We are so resilient as a people. I have so much respect for their dignity and courage. I hope the world sees this side of Pakistan, one where professionals want a democracy. The spirit of our intelligentsia cannot be broken.
Past experience has shown that the Islamists gain space when civilian authority weakens.
My father was jailed off and on for seven years.
I've been jailed once, put in police lock-up twice, and was under house arrest twice.
I am certainly not a martyr kind of a person. I love my life. But if one has to, then there is nothing more nobler a cause that I can think of.
Fortunately, when Benazir Bhutto was prime minister, she banned public whipping of women - banned whipping of women, period, which is a marvelous thing she did.
Agencies must know who they are accountable to. If the agencies know who they are accountable to but we cannot say who they are accountable to, then really it is a very sad situation that is bound to be misused. It is bound to affect human rights.
If your people don't really believe or respect you, if you don't have the moral authority to rule, then your goose is cooked.
I have no illusions about our elected politicians. Pakistani democracy is anything but perfect.
General Zia-ul-Haq, a dictator and unscrupulous political actor, used Islam as a pretext for waging war in Afghanistan and adopting an aggressive stance towards India. By advancing a more orthodox version of Islam, he was able to hold on to a repressive regime and quell any opposition.
We believe that when there is a democratic setup, we have a greater voice.
Religiosity is suffocating in Pakistan. It invariably stokes the fire in driving society to religious extremism.
Organized groups claiming roots in religious ideologies have unleashed an all-pervasive fear of mob violence in many parts of the country.
She is absolutely inspiring. Malala is a vindication of our struggle.
The world has to have zero tolerance for naked dictatorship.
