How to Pakistan

Welcome to How to Pakistan 2024! We kick off with some Big Democrat Energy from Mr Fasi Zaka. Holla at ya boys

We're back! Why is Malala Yousafzai a feminist icon? Why is Firdous Ashiq Awan not a feminist icon? The punches. The stupidity. The genius. How to Pakistan's first episode in over a year. Come back! The links we promised: 1) Rafia Zakaria’s brilliant piece on Malala - https://thebaffler.com/alienated/free-malala-zakaria 2) Dr Ayesha Razzaque’s piece on the HEC - https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/846480-academic-corruption 3) The Guardian review of the new book by Dr Marianna Mazzucato, “Mission Economy” - https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/20/mission-economy-by-mariana-mazzucato-review-the-return-of-the-state

Journalist Nadir Hassan died on April 30, 2020 at the age of 37. He was a prolific writer, clear headed, unambiguous and intellectually gifted. Fasi and Mosharraf talk about Nadir, and his generation of writers, academics and public intellectuals in Pakistan, with Omar Waraich and Shakir Husain.

On Episode 03 of How to Pakistan's Season of Covid-19 we talk about the demolition of illegal settlements in Islamabad, the Corona virus attacking members of our little How to Pakistan family in the UK, and whether this represents a moment of real, substantive change, or just a speed bump in our collective global dysfunction.

Our Season of Corona continues with Episode 02, in which we talk to economist and the former Chairman of the Board of Investment, Haroon Sharif. How does an economy like Pakistan's survive this pandemic? We talk about sugar cartels, the role of the bureaucracy, the opportunity for reform, and the future of economic diplomacy. We also discuss Haroon's recent paper for the Jinnah Institute, which you can read here: https://jinnah-institute.org/publication/india-pakistan-and-the-pandemic-community-of-shared-future/?doing_wp_cron=1586709661.1415810585021972656250

Everything has changed. So we have too. Our Season of Corona begins with Episode 01, where we try to establish how to talk about this pandemic. Our first How to Pakistan with video - clips of which will be uploaded on our Twitter handle. If you love us, you'll find it. Meanwhile, the Dave Chappelle clip referenced in this episode, upon the mention of Care Bears? Here it is: https://youtu.be/VfgwEpVSsEo Spread love. Be lovely.

The global conversation around sexual violence has created the space to engage on vital issues of justice, equality and fairness. The manifestations of the #metoo movement in Pakistan, such as Jami's allegations, often get entangled with other, concurrent but unrelated power dynamics. How do we engage with the issues? How do we fulfill our responsibility to protect? How do we avoid unfairness or libel? We asked the head of the Digital Rights Foundation, WEF Young Global Leader, and renowned activist Nighat Dad (pronounced Daad) for her help. This is the bilingual conversation that ensued. Digital Rights Foundation - https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk

Fasi and Mosharraf are joined by lawyer Umer Gilani and strategic affairs expert Hassan Akbar of the Jinnah Institute. They discuss the General Musharraf verdict, the imminent Indian attack on Pakistan and the state and fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Umer Gilani has studied law at the Lahore University of Management Sciences and the University of Washington, Seattle. He is an Advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan and practices in Islamabad. Syed Hassan Akbar is Director Programs at Jinnah Institute. Akbar has co-authored and supervised several nationally representative research studies on democracy, governance, gender and poverty alleviation. He studied at Columbia University and the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Zaka and Zaidi summarise Pakistan's week: hair extensions, rage against Dawn, Britishstani terrorists, and much much more.

After the Shaheen Chemist raid, Fasi and Mosharraf discuss other similar cases of service provision failures in Pakistan, and how the public response to such outrages only tackles our need for InstaGrat, or instant gratification. But shutting down drug stores or pharmacies, or penalizing private schools, or terminating restaurant licenses does not actually produce regulatory effectiveness. It only assuages the hunger for InstaGrat. That's why so many Real Outrages, manufacture only Fake Outcomes.

Fasi and Mosharraf return to the podcast to explore how to talk about Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, the economy and the meat of the matter.

How do we navigate the terrain where the conversation becomes impossible? Thirteen dead citizens. A post conflict zone. A military that has won a war that seemed over just five years ago. Vultures all around. Compassion. Humanity. Compromise.

