Editorial

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is taking its role in ridding Empress Market in Saddar of all illegal encroachers extremely seriously. Sunday alone saw some 1,043 shops demolished. That traders were not given time to secure their merchandise violated the agreement reached a day earlier between the KMC and the All Empress Market Associations. The former must be must now be compensated … [Read more...] about Empress Market

It has been one month since a video was first posted on social media — filmed live on Facebook — showing a member of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) shooting his sister dead over honour. At the time the rebel group said that the actions of Bashar Bseis did not reflect its revolutionary values as it continues to fight to bring down the Assad regime. The FSA, which also runs its own military courts, … [Read more...] about Women and war

The ANP has sealed its fate. By effectively expelling senior leaders Bushra Gohar and Afrasiab Khattak over ambiguous charges of anti-party activities it has surrendered its progressive credentials. So, what is to be made of all this? In the run-up to the general elections, the ANP leadership began cautioning members against cosying up to the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). At the time, this … [Read more...] about ANP expulsions

As the nation recovers from Tehreek-e-Labbaik-Pakistan’s (TLP) latest protests, the costs of politicking in the name of religion are becoming clear. The Punjab government has prepared a report which outlines the private and public damages incurred due to the violent three day protests by TLP. The report estimates the cost of damages as Rs.260 million due to vandalism, destruction and rioting. This … [Read more...] about Vandal who?

Today is the World Pneumonia Day. It is a matter of grave concern that pneumonia is one of the leading killers of children under five in Pakistan. In fact, reports say that as many as 92000 children die every year from pneumonia, making Pakistan a high-burden country. Pneumonia is basically a lung inflammation that can be caused by a number of bacterial or viral infections that cause breathing … [Read more...] about Pneumonia and infant mortality

Pointe shoes in brown and bronze are being made in Britain for the first time. And London-based Ballet Black is behind the historical move. Set up in 2001 as an international company for dancers of black and Asian descent, this seemed like the next logical step. But why should anyone care? The simple reason is that for too many decades non-white dancers have had to suffer the indignity of … [Read more...] about Brown ballet shoes

The government is hoping to succeed where the two previous ones failed. Namely in bringing Dr Aafia Siddiqui back to Pakistan; thereby bringing to an end years of incarceration in a Texas jail. Yet the people of this country demand more than casual commitments made by the current leadership about how they will try and do the needful. After all, the neuroscientist has been in effective American … [Read more...] about Bringing Dr Aafia home

Emmanuel Macron has been spending the run-up to Armistice Day on the back-foot; all to placate a ruffed and tweeted-out Donald Trump. The French President found himself in hot water following an interview in which he talked of the urgent need for a European army. Not only to defend the EU from resurgent authoritarian powers. But also from the US; following the latter’s withdrawal from a bilateral … [Read more...] about Armistice Day

That armed men in plainclothes entered the premises of the Karachi Press Club (KPC) is a matter of grave concern. Of course, it is now known that they were security service officers; reportedly pursuing a high-value target(HVT). Equally troublesome are subsequent reports of a tracking device malfunctioning. Given the hostile environment in which representatives of the fourth estate are … [Read more...] about Karachi Press Club

The PTI government needs to categorically address recent reports of an Israeli aeroplane landing in Pakistan. For it will no longer suffice to dismiss this as fake new or propaganda. Online news outlet Middle East Eye (MME) has run an exclusive report confirming that it is, in fact, true; while quoting Pakistani sources including a pilot as well as those working at the Nur Khan military airbase in … [Read more...] about The mysterious plane