Baithak Desi Jun 17: Bina Shah, Minoo Bhandara, Anjum Niaz, News & Views, Cartoons

An equal number of readers showed their displeasure at what they took to be my so-called defence of piri-muridi and feudalism. I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or bang my head against a wall at the fact that my message was so badly misunderstood by my compatriots. Rather than defend a defunct, corrupt system, I had said that these systems must be thoroughly and honestly evaluated for their strengths and weaknesses in their historical context. It would be ridiculous to suggest that these systems remain unchanged for an eternity. Furthermore, what eventually happens to these systems is up to the people of Sindh, not me. Change will come if people truly desire it, but as long as they continue to criticise from afar and do nothing about the status quo, nothing will happen. If we Sindhis want to see progress in our province, we are going to have to work for it.What do Sindhis want? by Bina Shah


What a gentleman, what a parliamentarian, and what a human being! He was loved by so many. He mentored so many. He was a people's person. Today as I write about him few hours after his death, I cannot help but think of what courage he demonstrated as a parliamentarian representing the minorities, by picking up the most controversial liberal progressive agenda. He ruffled so many religious sensitivities and yet he stood tall till the end, only to be taken away from us by his dream of seeing the famous Taklamakan desert in China. Whether one agreed with his causes or not is not important today. It's the conviction with which he picked these causes as a Treasury bench member which is noteworthy. On the opposition benches it is only but natural to demonstrate greater oversight authority over the executive. But doing the same whilst sitting on the treasury benches requires double the courage.Minoo Bhandara - Marvi Memon


Once more the people have been cuckolded. They dreamt of a soft revolution in front of the parliament house. They dreamt of a positive change. They dreamt of jumpstarting Pakistan's destiny to make it move forward. In sum, you and I dreamt of days ahead to be free of bad laws, bad men, bad judges and bad governance. We hoped things would be different this time around. Instead, what did the day after look like? It looked like exactly the day before the long march. Flaccid, impotent and obsessive. Anjum Niaz


News & Views


Aitzaz under fire over decision to ‘skip’ sit-in
Rs389bn Punjab budget unveiled: Rs17bn allocated for pro-poor subsidy
Rs267.7bn deficit budget for Sindh
NWFP presents Rs107bn surplus budget
Bad Governance: Gilani turns away from cutting size of government
KARACHI: The turbulent life and times of Sibghatullah Shah
In Urdu: Nazir Naji's Take on the March


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Maxim - Today's Cartoon