Ms Ispahani discusses women’s role in the reformist processes in the Middle East and to consider possible paths forward. Wilson Center

MENA Women in the Reformist Process: A Retrospective   On October 18, the Middle East Program and the Global Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a two-panel discussion on “MENA Women in the Reformist Process: A Retrospective,” the first of which focused on women’s political participation and the second focusing on economic reforms and social change. Participants on …

The surrender to religious cleansing by Farahnaz Ispahani

The Taliban attack on the Peshawar church that killed scores of people was an opportunity for Pakistan’s leaders to rally the nation against Islamist extremism but they squandered it Pakistan’s leaders have squandered another opportunity to rally the nation against religious extremism. The terrorist attack on one of the oldest churches in the country, Peshawar’s All Saints Church, stunned all. …

“The merits of the case” By Farahnaz Ispahani

    Erstwhile coup-making general and former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf was indicted on murder charges Tuesday in connection with the 2007 assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. While the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi had named Musharraf in the case in early 2011, and declared he was a proclaimed offender in August of that year, today’s indictment marks the first time that a former …

Elections 2013: The Pakistan establishment strikes back

 Farahnaz Ispahani As Pakistan approaches its next general elections, scheduled for 11  May, questions have arisen once again about the fairness of the electoral process. The problem stems from Pakistan’s long history of meddling in politics by unelected institutions of state, euphemistically referred to as “the establishment.” In addition to direct military rule for half its life as an independent …

Five years in Pakistan

The unique moment of a civilian government completing its full term is in danger of being undermined by the failure of political parties to reach consensus on a caretaker government Pakistan is scheduled to go to the polls on May 11. These would be the first democratic elections in our history coming at the end of the completion of an …

Death by a thousand cuts by Farahnaz Ispahani

After each act of violence against religious minorities, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi or Sipah-e-Sahaba proudly own up to it without fear of punishment The recent mob attack on Christians in Lahore, resulting in the burning down of over one hundred Christian homes while the police stood by, is a reminder of how unsafe Pakistan has become for religious minorities. The attacks on …

First Person– Farahnaz Ispahani’s interview with Pragati

There is an attempt in Pakistan to really become “pak-i-istan”, the land of the pure by Sarah Farooqui — February 22, 2013 5:13 pm Farahnaz Ispahani served as the member of Pakistan’s Parliament, representing the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from 2008 to 2012. She is at present, Media Advisor to Co-Chairman PPP and President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari. She is also …