The Pakistan Experience

Mariam Shafqat Goraya and Sajeer Shaikh join us for our TPE Eid Milan Party, where audience members join us! The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.       Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience     And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience     The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.      Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89

Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy is a Pakistani nuclear physicist and activist who serves as a professor at the Forman Christian College and previously taught physics at the Quaid-e-Azam University. Hoodbhoy is also a prominent activist in particular concerned with promotion of freedom of speech, secularism, scientific temper and education in Pakistan.  Pervez Hoodbhoy comes on for a special episode of The Pakistan Experience where he answers all your questions and addresses all the controversies.  Find out this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience        And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience        The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.                  Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89  Chapters: 0:00 Dr Atta ur Rehman and Bentham Science Publishers 10:30 Why are you not writing articles anymore? 12:00 String Theory 13:40 Advice on becoming a physicist  14:30 How to stop teaching pseudoscience 16:00 Advice to young people on the place of religion in their lives 21:30 Responding to Dr Zaheer at LUMS 24:30 The debate with Dr Asad: Islam and Science 37:00 SNC 41:00 The problems with our students 46:00 The Pakistani diaspora 50:00 The Hijab Controversy 54:00 Banning of interest 55:30 How do we encourage scientific thinking in Pakistan 1:05:50 James Webb Telescope and the Inflationary Theory of the Universe 1:07:30 Why doesn't he move abroad? 1:08:00 If you are made head of HEC? 1:10:30 Dr Abdus Salam 1:14:30 Curbing Religious Fundamentalism 1:18:30 Cults, Conspiracy Theories and Imran Khan 1:25:30 Gravitational Waves 1:27:00 Black Holes 1:28:00 Theory of Relativity 1:29:00 Mathematical Education in Pakistan 1:31:30 Why are Pakistanis not getting admissions in Ivy Leagues 1:34:40 Kya ye mulk Science kee importance samjhay ga? 1:36:00 Education Content 1:38:10 Eqbal Ahmed 1:40:00 What led you away from Marxism 1:42:00 Elite Capture 1:43:50 Why can't Pakistan make IIT? 1:45:30 Electricity from Jihns 1:46:00 BJP reviving Vedic Sciences 1:48:30 Home Schooling 1:50:20 How do you stay fit!1

Shuja Nawaz, a South Asia Policy analyst, was made the first director of the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council in January 2009. Shuja Nawaz comes on the podcast to discuss his book, "The Battle for Pakistan: The Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighbourhood"  Is the US not interested in Pakistan anymore?  What happened at Salala in 2011?  What is the current state of Civil-Military relations in Pakistan?  Find out this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience        And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience        The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.                  Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89  Chapters: 0:00 Lettergate: Conspiracy and US-Pak Relations 6:00 US-Pak Relations: History and the Future 22:00 Pakistan's investment in Taliban 24:30 Ex-Intelligence Officers 27:00 American Military Aid 31:00 Salala 42:30 Perception of General Kiyani 51:30 Thoughts on Qamar Javed Bajwa and Neutrality 57:30 Did Nawaz Sharif kill General Asif Nawaz Janjua? 59:00 Current Civil-Military Relationsips 1:07:00 Thoughts on Balochistan 1:10:00 Peoples Question and Answers

Reham Khan comes on the podcast to have a candid chat about Pakistan, Imran Khan, "the book" and dealing with hate.  Reham Khan is a British-Pakistani journalist, author, and filmmaker. She is a former wife of Imran Khan and the author of her self-titled book, Reham Khan.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanex...        And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistane... https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpe...        The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.                  Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89     Chapters: 0:00 Facing Hate Online 5:30 Why were you in the Parliament 10:00 Why did you support PTI? 14:30 Why did you marry Imran Khan? 21:30 Skipper's Game 26:30 Portrayal of Imran Khan in the book 38:30 Why are more people not in your corner? 45:30 Unnecessary Sensationalist elements in the book 1:00:00 Going to Waqar Zaka's show 1:10:00 The Second Film 1:15:00 Peoples Question and Answers

Everyone talks about having no alternative in politics in Pakistan but does anyone actually bother looking at all the options?  Ammar Ali Jan is a young politician providing that alternative that many are looking for; a Pakistan that is equal, progressive and sovereign.   Ammar comes on the Pakistan Experience to lay down his vision for the Haqooq-e-Khalq movement. On this week's episode we discuss, the Pakistani Left, Anti-Imperialism, Elite Politics and Elite capture, Lettergate and the Left's vision for Pakistan.  Ammar Ali Jan is a Pakistani historian, activist, youth leader and academic. He is founder and president of Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement, also a member of Progressive International.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience        And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience        The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.                  Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89     Chapters: 0:00 Why the Left is not supporting Imran Khan 5:30 Military Intervention 19:00 Imran Khan's anti-imperialism vs the left's anti-imperialism 25:00 Lettergate and US Involvement 34:30 The right co-opting the left's narrative 39:30 The entire elite system is the problem 50:00 How the Left can fix Pakistan 58:30 How do you see the future of the Left? 1:00:00 Joining a Mainstream Party 1:04:20 Is the left anti-religion? 1:07:00 Messiah Complex of leaders on the Left 1:10:30 Left's weakness 1:13:00 Fracturing in the Left 1:16:30 When is HKM coming to Karachi? 1:18:00 Mohajir Politics 1:22:00 Common Critique of the Left 1:23:30 Ideology as Ahistorical - Althusser 1:26:30 Conclusion and how to join