The news from Pakistan doesn't sound great. The economy is supposedly in a shambles. But are things really as bad as the mass media makes them out to be? Is Pakistan really in a such bad place? What happened to PTI's promise of reform? All this & more...

Welcome to Season Four of How to Pakistan! Pakistan's former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar joins Fasi & Mosharraf to discuss mayhem in the skies above Pakistan & India, the impact of Pulwama, Balakot, and hopes for peace.

A conversation with Shaan Taseer

The new government is now approaching a full month in power. How well has it done? What has been good? What has been unnecessary? Was the Economic Advisory Council fiasco avoidable? Fasi and Mosharraf examine this government's predilection thus far, for unforced errors.

By popular demand, Omar Waraich is back on How to Pakistan, and he is joined by Salman Naveed Khan, a political analyst based in Islamabad. We discuss the election results, and whether the country is poised for a stable era of Imran Khan and PTI.

Fasi and Mosharraf talk to two iconic Pakistani journalists. Ziauddin Sb is an institution in journalism with stops as editor of Dawn and Express Tribune. Asma Shirazi is one of the country's most recognized television talk show hosts. We talk about press freedom and the elections that may make Imran Khan prime minister.

Join us as we discuss the prospects of the various parties in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. To help us navigate the amazing diversity of the province, we were joined by Imran Khan (not THAT one) and Najiullah Khattak. Both offered superb insights on the province.

Join us for a conversation with Omar Waraich. Waraich has covered Pakistan for TIME Magazine and The Independent. He has reported from South Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He has also written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Slate, Sports Illustrated, The Caravan, Al-Jazeera America, Roads & Kingdoms, The Guardian, The New Statesman and The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Political pollster and researcher Azeema Cheema returns to the podcast, and Dr Ali Cheema, joins for the first time. Dr Cheema is Associate Professor of Economics and the Head of the Economics Department. He is a former Rhodes Scholar and a PhD from Cambridge University. Both Azeema and Ali have worked on political opinion polls and surveys for the last several years, with Ali's most recent work published by Herald. https://herald.dawn.com/news/1398605 https://www.dawn.com/news/1421699 Join Fasi and Mosharraf for an in-depth conversation on the polling, what it means, and what it doesn't mean. Spoiler: Neither Azeema nor Ali could be goaded into making any predictions!

Another devastating weekend. Fasi and Mosharraf try to talk about Mastung. A place where terrorists murdered over 200 Pakistanis. A place far, far away. How can we make such places closer to us? How can we be closer to places like Mastung?

In an increasingly fractured public discourse with extreme positions, deep injury, legitimate grievances, and excessive emotions defining the competing political narratives, it is hard to have reasoned and sincere conversation. We initiated this podcast to have exactly these conversations. Thank you for taking this journey with us. Don't give up on each other. Don't give up on us. Don't give up on you. This is How to Pakistan.

Fasi and Mosharraf speak to Adil Najam, Dean of the Pardee School at Boston University, former Vice Chancellor of Lahore University for Management Sciences (LUMS). Professor Najam is a UET Lahore alum, with a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He founded the All Things Pakistan blog, and has worked on a range of policy issues in Pakistan, including the national environmental policy framework in the 1990s, and higher education reform from 2000 to 2003. Today we speak to Professor Najam about his latest labour of love, the UNDP National Human Development Report that he has co authored with Dr Faisal Bari on the challenges and opportunities facing Pakistani youth. We hope you enjoy the conversation - and make sure you read the report on May 2. #PKyouth #NHDRpk

We open with Krewella - an awesome duo of sisters who are Americans of Pakistani origin. They are definitely not the Benjamin Sisters. But they are super 2018. Fast is also super 2018, with a full Pashto language joke that is most inappropriate. WARNING: There is at least one bad word in this podcast. Some coverage of Krewella (which was repeatedly mispronounced by Mosharraf). https://www.teenvogue.com/story/krewella-interview-ammunition https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/20-best-things-we-saw-at-electric-daisy-carnival-new-york-2015-20150526/best-rock-show-krewella-20150526

