09 Dec 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Two journalists were among 50 people killed by suicide bombers on December 6. Abdul Wanab, from Express News and Pervez Khan Waqt TV died and a third journalist Mohib Ali was injured in the attack on an administrative building in the town of Ghanalai, on the border with Afghanistan. The journalists were covering a peace jirga in which local government officials and tribal elders were discussing an anti-Taliban strategy.
23 Aug 10 | Uncategorized
It’s reassuring that defence secretary Liam Fox isn’t very busy. In spite of an ongoing war, massive budget cuts, and the threat of resurgent violent republican groups in Northern Ireland, Fox obviously has plenty of time on his hands to talk about computer games.
What’s less reassuring is that when Fox does talk about computer games, he comes up with an opinion as silly and nonsensical as calling for a game to be banned.
Fox thinks war game Medal Of Honour should not be stocked in shops, cos you can play as the Taliban as well as playing as Nato forces.
“It’s shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban. At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost husbands. I am disgusted and angry. It’s hard to believe any citizen of our country would wish to buy such a thoroughly un-British game. I would urge retailers to show their support for our armed forces and ban this tasteless product.”
Does Fox really think that soldiers in Afghanistan are weeping themselves to sleep at night due of the thought that someone might be playing the baddies in a computer game? Does he think that Medal Of Honour might encourage young people to join the Taliban? Did Fox only ever play Escape From Colditz as the British? Was Buckaroo banned from his house because it endorsed animal cruelty? And how pathetic is this attempt to curry favour with the military shortly before he starts sacking people?
We need answers!
11 May 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
Film-maker Asad Qureshi and his fixer Colonel Iman were released last Thursday after being held captive by the Pakistani Taliban for over a month. Khalid Khwaja, the other member of their party was found dead on 30 April in North Waziristan. The two men were been handed over to the Haqqani network, an independent negotiations team who have close links with the Taliban. No ransom money has been paid.
05 May 10 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Twenty-four different radio stations were prevented from broadcasting BBC Urdu bulletins on 27 April. According to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) the 24 stations had neglected to seek permission to broadcast foreign content.
