Author: Dr Khalil Ahmad

Dr. Khalil is a political economist and a political philosopher. He cherishes a cosmopolitan spirit and considers himself a moralist and a rationalist. He founded the first free market think tank in Pakistan, Alternate Solutions Institute. He wrote/published hundreds of articles on the various aspects of political economy of Pakistan, and on a variety of issues.He is author of a number of books that include "Pakistan Mein Riyasati Ashrafiya Ka Urooj"; "Siyasi Partian Ya Siyasi Bandobast"; "Pakistani KashaKash" in Urdu; and "Charter of Liberty" and "Pakistan's Democratic Impasse" in English.

Finished reading The Din-e-Ilahi or The Religion of Akbar

Finished reading (February 23), Makhanlal Roychoudhury, M.A., B.L, SASTRI’s The Din-e-Ilahi or The Religion of Akbar. The 396-page book was published in 1941 by the University of Calcutta. The book dispels many a misunderstanding about the Din-e-Ilahi and Akbar.
First the contents:
Synopsis
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter I – The Indian Background
Chapter II – The Central Asian Background
Chapter III – The Pendulum Oscillates
Chapter IV – The Period of Quest (The IbadatKhana)
Appendix A. The Muslim Rulers of the 16th century (The Mahzar)
Appendix B. Three Paintings of the Ibadat Khana
Chapter V – The Forces at Work
Section 1. The Sunnis at the Court of Akbar
Section 2. The Shias at the Court of Akbar
Section 3. The Hindus at the Court of Akbar
Section 4. The Zoroastrians at the Court of Akbar
Section 5. The Jains at the Court of Akbar
Section 6. The Sikhs at
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State Aristocracy’s Pakistan – 19: CDA ignores owners, awards plots to civil and military bureaucrats

ISLAMABAD: In yet another example of might is right, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has secretly awarded plots to top civil and military bureaucrats in recently acquired sectors while thousands of poor affectees (affected!) are running from pillar to post to get compensation for their land taken by the authority about four years ago.
According to documents, the authority announced a compensation award for the affectees (affected!) of sectors C-13, C-14, C-15 and C-16 on Dec 2, 2008 promising to compensate them within six months under land sharing policy. 
However, the poor affectees (affected!) with no political connections have yet to receive compensation for the land, they owned for hundreds of years. Similarly, the affectees (affected!) of Sector D-13 are also waiting for compensation for last many years. 
However, documents revealed that a former director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and two former members of CDA Board immediately got plots
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Whose Pistol is it anyway?

Today’s The Express Tribune carried the following news:
Forensics Investigation
Same pistols used to kill 90 in Karachi
Newsdesk: The investigators in the modern forensics department in Karachi have concluded that 90 persons were killed using the same three pistols in the provincial capital. The victims include Shia, Sunni and members of political parties, Special Assistant of the Sindh Home Ministry, Sharfudding Memon told BBC that in some of the cases not only weapons used were common but also the strategy used for the same. According to police statistics, last year 2,300 persons were killed in Karachi whereas in 2011 the number was 1,800. Memon said that the forensic department in Karachi is established on modern lines and using its state-of-the-art technology it has investigated about 1,100 cases of murder in the city.
See the picture of the news item:

[The Express Tribune, February 21, 2013]
Yesterday, an Urdu daily,
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Who are these “Men of Opinion” – promoting their opinion at the cost of taxpayers’ money! – 3

In Pakistan, political meanness has thousands of ways to maneuver the things!
Obviously, if one doesn’t follow moral principles, no rules, no laws could restrain him from doing what he is intent upon doing!
In view of the forthcoming general elections in the country, “The ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) has slapped a ban on ads carrying pictures of political leaders on TV channels and newspapers. It also warned of action over violation of its directives.” (The News, January 4, 2013) 
However, among other things, for the last few days, newspapers are publishing the following ads with pictures of “men of opinion” commending the “Services of the Government of Sindh.”
See some more instances:

[The Express Tribune, The News, February 19, 2013]

[The Express Tribune, The News, February 20, 2013]

See the previously posted instances!
Who are these “Men of Opinion” – promoting their opinion at the cost of taxpayers’ money! – 1
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State Aristocracy’s Pakistan – 18: Dr. Qadri enjoys VVIP security at government’s expense