What will the 2018 be like? Fasi and Mosharraf discuss heavyweights and lightweights in Pashto. And they talk about Kasur and the rape and murder of Zainab. Some of the articles mentioned in the podcast: Valerie Khan and Chris Cork on @etribune https://tribune.com.pk/story/1608063/6-child-sex-abuse-reframing-narrative/ Xari Jalil for @dawn_com https://www.dawn.com/news/1384248 Khurram Husain for @dawn_com https://www.dawn.com/news/1385039 And Mosharraf for @thenews_intl https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/271761-the-outrage-in-kasur-and-beyond

Fasi and Mosharraf discuss whether the Faizabad dharna and its conclusion was the product of deprivation, or ideology, or conspiracy. Join us.

Fasi and Mosharraf discuss the recent engineering effort in Karachi and how it matches, or does not match the efforts and phenomenon across the rest of the country. We also debut Danish Ali's brilliant new Agent Lover to open and close the podcast!

Fasi and Mosharraf discuss the coming together of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan and the Pakistan Tehrik e Insaaf. What does it mean for politics and the political process? What does it mean for democracy? What does it mean for tabdeeli? Find out.

Fasi and Mosharraf talk about Donald Trump's speech on Afghanistan, and wish everyone a happy bakra Eid!

Historic judgement at the Supreme Court as Nawaz Sharif is disqualified. The justices go the full five-nil on him. Not over the London apartments, but over his falsified declaration of wealth/assets. Fasi and Mosharraf are joined by legal expert Asad Rahim Khan.

Fasi and Mosharraf talk about how we talk about things. Ramadan, Ramzaan, Yadav Jhadav, ICJ, ICC - its all happening!

Chris Cornell. Dead at age fifty two. Fasi and Mosharraf talk about his sound, and the sounds of their youth.

The Supreme Court announces its judgement in the supposedly landmark PanamaGate case. And reflections on the murder of Mashal Khan at Abdul Wali Khan University.

We are back with Season 03. Today we talk about the PSL Final. We loved it. Hope you did too. (The podcast, not the PSL thingy!)

Its 2017! We talk about new beginnings, and then dive into a Pakistaniat quiz, where Mosharraf tests the bona fides of Fasi's patriotism. Judge for yourself if he passes!

It is the end of the year. We talk about 2016, Pakistan's demographic dividend, and our favorite How to Pakistan guests. Join us!

Junaid Jamshed passed away in the tragic accident that befell Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661, en route from Chitral to Islamabad. Fasi and Mosharraf talk about their memories of Junaid. This episode closes with the exceptional in-memoriam rendition of Yaad Kerna by Shehzad Roy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WrWwaudU0w)

Columnist, TV talk show host, social media superstar.... Zarrar Khuhro is in the How to Pakistan house. There is laughter. Join us!

Spencer Ackerman talks to How to Pakistan about President-Elect Donald Trump and the world awaiting us. Ackerman is national security editor for Guardian US. Ackerman was part of the Guardian team that won the 2014 Pulitzer prize for public service journalism. A former senior writer for Wired, he won the 2012 National Magazine Award for digital reporting. He tweets at @attackerman.

Imran Khan announced the cancellation of Islamabad Lockdown whilst we were recording this episode. Interruptus indeed. Join us.

The PTI lockdown of Islamabad is imminent. The only people against locking down the capital city are corrupt, pro Nawaz Sharif evil doers. Join Fasi and Mosharraf as they try to analyze the evil.

Ahsan I. Butt is an Assistant Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. His main research interests lie in nationalism, international security, and South Asia. He is currently writing a book on separatist violence. In this episode we discuss civ mil disequilibrium, PM Sharif's failures, and the history, present and future of Kashmir. Join us! http://schar.gmu.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/ahsan-butt/

As newsroom and social media warriors take the rhetorical battle to new lows, How to Pakistan will continue striving to find higher roads for a region and peoples that the world should expect more from. Today we talk to the UK Royal United Services Institute's Shashank Joshi. Shashank is a prolific writer and analyst and one of the sharpest India watchers in the West. His profile: https://rusi.org/people/joshi

After the Uri attack in Kashmir, many in India have called for punitive military measures by India. Among the people who think that strategic restraint is an outdated and losing proposition for India, is Wall Street Journal columnist, Sadanand Dhume. Join us as we discuss the viability of war, and the possibilities for peace.

