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

Season of Covid-19

Season of Covid - Episode 05

Season of Covid-19 - E 05 - Firdous Aapa & Malala

Welcome to How to Pakistan 2024! 

We kick off with some Big Democrat Energy from Mr Fasi Zaka. 

Holla at ya boys

Big Democrat Energy - How to Pakistan 2024

In this election eve of election "chained raat" episode, we compare the party manifestos of the PPP, PML-N and PTI. We use the great summary of the manifestos prepared by PILAP. 

Find PILAP's manifesto comparison document: https://pilap.pk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PILAP-Primer-Party-Manifestos-for-Election-2024.pdf 

Find the PML N manifesto: https://pmln2024.com/manifesto-in-english/

Find the PPP manifesto:https://election2024.digitalrightsfoundation.pk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PPP-Election-manifesto-2024.pdf

Find the PTI manifesto: https://pakvotes.pk/pakistantehreek-e-insaf-pti-manifesto-2024/

How to Pakistan 2024

Election Chaand Raat Party ... Manifesto - How to Pakistan 2024

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

Episode 00 - The Pilot

Episode 01 - Charsadda

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

Episode 03 - The Shariat Court Debate

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”. 

Episode 04 - Pratap Bhanu Mehta

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



Episode 07 - Lahore's Orange Line

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. 

Episode 11 - Not Qadri

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. 


Episode 14 - Awami Workers Party & The Pakistani Left

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

S02 E05 - Aqil Shah On Drones, Nationalism & The Public Discourse

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! 

How to Pakistan

S02 E09 - Bakra Eid, Our Father Abraham & Beef Bans

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.

How to Pakistan - Season 3

S03 E05 - The One Where Nawaz Sharif Got Disqualified

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!

S03 E08 - Engineering Karachi

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

S03 E12 - Adil Najam & Making Room For Young People

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!

S03 E15 - Pakistan #Election2018 - Opinion Polls

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.

S03 E16 - #Election2018 Omar Waraich on the new Pakistan

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.

S03 E17 - The #Election2018 In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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.

S03 E18 - Asma Shirazi & Ziauddin Sb on journalism & #Election2018

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.

S03 E19 - Imran Khan, PTI and the #Election2018 w Omar Waraich & Salman Naveed Khan

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.

S03 E20 - Ministry Of Unforced Errors

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...

S04 E02 - Just how bad are things?

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.

S04 E03 - Complexity & PTM

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.

S04 E05 - Real Outrages, Fake Outcomes

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

S04 E06 - Pakistani Funeral for a British Terrorist

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.

S04 E07 - Lawyers, Dictators & Kaptaan

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

S04 E08 - Nighat Dad on engaging with #metoo

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.

Season of Covid-19 - Episode 01

Season of Covid-19 - E 01 - The One That Ends w Chappelle

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

Season of Covid - Episode 02

Season of Covid-19 - E 02 - The One with Coward Capitalism

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.

Season of Covid - Episode 03

Season of Covid-19 - E 03 - The One with Normal, Old or New

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.

Season of Covid - Episode 04

Season of Covid-19 - E 04 - The One In Memory of Nadir Hassan

"How to Pakistan" a podcast featuring Mosharraf Zaidi and Fasi Zaka, as they explore the art of the Pakistani conversation. #awesome #seriously #hashtag 

How to Pakistan

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