The Angry Arab in Pakistan

Pakistani media are in general (the ones that I can understand) far less fawning toward Musharraf than, say, Saudi media are toward the King or Egyptian media are toward Mubarak.

Like in the Arab world, there is a proliferation of satellite channels here. Like in the Arab wold, the channels represent a liberalized culture that does not speak to the majority of (the conservative) population. My impression thus far (and an expert on Muslims who has traveled widely confirmed this to me) is that Pakistani Muslims are far more religious and conservative than Arab Muslims.

Yesterday, I was told that all the street sweepers, cleaners, and servants in Pakistan are Christians. That they were former Hindus who converted to Christianity to escape caste, only to face a rigid (albeit unofficial) caste system.

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