From the quotations of the eminent Islamic scholars, it becomes very clear that democracy is not a symbol of atheism nor is it incompatible with Islam. On the contrary, Islamic scholars have advocated a democratic variance of western democracy which will be based on the values of justice, equality, social security, equal representation in the affairs of the government and accountability which find resonance in Islam. Therefore, the views of the ignoramuses with half baked knowledge of democracy and Islamic principles in Taliban do not hold water in comparison with the analytical view of the renowned thinkers of the Islamic world like Md Iqbal, Abderrazik, Md Asad, Khurshid Ahmad, Maulana Maududi and Fathullah Gullen, to name a few....

The Taliban and the extremists have their own concept of the system of governance. To them only caliphate is acceptable as the Islamic system of governance. They have been fighting against the Muslims governments on the same ground that they are not Islamic governments but governments of apostates as they are based on democracy. To them democracy is an atheistic system of governance and so the elected rulers of Muslim democracies are Kafirs and the people too who vote them into power are Kafirs and deserve to be killed hence, the suicide bombings in residential, commercial and religious places to kill them.

The government plans to spend trillions of rupees to address the rampant unemployment and inequity affecting the minority community. But Muslim leaders advocate more focus on modern education rather than seminaries.

This is not to set up new walls or boundaries between what is Islamic and Western. This is only to suggest that we must be aware of the power-broking inherent in the act of “learning from” and in the purposes of “modernising” and “catching up.” Two centuries have not seen this process completed, not because this process somehow still needs more time, but because this process is precisely set upon concepts and categories which will forever sustain these imbalances. .....

It would be difficult to say whether new government would be able to prevent sectarianism and terrorism but there would be some clear changes in its patterns. Sectarian conflicts would arise in Pakistan and some controversial bills would be presented in national assembly. Sine sectarians are gaining political power gradually with the passage of time so it would be difficult to control them.

Areas around Brotherhood offices and the presidential palace have at times turned into battlegrounds. Scenes of civilians pelting each other with rocks or firebombs have become commonplace since the ouster of Mubarak, who would jail protesters and political opponents such as Brotherhood members.....

Has Islam given freedom to all? In a sense, Hegel was right in the context of Asian imperiums. Islam gave to the faithful a saying in the Mosque, a canon, the Koran, to judge the ruler. But nothing actually changed from the practices of Eastern despotism. Islam didn't produce free citizens as political agents but kept the subjects of Asiatic empires subject to the will of the one....

After more than two years of conflict, Syria is breaking up. A constellation of armed groups battling to advance their own agendas are effectively creating the outlines of separate armed fiefs. As the war expands in scope and brutality, its biggest casualty appears to be the integrity of the Syrian state....

In those first minutes, they’ll be stunned. Eyes fixed in a thousand-yard stare, nerve endings numbed. They’ll just stand there. Soon, you’ll notice that they are holding their arms out at a 45-degree angle. Your eyes will be drawn to their hands and you’ll think you mind is playing tricks. But it won’t be. Their fingers will start to resemble stalactites, seeming to melt toward the ground. And it won’t be long until the screaming begins. Shrieking. Moaning. Tens of thousands of victims at once.....

There is an air of triumph and hope in Pakistan. A massive turnout in the elections to the 14th Majlis-e-Shoura (Parliament) and four Provincial Assemblies, held under the shadow of the gun, a near-decisive victory for a single party and the astonishing spectacle of an ordered transition of power from one civilian Government to another - unprecedented in Pakistan's twisted history, have produced euphoria and an expectation that all that is to come can only be better than the benighted past.....

As Pakistanis are hunkering down for an election in which for the first time in 65 years, one elected government will hand over power to another elected government, I’ve been watching from afar and thinking about what we’ve seen unfold in the past year. Sometimes those of us who are physically at a distance can get an objective bird’s eye view. ....

Still, go and vote. Take your best choice. If that is not available then take the second best and if you do not even find that then put your vote in the cancelled vote list! Even that is one way of expressing your will, but vote one should. A cancelled vote will show your lack of confidence in the system or support of the boycotting parties, i.e. the APML and Awami Tehrik.....

Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution were hotly debated a few months prior to the elections and were specifically highlighted during the sit in by Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri in January this year. Although Qadri was himself cheated by the then parliamentarians through a hastily drafted agreement, which was intended to be violated much before its signing ceremony; however, his efforts did highlight the relevance of the qualification and disqualification clauses for the conduct of a transparent election process and for the genesis of a healthy parliament as a result….

They can see where we are coming from. We are no Lotas- we don’t leave the country and let Martial law be imposed just so we could stay in the safe heavens of Saudi Arabia. Everyone knows how Nawaz Sharif attempted to sabotage BB’s electricity project in his tenure and at several other instances. Also, with all due respect, how in Asghar Khan’s case, Supreme Court’s alleged discrimination has been observed and how our mandate was hijacked....

As the date has drawn closer, the question, “Who to vote for?” has been discarded. Debates have quietened. Heated posts on Facebook have cooled. Campaigns have merged into one. The sentiment is one of wanting change for the better, stemming from a sickness and exhaustion of the status quo. And one message in a unifying voice amongst a divided society across a fragmented country has emerged: Vote....