23 Pakistanis killed by a suicide bomber in Mohmand Agency MQM leader Khawaja Izhar arrested in Karachi Arresting SSP Rao Anwar suspended for the arrest Pakhtuns, Mohairs, Pakistanis of all colors, all shapes and all sizes, aggrieved. Welcome to How to Pakistan

We wish all our listeners a very happy Eid! Eid ul Adha Mubarak! In this episode we discuss our own experiences of Eid ul Adha, or Bakra Eid. We also talk about Abraham, the consumption of beef and the compulsion to eat certain kinds of meat, or not. Join us! And once again, Eid Mubarak!

China is the everything-all-the-time old new thing (and new old thing) in Pakistan. Andrew Small is the Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Washington DC. His book, The China-Pakistan Axis: Asia's New Geopolitics, is a widely acclaimed reading of the complex and oft-misunderstood strategic alliance between Pakistan and China. Join us as we discuss all things China with a China expert that has specialized his study of that country through the lens of Pakistan. We talk about Yao Ming, about the leadership dynamic in Beijing under President Xi Jinping, and best of all? We keep our promise of not talking about CPEC! Andrew's book: http://www.andrewsmall.org/the-book/

In this episode we discuss the Orlando shooting in which fifty were killed by a man named Omar Saddiqi Mateen, an American of Afghan origin.

In this episode we discuss the health of the prime minister, and some related issues. Join us! (We apologize for the low sound quality).

University of Oklahoma professor Aqil Shah is the author of "The Army & Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan", and more recently of a Washington Post oped titled, "Drone blowback in Pakistan is a myth. Here's why". Three days after his oped was published, Taliban leader Mullah Mansour Akhtar was killed in a drone attack in Pakistan. The drone debate is open again. Fasi and Mosharraf talk to Dr. Shah about his research on drone strikes, the concept of nationalism, the quality of public discourse, and in true How to Pakistan tradition, identity. Join us! "Drone blowback in Pakistan is a myth. Here's why." - by Aqil Shah, Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/05/17/drone-blow-back-in-pakistan-is-a-myth-heres-why/ "The Army & Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan" - by Aqil Shah, Harvard University Press http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674728936

Note: This episode contains substantial portions in Urdu (and some sparse sprinklings of Pashto). In Episode 04 of Season 02 Fasi and Mosharraf discuss the life and times of Saleem Safi, one of Pakistan's most compelling journalistic voices. He describes his life's journey, his evolution as a journalist, the role of the Islami Jamiat e Talbaa in shaping him, the illusion of Islamism, and the humility that everyone should invest it, whenever and however they can. A fascinating conversation with a fascinating man. Join us!

On Episodes 02 and 03, we are joined by journalist and television anchor Ejaz Haider, currently the Editor for National Security Affairs at Capital TV. The second part of the conversation is about the transition from print to broadcast, the Deo-Salafist movement, the evolution of the Jamaat e Islami, civilian-military relations and the enormous powers of the Pakistan Army, and hand (or grass)-fed organic narratives. This is the second of a two-episode conversation with Ejaz Haider. The first was Episode 2 of Season 2.

On Episodes 02 and 03, we are joined by journalist and television anchor Ejaz Haider, currently the Editor for National Security Affairs at Capital TV. The first part of the conversation is about the mutual love for guns that is shared by Ejaz Haider and Fasi Zaka - which leads to exchanges about arms licenses in Pakistan, the overall licensing regime, and broader issues of police reform. This fascinating conversation continues in Episode 03.

Previously, on How to Pakistan... Fasi and Mosharraf started a podcast. People listened. Fasi and Mosharraf completed twenty episodes. Welcome to Season 2 of How to Pakistan. Join us as we attempt to explore the art of the Pakistani conversation.

The body count from the Easter Sunday bombing in Lahore now stands at seventy-two. Pakistan bleeds once again. Meanwhile, Islamabad's Red Zone continues to be occupied by pro-Qadri protestors demanding a long list of things. The republic stands guilty not only of failing to protect Christians (and Muslims, and all other nationals), but also of allowing the Red Zone to become a running joke. Join Fasi and Mosharraf for a conversation about the death and destruction in Lahore, and the mayhem in Islamabad.

