Sunjeev Bery

Tag: Nawaz Sharif

  • Failed State Fetish, Part II

    “The notion of Pakistan as a “failed state” has roots far deeper than the last few years; it was first deemed to have “failed” in the early 1960s, and this framework has dominated discussion of Pakistan in America from the days of the Cold War to the War on Terror.“ From Manan Ahmed‘s “Legends of…

  • With a friend like this, who needs democracy?

    A repost of my comment at Sepia Mutiny and Chapati Mystery: On the intersection of U.S. policy and Pakistani politics, I was particularly surprised to read this link off a Pakistani news twitter feed: Obama calls Zardari, discusses mutual cooperation Pakistan News.Net / Friday 27th March, 2009 (ANI) Islamabad, Mar. 27 : US President Barack…

  • A Letter to an Editor

    Response to “Pakistan in Turmoil,” March 15, 2009, by Barbara Crossette in The Nation Ms. Crossette’s article is strong on explaining political rivalries, but misses an opportunity to reveal the new gains of Pakistani civil society.

  • Opinion: Marching for democracy in Pakistan

    Viewpoint: Marching for democracy in Pakistan By Sahar Shafqat The Baltimore Sun (online) March 12, 2009 Imagine this scenario: What if a U.S. president, in blatant contravention of the U.S. Constitution, fired every Supreme Court justice because he didn’t like their decisions, and filled the court instead with his own cronies? What if a new…

  • Opinion: “U.S. has chance to help real democracy in Pakistan” | Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    U.S. has chance to help real democracy in Pakistan Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday, March 12, 2009 By Sanjeev Bery, Wajiha Ahmed Today, a major Pakistani movement for democratic reform will challenge Pakistani President Asif Zardari with a call for government accountability. Known as the Lawyers Movement, this coalition of civil activists will give America a chance…

  • Arresting Freedom

    Pakistani President Asif Zardari has given his orders, and compliant law enforcement officers in Pakistan are arresting rival politicians and activists.  Team Zardari is taking pre-emptive measures to block Pakistan’s Lawyers Movemnt and allies from pursuing their Long March. The March 12th Long March is a call for a restoration of an independent judicary in…

  • Twittering Freedom

    As Pakistani President Asif Zardari cracks down on pro-democracy activists, a handful of Pakistanis are posting short bursts of information on Twitter.  You can follow their “freedom tweets” online.  The best tag is probably #Pakistan: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23Pakistan But you can also go with either of the following…

  • Pakistan’s Long March is an Important Step to Democracy

    (Post co-written with Samad Khurram,  a Pakistani citizen who participated in the 2008 Long March.  Samad is currently a student at Harvard University.) There is something about marching for democracy that captures the imagination.  Perhaps it is because walking is the simplest of human activities.  One foot goes in front of the other, and a…