assemblies." Moreover, the party decided

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-39890098377394212812008-02-22T00:14:00.005-05:002008-02-22T00:27:43.435-05:00Good Resources to Check Out

There are several noteworthy events coming up that I'd quickly like to highlight:Today, (Friday), the Asia Society in New York City will be holding a panel discussion in conjunction with the South Asia Journalists Association (SAJA) beginning at 8:30 am (EST). The program is an hour long and can be caught live on webcast. People can email their questions in as the event is occuring and the

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-87287698310175395102008-02-21T23:13:00.007-05:002008-02-22T00:59:42.449-05:00Opposition Agrees on Coalition Deal/ NEW POLL: What Should Musharraf Do?

On Thursday, news sources reported that the Pakistan People's Party, PPP, (technically the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians), and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the two main victors of Monday's election, agreed to form coalition governments. According to the NY Times, "The speedy accord, just three days after the overwhelming defeat of Mr. Musharraf’s party [PML-Q], was another

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-68035172426657697622008-02-19T23:03:00.003-05:002008-02-20T11:42:50.990-05:00Elections Over: Time for a New Political Landscape in Pakistan

The results from Monday's election are official - not only did the opposition win, but elections were relatively free and fair, there was little reported violence, the Karachi Stock Exchange finished at significantly higher levels, and President Pervez Musharraf and the political party that backed him, the PML-Q, accepted defeat. These developments alone should be recognized as progress,

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-49995308963259832742008-02-19T12:15:00.005-05:002008-02-19T14:07:46.886-05:00CONTRIBUTOR: Analysis of the Election Results by Fahad Hasan

The federal parliamentary election results, which are still being counted, dealt a significant blow to the Musharraf regime, since most of the cabinet members serving in the PML-Q pre-emergency government lost their contested seats. If the results continue to pan out as expected, then we will have a PPP-led coalition government with the PML-N. Therefore, they will have the power to choose the

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-59964956825029465222008-02-18T22:06:00.003-05:002008-02-18T23:05:20.961-05:00Polls Close, Counting Begins

According to news sources, President Pervez Musharraf's "allies" faced a "crushing defeat" in today's parliamentary elections. According to CNN, "In the first three counts to finish, the provincial assembly seat in Balochistan went to the Pakistan People's Party -- the party of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto -- while two independent candidates won seats from the northern

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-49874567525939062282008-02-17T19:34:00.006-05:002008-02-18T11:26:43.028-05:00ELECTIONS 2008!

The elections are upon us, and I'd like to say good luck to all who are going out to the election stations to vote. Please be careful - given the current security situation, extremist groups have been targeting polling centers in an effort to destabilize the country and intimidate voters.I'd also like to take a moment to promote a really great organization that is providing updated news on the

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-90568090011050511002008-02-16T10:51:00.005-05:002008-02-16T12:26:42.988-05:00Car Bomb Kills 27 Ahead of Pakistan Vote

A car bomb killed 27 people and wounded 93 on Saturday when it exploded in front of a (Pakistan People's Party) PPP election office in Parachinar, in northern Pakistan. The blast, reported the AFP, increased security fears on the last day of campaigning, just two days before the elections. According to CNN, "The office was used by PPP parliamentary candidate Riaz Hussein, according to party

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-53921188366517545242008-02-14T00:06:00.015-05:002008-02-14T19:00:57.862-05:00NEW POLL: Who Would You Vote for in the Feb. 18th Elections?

Last week's poll that asked, "Who should lead the PPP," produced significant results - even I was surprised, and I try to take as neutral a position as possible. Despite the fact that Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former PM Benazir Bhutto, is still followed by his former reputation as "Mr. 10%" and is widely seen as a divisive figure for the party, the majority of voters - 33% - chose him. 27%

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-63787929507885187162008-02-13T12:15:00.002-05:002008-02-13T12:49:54.727-05:00Pakistan Army Chief Orders Military Out of Civilian Government Agencies; Update on Pakistan Ambassador

According to news sources yesterday and today, the new Pakistani military chief, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani is withdrawing hundreds of army officers from civilian positions in the government "in a move widely seen as reducing the military's role in politics," noted the AFP. The NY Times reported that this action essentially "reverses an important policy of his predecessor, President Pervez Musharraf."

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-63958541871909117932008-02-12T22:46:00.009-05:002008-02-13T07:59:40.912-05:00Nawaz, Zardari to Form Coalition Gov't

According to news sources, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday that they will form a coalition government if their parties won the majority of the votes on Feb. 18th. According to Pakistan's Daily Times, Zardari, following an hour-long meeting in Lahore, told reporters that the PPP would invite the

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-59880073067648480122008-02-12T16:22:00.000-05:002008-02-12T17:06:04.966-05:00Bhutto Book Launched as "Message from Her Grave"

The party of the assassinated former PM Benazir Bhutto launched the book she completed just days before her death. Entitled, Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West, Bhutto hauntingly speculates about her own assassination and discusses the issues currently plaguing the country. The Washington Post's Pamela Constable wrote today, "There are some things only the dead can get away with

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-12364735559397306342008-02-11T11:29:00.000-05:002008-02-11T14:55:49.592-05:00New Polls Show Musharraf Approval Rating Plummeting

A new poll released Monday, a week before the scheduled Pakistani parliamentary elections, revealed that President Pervez Musharraf's popularity has hit an all-time low "and opposition parties seem capable of a landslide victory that could jeopardize his efforts to cling to power," reported the Washington Post. The poll, conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) "found that just

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-4130175358828974182008-02-10T15:29:00.000-05:002008-02-10T18:06:51.962-05:00Pakistan Attack Victims Mourned

On Saturday, 25 people were killed and 35 were injured in a suicide attack targeting an Awami National Party election rally in Charsadda. The ANP is a secular political party that competes against Islamist parties for support among the NWFP's ethnic Pashtun community. One man, who attended the funeral of two of Saturday's victims, told the Associated Press on Sunday that the ANP has "promoted

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-80338124262310123702008-02-08T15:56:00.000-05:002008-02-08T16:54:07.985-05:00Results from Scotland Yard Investigation Released; PPP Disputes Findings

On Friday, results from the widely-reported Scotland Yard investigation into the assassination of Bhutto's death dominated press coverage of Pakistan. According to the NY Times this morning, the investigation revealed that Bhutto died after hitting her head as she was tossed by the force of the suicide blast, not from an assassin's bullet, as some suggested. According to the news agency, "The

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-26218633517323122132008-02-07T11:24:00.000-05:002008-02-07T12:25:15.198-05:002 Suspects Arrested in Bhutto Killing

On Thursday, Pakistani police arrested two suspects in the suicide attack that killed former PM Benazir Bhutto on December 27th. According to the Associated Press, "Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said the two men were arrested in Rawalpindi... but gave no further details." Cheema added that he expected the two to appear in "anti-terrorism court" Friday but declined to say whether

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8472828664163703028.post-54656132477066937632008-02-06T12:35:00.000-05:002008-02-06T14:20:09.650-05:00NEW POLL: Who Should be the Leader of the PPP?

Last week's poll closed yesterday with interesting results. Despite Sen. Obama's recent hint at a U.S. intervention in Pakistan, the majority of CHUP readers still felt he should be the next U.S. president (48%). Only 20% of those who participated in the poll answered Sen. Clinton, while 16% responded that Sen. McCain should be the next man in the White House. Either our readers have immensely

CHUP! Editor [Kalsoom]http://www.blogger.com/profile/12251414335347378084noreply@blogger.com3