In this episode we talk to Osman Samiuddin about the process of writing, and about being a writer. We talk some more about cricket, and learn about the depth and breadth of his knowledge of cricket history, and his love for Sheffield Wednesday. You can read Osman's book, The Unquiet Ones, by purchasing it, here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Unquiet-Ones-History-Pakistan/dp/9350298015 His epic piece on the "haal" of Pakistani cricket can be read at The Guardian website, here: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-nightwatchman/2014/nov/17/exploring-soul-pakistan-cricket-team-lazy-impatient-brilliant He writes regularly about all sports, including sailing, for The National, here: http://www.thenational.ae/authors/osman-samiuddin

The T20 World Cup in India was a disaster for the Pakistani men's cricket team. Not so for the women's team, or for New Zealand, West Indies, India or England. Join Mosharraf and Fasi as we dig into the ups and downs of the 2016 T20 World Cup with the great Osman Samiuddin as we try to understand what happened to the Pakistan men's team, and why it is an inferior cricket side. We also talk about one of Pakistan's great captains, the legendary Sana Mir.

Dr. Miftah Ismail is the Chairman of Pakistan's Board of Investment, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and has the rank of a Minister of State (for investment). He is a Wharton PhD with a specialty in Public Finance and Political Economy. He is the former CEO of one of Pakistan's largest food and confectionary manufacturers. He has been a member of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's inner circle of advisers on the economy, investment and energy for the last six years. Mosharraf and Fasi engage with Dr Ismail on the state of the economy, the trouble with the Chicago School approach to economics, the challenge of reform, the low rate of economic growth, and the state of power and energy in Pakistan. Dr Ismail explains his views on how economies function, why Hayek and Von Mises are better than demand-siders on the Left, and what might happen in the 2018 election. The conversation offers an enlightening peek into the kind of talent that Pakistan has at its disposal within the public sector.

What is the state of the Left in Pakistan? How left of centre is the PPP, really? What are the revolutionary credentials of the PTI? Why don't Pakistanis respond more enthusiastically to parties like the Awami Workers' Party? Is the state complicit in efforts to suppress and limit the voice of the marginalised and vulnerable? Can a good Muslim be a socialist? How would the socialists and leftists deal with PIA? Mosharraf and Fasi speak to Ammar Rashid, a senior member of the Awami Workers' Party, musician, philosopher and activist. Join us as we explore Pakistan through the eyes of a passionate advocate for people's rights.

Words. How do we pronounce them? Does it make it a difference? Leonardo Di Caprio. Sweet mouth. This is the first How to Pakistan "short". Enjoy. Here's the story reporting the sweet mouth: http://tribune.com.pk/story/1061739/the-revenue-pakistani-tax-official-celebrates-dicaprio-oscar-win/

March 08 is International Women's Day. March 09 is the Day After Women's Day. We observe the day after women's day with Episode 12, in which Mosharraf and Fasi speak to Azeema Cheema, a researcher and instructor at the National Defense University, and a woman. Azeema talks to us about women's day, and the place of women in Pakistan, and on How to Pakistan.

What does the execution of Mumtaz Qadri say about Pakistan? What does it say about those that are comforted by the state's hanging of this man? What does it say about those that mourn this man? What does it say about provincialism and subnational identities? What does it say about liberals and conservatives? What does it say about left and right and centre? In this episode, Mosharraf and Fasi attempt to talk about the Mumtaz Qadri execution.

Jibran Nasir is a Pakistani activist most commonly associated with effort to have Abdul Aziz of Islamabad's Lal Masjid arrested. A lawyer, a television anchor, a writer and motivational speaker, Jibran is Pakistani civil society's renaissance man. Fasi and Mosharraf talk to Jibran about the present and future of Pakistani civil society, the smooth stylings of Zayn Malik, the role of Asma Jahangir has played in creating the Pakistan of 2016 and a whole host of other issues. You can find Jibran at @mjibrannasir and his movement's website is www.neverforget.pk.