ISLAMABAD: At least 40 cops including several elite commandoes and two vehicles of the Punjab police are delegated for round-the-clock security of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) Chairman Dr. Tahirul Qadri, who is spending approximately Rs2 million per month from the provincial coffer. His security paraphernalia consists of a total of one sub-inspector, four head constables, 22 constables, 12 elite force commandoes, two drivers and two vehicles, a senior Punjab government official told The News.
This is apart from the personal guards that Dr. Qadri has hired from a private firm for his security and dozens of his own party men, who perform similar duties with him. Of the Punjab government security personnel, the official said, one sub-inspector, three head constables and 18 constables are deployed at the PAT chief’s Model Town residence. One head constable and four constables are detailed at the nearby Minhajul Quran Markaz in the same vicinity
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Who are these “Men of Opinion” – promoting their opinion at the cost of taxpayers’ money! – 2

In Pakistan, political meanness has thousands of ways to maneuver the things!
Obviously, if one doesn’t follow moral principles, no rules, no laws could restrain him from doing what he is intent upon doing!
In view of the forthcoming general elections in the country, “The ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) has slapped a ban on ads carrying pictures of political leaders on TV channels and newspapers. It also warned of action over violation of its directives.” (The News, January 4, 2013) 
However, among other things, for the last few days, newspapers are publishing the following ads with pictures of “men of opinion” commending the “Services of the Government of Sindh.”
See some more instances:
[Roznama Express, The News, The Express Tribune, February 13, 2013]
[Roznama Express, The News, The Express Tribune, February 14, 2013]

See the previous post!
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State Aristocracy’s Pakistan – 17: Transparency raises questions about Rs.5 billion Bilawal House in Lahore

ISLAMABAD: The newly constructed 200-kanal palace in Bahria Town Lahore named Bilawal House, said to be worth Rs5 billion and allegedly gifted to the President of Pakistan, has come under severe criticism from Transparency International.
TIP, in a letter to the Supreme Court, NAB and many other organisations, has asked how the president can receive the ‘gift’, as no government servant can accept any gift while in service. The spokesman of Bahria Town, Col (retd) Khalil when contacted said it was not in his knowledge and only Malik Riaz 
can reveal the actual situation. Malik Riaz Hussain could not be contacted for comments. 
The Supreme Court of Pakistan, the chairman National Accountability Bureau, the chairman Public Accounts Committee and the federal minister of finance have also been sent letters by the Transparency International regarding 200-kanal palace allegedly gifted to the president just ahead of the general election. 
Transparency International Pakistan
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Who are these “Men of Opinion” – promoting their opinion at the cost of taxpayers’ money! – 1

In Pakistan, political meanness has thousands of ways to maneuver the things!
Obviously, if one doesn’t follow moral principles, no rules, no laws could restrain him from doing what he is intent upon doing!
In view of the forthcoming general elections in the country, “The ECP(Election Commission of Pakistan) has slapped a ban on ads carrying pictures ofpolitical leaders on TV channels and newspapers. It also warned of action overviolation of its directives.” (The News, January 4, 2013) 
However, among other things, for the last few days, newspapers are publishing the following ads with pictures of “men of opinion” commending the “Services of the Government of Sindh.”
See some instances:
[The News, February 9, 2013]
[The News, February 10, 2013]
[The News, February 11, 2013]
[The News, The Express Tribune, Roznama Express, February 12, 2013]
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Saving Humanity from the Grind of Education

The Grind of Education is milling generations of human beings to waste their life, talent, creativity, and the genius of their unique individuality in a drab of degrees and diplomas. It’s by taxing heavily the growth and development of the human world holding it back instead.
That’s why especially political elites (read States and Governments) are fond of it. They have inspired a huge industry of NGOs and a flourishing crop of intellectuals to come to exist which remain busy to put more and more pressure on states and governments to allocate more and more funds for Education.
Among other things, that justifies the political elites’ indoctrination of individual citizens with their ideologies. It’s a long list of unending artificial constructs, such as nation-ism, ethnic-ism, class-ism, religion-ism, sect-ism, language-ism, province-ism, party-ism, clan-ism, caste-ism, so and so forth, that by feeding which the political elites prey on the lives of individual
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