Editorial

In recent days, a widespread crackdown on social media activists has been ongoing. According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), 50 cases were registered in Islamabad alone. Lahore reported 50 cases with 15 arrests, while Multan saw 21 cases and 15 arrests. Karachi registered 16 cases, with two arrests. The arrests were made on alleged […]

Allowing military courts to announce verdicts for civilians being tried for their alleged role in last May’s attacks on army installations, the Supreme Court’s seven-judge bench has breathed new life into the raging debate surrounding military justice. The legal fraternity stands divided, adding to the murkiness, with one half determined to advocate for the independence […]

Russia’s engagement with countries once regarded as anti-Soviet Union is growing. Isolated by Western sanctions in the wake of the Ukraine war, Moscow is aggressively focusing on Asia, South Asia, and Arab nations. With China, it has almost developed a new bloc. Now, Russia’s ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban government are b seen with interest and […]

Whether it was in the wake of public outcry or a result of the sane revision of the controversial SRO 2028(I)/2024, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has withdrawn the draft notification. Travellers to Pakistan must be relieved by the development. The proposed amendment to the Baggage Rules, 2006, would have caused unnecessary trouble at […]

Before the sun of International Human Rights Day rose in Pakistan, a handful of messages from government functionaries were outlining Pakistan’s commitment to human rights. However, when we assess the state of human rights in Pakistan critically, a sorry sight emerges. While the government is good at highlighting legislative measures for vulnerable groups and the […]

Threats against journalists in Pakistan are on the rise; it is deeply troubling. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the vicious online trolling campaign targeting senior journalists like Syed Talat Hussain, Hassan Ayub, Muneeb Farooq and Muzamil Hussain Shah. PFUJ has called for urgent government action to ensure the safety of journalists […]

A government of coalition partners is not a happy marriage. The growing friction in recent weeks between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) only shows a deeper challenge in coalition politics – balancing power and respect. As the two ruling partners meet to iron out differences, it is clear that […]

Whenever Donald Trump speaks, his words become a global conversation. Now when he is a US president in waiting, his recent call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine has become a talk worth consideration. By urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to act, Trump has dragged himself into the heart of a conflict which he has […]

It is quite proverbial to say but by all means Syria stands at a crossroads. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s rule – so sudden and unimaginable – marks the end of an era fraught with challenges and achievements. For 25 years, Bashar al-Assad led Syria through turbulent times like a strong and fair man. He […]

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman is in rage after President Asif Ali Zardari returned the Madaris (religious seminaries) Registration Bill with a set of objections. If the Maulana is not pacified in a couple of days, he may march on the capital. The issue brewing tensions is that the government plans to regulate […]