Two recent pieces in the international press have been great reminders of the steep price Pakistan continues to pay for the tragic stupidities that the country endured for decades in the name of national security. In a February 6 piece for the New York, Carlotta Gall asserts that Da'esh is partly a product of Pakistan's ISI, and on Valentine's Day, a Bloomberg Business piece by Fasih Mangi and Divya Patil suggests that Pakistan is about to default. For even casual observers, both pieces fail to offer compelling evidence, or really any kind of evidence at all for their very substantial claims. Fasi and Mosharraf asked author and former Pakistani ambassador to Sri Lanka and the United States, Husain Haqqani, to help navigate the narratives these kinds of pieces represent. It is a magnificent conversation. Links to the said pieces and to Ambassador Haqqani's latest book, Magnificent Delusions... The Gall piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/opinion/sunday/pakistans-hand-in-the-rise-of-international-jihad.html The Bloomberg piece: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-14/pakistan-default-risk-surges-as-50-billion-debt-bill-coming-due Magnificent Delusions: http://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-Delusions-Pakistan-History-Misunderstanding/dp/1610393171

Sana Mir is the national cricket team captain for Pakistan. Her off-spin bowling is currently ranked 10th in the ICC Women's ODI Bowling rankings, and has ranked in the top ten consistently for the last nine years. After becoming the team captain in 2009, she lead the national team to its first ever victory in a tournament at the T20 quadrangular in Sri Lanka. She has taken 71 wickets in 66 ODIs at an average of 24.71. Outspoken, bold, honest and more graceful than a busload of players of cricket from other genders, Sana Mir is a force of nature. God's generosity with Pakistan has no better ambassador than this sparkplug leader. Join Mosharraf and Fasi on PSL semi-finals weekend in a conversation with Sana Mir.

In Episode 07, Mosharraf and Fasi offer as an appetizer, the aftermath of the Valentine's Day debate and Marvi Sirmed's offer of a balloon for Mufti Naeem. The main course for this episode is the Lahore Orange Line, a subway/train infrastructure project that has been protested against recently. We ask Lahore conservationist and lawyer Mr Rafay Alam to weigh in on why sections of civil society value old buildings over poor people getting to work. He answers. Finally, we touch very superficially on some of the broader points of good governance and economic growth. Below are links to some papers by Professor Mushtaq Khan of SOAS, one of Mosharraf's favourite political economists. Also included is a link to the Government of the Punjab's video animation about the Lahore Orange Line. The Orange Line simulation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSznQfv4DII "The Efficiency Implications of Corruption" by Mushtaq H. Khan in Journal of International Development, 8 (5). pp. 683-696. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/2425/1/Corruption_JID.pdf "Aid and Governance in Vulnerable States: Bangladesh and Pakistan since 1971" by Mushtaq H. Khan in The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2014, Volume 656 No. 1: 59-78. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/19178/1/Khan%20Bangladesh%20Pakistan%20Aid%20and%20Governance.pdf "Markets, States and Democracy: Patron-Client Networks and the Case for Democracy in Developing Countries" by Mushtaq H. Khan, Department of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/3684/1/KhanMarketsStatesDemocracy.pdf

It started with the local administrations of various cities announcing plans to crack down on Valentine's Day. It escalated to a presidential rebuke of V-Day from a man whose name is Mamnoon: President Mamnoon Hussain. Pakistan is struggling with Valentine's Day. Mosharraf and Fasi try to dissect, in Episode 06 of How to Pakistan: The Mamnoon Valentine. #heart

In this episode, Mosharraf and Fasi discuss the ongoing PIA crisis, which began when the government doubled down on wanting to sell 26% of the airline to someone who would take on the honour of running the glorious national flag carrier. The crisis deepened when protesting labour unions were fired upon by unknown assailants, causing the deaths of at least two protestors. As always, the PML-N government has created a crisis out of a national opportunity. The manner in which the government continues to deal with the issue indicates little appetite for crisis resolution. To try to understand the issues better, we also speak to Dr. Nadeem ul Haque, who served as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission during the previous government, and spent many years as an IMF economist. Dr. Haque has written an illuminating blog entry on the PIA crisis at his blog, which you should all read: http://development20.blogspot.com/2016/02/on-privatization-of-pia.html?m=1 The original score that opens and closes the episode is courtesy of our guest sound engineer and producer, the great Shehryar Mufti, who is the founder of all-star musical ensemble, Bumbu Sauce.