Husain Haqqani is a Pakistani journalist, academic, political activist and former ambassador of Pakistan to Sri Lanka and the United States.  Hussain Haqqani joins us on this week's episode to discuss Lettergate, Foreign Relations, Memogate, Dynastic politics and the role of the Establishment in politics in Pakistan.   Haqqani has written four books on Pakistan, and his analyses have appeared in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Policy.Haqqani is currently a Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. and co-editor of Hudson's journal Current Trends in Islamist Ideology.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience    And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience    The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.          Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89   Chapters: 0:00 Lettergate 6:30 American Conspiracy vs Interference 13:30 Value of Personal Relationships in Foreign relations 31:30 Memogate 40:00 Dynastic politics and Interference in politics 53:00 Vote of No Confidence and Parliamentary Democracy 59:00 Memogate Evidence 1:02:00 US Military Industrial Complex 1:06:00 Hussain Haqqani's journey 1:12:00 Meeting the Establishment

We often talk over each other, rather than talking to each other.  We don't even bother listening to the other side, we read/watch to argue, not to understand, not to see where they are coming from.  Social media makes enemies out of all of us. This is why I invited a staunch PTI Supporter, a staunch PML-N supporter and a public policy expert to actually debate the things we are all talking about on social media with some actual nuance as opposed to calling each other biased, youthiyas and patwaris.  Uzair younus is director of the Pakistan initiative at the Atlantic council, a dc-based think tank, and host of the podcast pakistonomy.  Bilal Lakhani is a columnist for Express Tribune and a recipient of the James A Wechsler Award for International Reporting. Supports PTI.  Mustafa Bajwa is a public sector strategy and operations consultant. Supports PML-N. The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience  And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience  The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.      Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89 Chapters: Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:00 Why you should vote for PML-N 7:00 Why you should vote for PTI 15:00 Uzair Younus weighs in: The problems with PTI 23:00 Imran Khan refusing to engage with his opponents 30:00 The role of the Establishment in politics 54:00 What did PTI do in the 3.5 years? 1:07:00 The journey of PTI and lessons to be learnt 1:18:00 What should the future look like? 1:38:00 Creating narratives online 1:51:00 Conclusion

Raza Rumi comes on the podcast to set the record clear on everything happening in Pakistan.  Raza explains the Imran Khan phenomenon, the history of his 22 year struggle, how army interferes in politics and the philosophy of how cults operate.  Is politics in Pakistan just elite theatrics?  How do we bring real change in Pakistan?  Why should we celebrate the undoing of the Hybrid regime?  Find out this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience.  Raza Ahmad Rumi is a Pakistani policy analyst, journalist who has been the editor of Pakistan's English-language daily Daily Times. Raza Rumi is the founder of Naya Daur and an editor at The Friday Times.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience  And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience  The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.      Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89

Imran Khan has been removed and Shahbaz Sharif has been made Prime Minister. What does the future now hold for Pakistan?  Mosharraf Zaidi, columnist, journalist, and public policy analyst, comes on the podcast to discuss the present political crisis and the potential hopes for the future.   Has Imran Khan undermined the work of Pakistani diplomats?   Is there any truth to "lettergate"?   Is it routine for diplomats to discuss possibilities with each other?   Find out this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience.   Mosharraf Zaidi is a Pakistani public policy professional and the founder and CEO of Tabadlab, an Islamabad-based policy think-tank. He writes a weekly column for The News International and is a senior advisor for the Albright Stonebridge Group.  Previously, he served as a Policy Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2011 and 2013 under Hina Rabbani Khar, the former Foreign Minister of Pakistan.[1][2][3][4]   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience  And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience  The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.      Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89

Owen Bennett-Jones is a freelance British journalist and a former host of Newshour on the BBC World Service. As a former BBC correspondent having been based in several countries, he also regularly reports from around the world.  Owen Benett-Jones comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss his latest book, The Bhutto Dynasty: Struggle for Power in Pakistan.   On this episode I ask point blank to Owen questions that have plagued the Bhutto legacy for years.  Did the US kill Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto?  Did Zardari kill Benazir?  Who covered up Benazir's assassination?  Find out this and more on this revealing episode of The Pakistan Experience.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.    Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89  Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Who Killed Benazir? 7:30 Did Zardari kill Benazir? 8:45 Did Zardari kill Murtaza Bhutto? 12:00 Was the US involved in Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's murder? 17:30 Did Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto think he wouldn't be hanged? 19:30 What is it about the Bhuttos that get them killed? 23:00 Benazir's legacy 26:30 Asserting civilian power 29:45 1971 34:00 Memogate 35:30 Is Zardari corrupt? 37:00 People's Question and Answers