Wide Angle Zoom

A conversation with Abid Hassan Minto

Faraz Syed of Wide Angle Zoom talks to President of Pakistani Supreme Court Bar Association, Senior Lawyer, Constitutional Expert and Professor of Law at Punjab University. He is also a left wing civic and political leader, specifically of Workers Party of Pakistan. Discussion focuses on current problems of Pakistan and lack of good leadership and possible solutions.

Recent development and America and Pakistan relations

Wide angle zoom host Faraz syed discusses with journalist Ali Hasan Cemendtaur and writer Sabahat Ashraf (AKA iFarqeer) the recent developments in the news and how these news affect Pakistani and American governmental relations as well as people to people contacts.

What is happening in Karachi and Why?

An interesting discussion between Faraz Syed, Ali Hasan Cemendtaur and iFaqeer (AKA Sabahat Ashraf) that leads to a new perspective on the situation in Karachi. The discussion highlights the negotiation tactics between current leaders by creating the law and order situation in Karachi to strengthen their power base in the parliament. The discussion starts with the background of violence in Karachi and concludes that violence in Karachi is not ethnic but political.

Wendy Chamberlin, Ambassador of US to Pakistan, speaks candidly on Pakistan-US relations

Wendy Chamberlin, ex-Ambassador of US to Pakistan, speaks to Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America (OPEN) conference on June 4, 2011 in Mountain View, California. WBT-TV team with Wide Angle Zoom show was there to cover the event. It is in two parts.

Part 1



Part 2

Sarfaraz Shah's Murder by Pakistani Security Forces: in Public and On Camera

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Faraz Syed and Ali Hassan Cemendtaur discuss the recent extra judicial execution of a young man Sarfaraz Shah. A very interesting discussion that covers the history of extra judicial killings in Pakistan. Pakistan has had long history of extra judicial killings; therefore this show covers the reasons of what has been the cause of such killings. The show also discusses the role of Pakistan's security forces that have now come under public criticism due to Sarfaraz Shah execution video.

Analysis on US raid in Pakistan to kill Osama Bin Laden

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Wide Angle Zoom host Faraz Syed discusses with Ali Hasan Cemendtaur, the American special forces' (Navy SEAL's) raid on Osama Bin Laden hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan. What is reported to have happened, what really happened and what will happen in the future.

Pakistani-American perspective on Greg Mortenson and CBS 60 Minutes report

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Faraz Syed discusses with journalist Ali Hasan Cemendtaur, the work done, or rather not done, by Greg Mortenson in Afghanistan and Pakistan in light of the scandal reported by CBS show 60 Minutes. Accusations of exaggerating the stories in his book, not building all the 171 schools claimed to have been built by his NGO Central Asian Institute and spending only about half the money raised for the cause of building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan on the actual cause. These topics and more are discussed from the Pakistani-American community's perspective.

Raymond Davis and Pak-US Diplomatic Maneuvers

Raymond Davis, an American national was arrested in Pakistan for the shooting deaths of two Pakistani men in the city of Lahore. The US wants him released, saying he is a diplomat and has immunity, but the Pakistani government has been very reluctant, insisting he is not. The diplomatic maneuvers employed by both sides has caused consternation and it is these developments and their implications that Wide Angle Zoom host Faraz Syed discusses with political analyst Stephen Manuel.

Raymond Davis and Pak-US Diplomatic Maneuvers from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Validity of Pakistan's blasphemy law questioned (Part 1)

Wide Angle Zoom host Faraz Syed takes on Pakistan's controversial Blasphemy Law in a two-part discussion involving experts on Islam, Dr. Khalid Siddiquie and Dr, Ikram Jehangiri. At the centre of the discussion is the recent sentencing to death by a Pakistani court of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, for allegedly blaspheming. Faraz questions the premise of that sentence and establishes quite emphatically through the two experts that there is no capital punishment for such an offence in the Holy Quran. The experts also question the 'double standards' being practiced by Pakistanis supporting the court's writ.

Validity of Pakistan's blasphemy law questioned (Part 1) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Validity of Pakistan's blasphemy law questioned (Part 2)

Validity of Pakistan's blasphemy law questioned (Part 2) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

A conversation with Ibad Rehman, MQM Patron for North America (Part 1)

In this two parts Wide Angle Zoom show, Faraz Syed talks to Ibad Rehman of MQM who holds the position of Patron In-Charge of North America.

