NEWS
December 26, 2007
Pakistan Elections: Analysis. What Constitutes Free and Fair?
By Xenia Dormandy, Former Senior Associate, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
It is hard to make the argument that despite the state of emergency, the arrests of lawyers, the new Supreme Court, the fact the Sharif can not run and that Bhutto may not be able to lead even if she wins, the media restrictions, the continued militant suicide attacks, not to mention the general assorted political machinations (such as persuading people to change parties etc.), that with all of this, the elections will be free and fair.
December 26, 2007
Smaller parties making it big? The impact of MQM and JUIF in the upcoming elections?
By Haroon Ullah, Former Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
With the ensuing boycott of Jamaat Islami and other smaller parties, the MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) and religions parties such as JUI (Jamaat Ulema) could stand to benefit from their absence. In Pakistan, the smaller political parties have often been able to play the 'third' party role effectively as power brokers in forming government within the assembly.
December 26, 2007
Are the elections worth it? A conversation with Altaf Qureshi, founder of the Urdu Digest
By Haroon Ullah, Former Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
I had a chance to sit down and have tea with Altaf Qureshi, the founder of the Urdu Digest. Qureshi started the Urdu Digest, a monthly magazine, in 1959, and since then has grown into one of the most widely read Urdu publications and a mainstay of Pakistani intelligentsia.
December 26, 2007
Boycott politics: The absence of Jamaat Islami and Tehrik-e Insaf
By Haroon Ullah, Former Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
A month ago there was talk of a potential boycott of the upcoming elections by Pakistan's political parties. In the recent meetings of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) in Lahore, the PML-N decided to contest the elections, while two members of the APDM, the Jamaat Islami and Tehrik-e Insaf decided to maintain their stance not to contest the polls. What will be the effect of these two parties not participating?
December 26, 2007
Anxiety, a ‘wounded’ military and the election build-up
By Haroon Ullah, Former Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
The electoral season is in full swing in Pakistan , and politicians are scrambling to rally support for their candidacy. Driving around Lahore , one sees a multitude of political party candidate signs and banners littering the major roadways. From rickshaw drivers to shop owners, everyone seems to have an opinion.
December 20, 2007 11:28am EST
Update: U.S. Congressional Action
By Xenia Dormandy, Former Senior Associate, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Yesterday, the U.S. Congress finally passed the year-end budget; it made a couple of interesting statements about the Congress's views on our policy towards Pakistan.
December 17, 2007 4:50pm EST
Analysis: Elections Should Go Forward
By Xenia Dormandy, Former Senior Associate, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
It is hard to imagine how the January 8 elections can be free or fair. Of the three primary leaders, one (Nawaz Sharif) is not being permitted to run, another (Benzair Bhutto) might not be allowed to become prime minister even if she wins (the constitution only allows for two terms, which she's already had, and President Musharraf has said he'll decide whether to move forward a constitutional amendment after the elections), and the third is President Musharraf. Not exactly an even hand.
December 17, 2007 12:34am EST
Analysis: End of Emergency Rule Unlikely to Resolve Pakistan's Problems
By Hassan Abbas, Senior Advisor, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
In a country where those who lose elections instinctively blame it on rigging . . . , and where divisions in the society are entrenched, these elections can open up a Pandora's box of political grievances, unmet expectations, ethnic rivalries and people's disenchantment with the system.
December 16, 2007 1:45pm EST
Update & Analysis: Musharraf Ends Emergency Rule
By Xenia Dormandy, Former Senior Associate, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
As promised, on Saturday President Musharraf ended the emergency rule that he had imposed on November 3. However . . . it is very unclear whether the elections will be held in a manner that could truly be described as free or fair.
Pat Semansky
November 15, 2007
Boston’s Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative to Conduct New Orleans Leadership Forum
As neighborhood leaders work to rebuild physical and social aspects of their communities, best practices are established that can be shared with others.
