Lu’s Testimony By: Daily Times on March 23, 2024Prominent US diplomat Donald Lu’s much-awaited testimony in Washington did little to clear the haze engulfing political uncertainty in Pakistan for the last two years. After he categorically rejected a conspiracy narrative PTI Founder Imran Khan had fashioned into a clarion call in the wee hours of his ouster from the government, mixed reactions were […]
Look Before You Leap By: Daily Times on March 23, 2024Politics in Pakistan might be heading towards yet another battle royal as its newly-minted president, Asif Ali Zardari’s decision to seek refuge in presidential immunity to protect himself from legal proceedings in two corruption cases brought against him by the National Accountability Bureau douse the raging controversies in kerosene. If law is to be believed, […]
Polio-free Pakistan? By: Daily Times on March 22, 2024Year after year, we pray for some magical swish for health authorities to declare that history has been made and Pakistan finally walked over to the safe side of the poliovirus divide. However, a variety of new hurdles continue to emerge in the fight to eradicate a disabling and life-threatening disease. With at least nine […]
Gwadar Attack By: Daily Times on March 22, 2024There’s no escaping the outrageous consequences of fighting a battle against militancy. Multiple blasts rocked the coastal strip on Wednesday when armed assailants forcibly entered Pakistan’s Gwadar Port Authority Complex and opened fire on the security personnel. While a large contingent of armed forces was quick to respond, successfully thwarting the attack, killing as many […]
No Cross-border Attacks By: Daily Times on March 21, 2024On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unequivocally conveyed that his government would not tolerate any terrorism originating from across the border. On an ideal day, such enunciation might have prompted many to criticise him for toeing an aggressive line, but given the extraordinary circumstances wherein neighbour after neighbour seeks to test Pakistan’s resolve towards its […]
Landmark Judgement By: Daily Times on March 21, 2024In a landmark judgment, a man in Lahore has been sentenced to a 29-year jail term for the heinous crime of raping a minor girl by a special court for gender-based violence Rightly hailed as a significant step towards justice for the victim and a powerful deterrent for potential offenders, this verdict might finally be […]
TikTok Ban By: Daily Times on March 16, 2024Banning an app with more than 100 million active users in the US alone was bound to spark a vicious outrage, especially if it means platform-loyal and forever-thirsty for social recognition Gen-Zers don’t know what to do with their lipsyncs. But a bill barring Tiktok, which in the larger view would be targetting its parent […]
Bridging the Divide By: Daily Times on March 16, 2024For the last three days, a refreshing ice-breaker between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Pakistan’s premier on the heels of his refusal to attend the oath-taking ceremonies of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari has prompted analysts from all across the country to put their heads together and […]
Controversial Appointment By: Daily Times on March 15, 2024Look before you leap. Think twice, act wise. Well, apparently not in political avenues where unilateral decisions have managed to stir the coalition hornet’s nest, ab initio. Following strong protests from the Sindh Government, a notification appointing a former federal secretary as chairman of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has been withdrawn, sparking controversy […]
Tough Challenges By: Daily Times on March 15, 2024The first in a series of nail-biting, formidable challenges testing the resolve of the new players waltz on the horizon. The upcoming deliberations with the International Monetary Fund have – for the zillionth-and-one time – shifted the spotlight to the country’s economy. As the Finance Ministry and IMF cross their t’s and dot their i’s, […]