Faraz asked Mr. Rehman why MQM quits the cabinet of the current government in Pakistan. Why Altaf Hussain asked MQM workers to prepare for elections. What happened between PML-N and MQM that lead to the use of vulgarities. Where is MQM headed in the near future and can they work with any Pakistani political party in the future to form a government.

A conversation with Ibad Rehman, MQM Patron for North America from WBT TV on Vimeo.

A conversation with Ibad Rehman, MQM Patron for North America (Part 2)

A conversation with Ibad Rehman, MQM Patron for North America (2) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Can Muslims in America relate to what Ahmadiya community is going through in Pakistan?

Muslims in America are vilified, persecuted and hated by Americans. Many incidents of hate crimes are reported against Muslim minirities. From verbal assaults to demonstrations against building the mosques to secret wire-tracking of ordinary Muslim-Americans is common.

In this show we look at the vilification of Ahmadiya Muslim Community in Pakistan. We look at the incident of Punjab police breaking scriptural writings on the walls of their mosques in Pakistan. How Ahmadis in Pakistan are not allowed to practice their faith openly without breaking the law.

The question is: Can Muslim-Americans relate to the plight of Ahmadiya Muslims in Pakistan?

Can Muslims in America relate to what Ahmadiya community is going through in Pakistan? from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Ahmadiya beliefs and Main Stream Muslims Response

Faraz Syed talks to Imam of Ahmadiya Baitul Baseer Mosque about their beliefs and how they differ from main stream Muslims such as Shia and Sunnis. Later Faraz discusses these beliefs with one Sunni scholar and one Shia scholar.

Ahmadiya beliefs and Main Stream Muslims Response from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Role of Judiciary in Pakistan (part 1)

A fundamental and basic need of any society is to have fair, independent and impartial court of justice. Without that a nation can fall into anarchy. Historically Pakistan never had fair and independent justice system.

Recently Chief Justice of Pakistan has taken many steps which look independent from the outside. He has challenged an army dictator and a corrupt democratic government. Lawyers movement has gavanized the common man to challenge the people in power. In this show we will see if the Judiciary in Pakistan has finally freed itself from powers-to-be and trully become independent now. Has the life of a common man changed after independence of Judiciary? Is the common man now able to get easy, quick and speedy justice in Pakistan?

Role of Judiciary in Pakistan (part 1) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Role of Judiciary in Pakistan (part 2)

Role of Judiciary in Pakistan (part 2) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Judicial emergency and what happened on Oct 18, 2010

On October 18th, 2010 Chief Justice of Pakistan called an emergency session of the court to resolve an emergency situation. What happened? Faraz Syed talks to Javed Ellahie about the supreme court order. For related videos: click here

Judicial emergency and what happened on Oct 18, 2010 from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Is Democracy Possible in Pakistan (Part 1)

Pakistan is the 6th largest country in the world and teetering on the edge of failure. It got its independence 63 years ago but every year since then the failures of all sorts have been progressively increasing.

Among the biggest failures are the failure of good governance, failure of leadership and failure of participatory democracy.

In this two part series of our Wide Angle Zoom show, we ask the very fundamental questions: Is Democracy possible in Pakistan? What are the reasons of failure of democracy in Pakistan? Is Military the best institution to run Pakistan effectively?

Enjoy the very candid discussion on our show with Faraz Syed and his guests.

Is Democracy Possible in Pakistan (Part 1) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Is Democracy Possible in Pakistan (Part 2)

Is Democracy Possible in Pakistan (Part 2) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Broken education system in Pakistan (Part 1)

Pakistan has over 50% of the population under 25 years of age. The education system in Pakistan is broken. Most of these young people are not going to school or getting any kind of education.

The discussion turns to Madrasas (Religious Schools) in Pakistan and the other parallel systems of schooling that are filling the gap left by failing public education system.

Faraz Syed talks to Sabahat Ashraf, a blogger writing on social topics relating to Pakistan under the name of iFaqeer. Faraz also talks to Amjad Noorani of The Citizens Foundation, USA which is operating 660 schools in Pakistan with a mission to build 1000 schools in under-served areas.

Broken education system in Pakistan (Part 1) from WBT TV on Vimeo.

Broken education system in Pakistan (Part 2)

Broken education system in Pakistan (Part 2) from WBT TV on Vimeo.