Indian academic, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, or PBM joins Mosharraf and Fasi in a wide-ranging conversation about India, urbanization, our complex past, and our complicated future. And yes, we talk Bollywood, and Priyanka Chopra too. Pratap does is one of India’s finest and most influential public intellectuals. Based in New Delhi, Pratap heads the Centre for Policy Research think-tank, and writes a weekly column for the Indian Express. Learn more about Pratap here: http://www.cprindia.org/people/pratap-bhanu-mehta Both Mosharraf and Fasi are big fans. Fasi’s favourite PBM pieces? “I am Sanskrit” by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, December 8, 2014 http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/i-am-sanskrit/ “Why every patriot should be worried, and, yes, ashamed” by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, November 27, 2015 http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/who-is-a-patriot/ Mosharraf’s favourite PBM piece? “A new bully pulpit” by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, October 4, 2014 http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-new-bully-pulpit/99/ Hope you enjoy. As always our entry and exit song is Adil Omar and Talal Qureshi’s “Nighat & Paras”.

On January 10, 2016 Feisal Naqvi wrote a provocative oped in The News titled, "The curious case of the Federal Shariat Court". In response, Salman Akram Raja, Afiya Shehrbano and Babar Sattar have written rebuttals, whilst Feisal has written one counter-rebuttal. It is a fascinating debate that opens up a range of complex issues related to Pakistan's legal system, its political culture and the space and place of liberal Pakistanis in the national discourse. This episode is one hour and thirty six minutes long, as we interview Afiya Shehrbano, Salman Akram Raja and the trigger-man himself, Feisal Naqvi to ask them about their impressions of this debate and how they feel at this moment. It was recorded on January 30. The first interview with Afiya begins early on in the episode. The interview with Salman begins at 23 minutes. The interview with Feisal begins at 46 minutes. Mosharraf and Fasi wrap up the discussion at 1 hour and 15 minutes into the episode. The articles: January 10, 2016 The curious case of the Federal Shariat Court - by Feisal Naqvi http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/89285-The-curious-case-of-the-Shariat-Court January 16, 2016 An act of appeasement? - by Salman Akram Raja http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/90659-An-act-of-appeasement January 24, 2016 The art of the possible - by Feisal Naqvi http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/93377-The-art-of-the-possible January 27, 2016 The gift of Zia - keeps on giving Afiya Shehrbano http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/94299-The-gift-of-Zia-keeps-on-giving January 29, 2016 Gratitude for bigotry? - by Babar Sattar http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/94710-Gratitude-for-bigotry

A conversation with Pakistani-Australian musician Omar Pervaiz, a founding member of Call, a father and a son of St. Mary's Rawalpindi. Omar Pervaiz Omar Pervaiz leading Independence Day celebrations in Melbourne in 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RicdnIPJcWA Call https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_(band) Post-OP Call’s greatest hit – Pukaar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck9_wJ7JnCI Omar Pervaiz on Sufi music (Punjabi) on SBS http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/content/omar-pervaiz-melbournes-sufi-singer-part-1 Disability The Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PSRD) http://www.psrd.org.pk 2014 report by the British Council on disability in Pakistan https://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/press/pakistan-losing-billions-disability-failures The US Americans with Disability Act (which was passed in 1990, not 1983) http://www.ada.gov Living with a disability – Canada http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/lifeevents/disability.shtml World Report on Disability http://www.globalization101.org/world-report-on-disability-3/ Australia versus New Zealand Nine reasons why New Zealand is not Australia https://leftofthesettingsun.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/nine-reasons-why-new-zealand-is-not-australia/ Australia or New Zealand: Same, same, but different http://www.internationalman.com/articles/australia-or-new-zealand-same-same-but-different Etiquette in Australia and New Zealand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette_in_Australia_and_New_Zealand Today’s track: “Nighat & Paras” by Adil Omar x Talal Qureshi (WARNING: explicit lyrics) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDexDNf2lHs&feature=youtu.be

Episode 01 - Charsadda by Mosharraf Zaidi and Fasi Zaka

Practicing the art of the conversation in Pakistan. With much love and some laughter.