bkhandai asked, Hello Prof Hoodbhoy, there is an interesting speculation in the media lately that the somewhat disproportionate reaction of of the government was triggered by China's dictat. Do you and many Pakistanis share the same suspicion ?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, at 2007-07-16 19:30:02It's not diktat. Any country having its nationals abducted would react. China has a lot of influence in Pakistan, as you know.
Administrator says, Dear all, Prof Hoodbhoy will be with us shortly
Administrator says, Beg your pardon everyone, Prof Hoodbhoy is already here:)
imran asked, Tell me, It is understood that the religious powers in Pakistan have a much stronger / tighter grip over the populace than the govt leaving alone your urban centers. In such a scenario, how is that getting back to democracy will not stop these fanatical powers to get into full power?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, Fortunately the religious forces are fragmented because of sectarian rifts and don't have a leadership acceptable to all. The interesting thing is that religious parties have never got any sizeable portion of the vote. I am convinced that democracy is a good thing for Pakistan and will ultimately bring about a more secular society. "Ultimately" here doesn't mean the next election, but perhaps subsequent ones.
ahmed asked, what wil be exact effects of the storming wil MMA SUPPORT MUSHARRAF WILL QAZI SUPPORT HIM
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, Qazi has resigned from parliament. The MMA has condemned the Lal Masjid operation. Daggers are now drawn.
Shivaaji asked, Dear Sir, Is there any possiblity of having Lal Masjid like situation in Jama masjid,New Delhi?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, None at all, so far as I can see.
vishal asked, hi sir,wats ur take on lal masjid issue?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, We have to stop the mullahs from their hate-propaganda and attempts to impose Shariah, and to strictly curb the madrassas.
srini_b asked, How strong is Musharraf - both politically and within the army after Operation Silence?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, He shot himself in the foot by dismissing the Chief Justice and then by setting the MQM killer goons on demonstrators in Karachi on May 12. So he's alienated both the secular and religious people in Pakistan. He should not run for elections. One hopes that he will not, but who knows?
Micheal asked, who is appreciating mush and for what
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, Musharraf has done some good too: I think relations with India are better than ever before. There is less killing in Kashmir this year. The women's rights bill was a step forward, although nowhere near enough.
prakasam asked, Is there any better way of life in Pakistan at all?.
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, Life in Pakistan is not bad. In fact my friends from India who visit are quite amazed at how well people live. A detailed comparison is not possible here, but let me say that the bleak picture generated by events gives the partial truth only.
karthik asked, Can someone be honest in replying Was the Lal Masjid Issue created by Musahrraf himself so that attention could be redirected away from his anarchy
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, A lot of people around me believe that. I don't. The mullahs do have support, and its dangerous for Pkistani society. However, Musharraf is guilty of bad judgment and his army is infiltrated by darhi-wallahs in disguise.
arjunkadam asked, Masjid should not be used for for any kind of voilence. It is place for prayer. But Can you tell me how Pakistan govt is working on this?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, I think Lal Masjid is a wakeup call.
vikram asked, is mushraf politically correct to control terriosm in his own country while sponsoring in another country..
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, To be fair, I don't think we should blame all terrorism on the Islamists. Much as I despise them, the Indian security forces in Kashmir are responsible for terrorising the population there. Yes, I do think that Pakistan was guilty of sponsoring jihad in Kashmir after 1987, but India created the climate for it to grow and develop local roots. The world is complex!
sabiel asked, Is mushraf routing out terriosm truely, what will happen in upcoming elections whether mushraf will stay as president.
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, For Pakistan's sake, I hope he decides not to run. Because if he does, he will have to rig the elections. And if he rigs, then everybody is going to be out in the streets. It will be a disaster.
bol asked, musharaff propagates the view that without him pakistan will be torn into sectarian strife and islamic fanaticsm. is musharaff indispensable to pak and america
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, All dictators end up believing that they are saviours and indispensable. PM is no different.
ox asked, we hear islamic terrorism was initiated by the cia during soviet-afghan war. do u think america is responsible for present situation.
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, In good measure. The US was the main financier and organizer of the Great Global Jihad that brought the fiercest Islamic fighters from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco,.. to fight the infidel communists. When the Soviet Union collpsed, the US simply walked away leaving Afghanistan in shambles and a jihad machinery primed to go... The US has paid a price - the 911 attack - but nowhere near what Afghanistan and Pakistan have paid.
prakash asked, sir,is pakistan slowly moving back stone age? because of mullahs? and americans?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, Parts are moving forward - Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad are more modern in some ways than Indian cities. But the tribal areas and much of NWFP is fast regressing because of the jihadis.
ladenchadebosepaden asked, DONT YOU THINK WHAT ISI WANTED TO DO IN OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE INDIA NOW AL QUEDA IS DOING THE SAME IN PAKISTAN. LAL MASJID A GOOD EXAMPLE
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, Yes, it should be a good lesson to the Pakistan Army high command. Now they are being targetted. I had been warning of this for years.
Manoj asked, Sir, I read that during Zia's regime, lot of conservative ideas were filled in school syllabus. Some critics say that these extreme elements in school education is also creating extremism in Pakistan. As a top academician in Paksitan, have you take steps to detoxify the school syllabus ?
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, My friends and I have been writing, speaking, and taking every opportunity to do so. The first article written on this matter was in 1984 by A.H.Nayyar and myself, published in "Islam, State, and Politics", edited by Air Marshal Asghar Khan.
gaurav asked, Sir Dont u think this lal masjid episode would have a big impact on coming election , please explain the view of a normal pakistani on the same.
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy answers, Yes, unless even bigger things happen