With wars raging in Ukraine and Israel, escalation and disaster loom, probably more so than at any time during the last decade. The Biden administration, so far, has been competent and sensible in responding to the war in the Middle East. However, Hezbollah and Iran continue to provoke Israel; attack US forces in Syria and […]
Op-Ed
Raison D’etre of Military Courts
Debate on the necessity of military courts has revived after the recent 4-1 verdict of a 5-member bench announced in the form of a short order on 23 October. Though detailed judgement is awaited as of today the Ultra Vires tag on Section 2(1) d and Section 59 clause 4 of PAA has practically barred […]
Wither Democracy
In 1927, my great grandfather MK Gandhi wrote, ‘Democracy is an impossible thing until power is shared by all, but let not democracy degenerate into mobocracy.’ His advice holds good for South Asia, where dispensations exploit democratic canons such as being ‘of, by, and for the People’ as corruptible currency for power. ‘People are the […]
Strong Military Forces
Throughout the annals of history, countries have often been embroiled in conflicts and power struggles as they endeavor to safeguard their sovereignty and security. Weaker states with limited military might were often subjugated by larger ones with strong armies. The contemporary Gaza conflict is an apt example of this harsh reality; it is a stark […]
The Dangers of Mission Creep
No matter where the battlefield is, and who the enemy is. The war remains the most serious activity in lives of the combatants, non-combatants, neighbouring nations, and the stakeholders at the regional and international levels. In spite of Sun Tzu’s clear direction that prolonged wars will be counterproductive, the relatively stronger nations continue the wars […]
RSS and Terrorism
The main reason for the ill-treatment of Muslims in India at present is the thought and ideology of the RSS, on the issue of persecution of Indian Muslims and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Indian politics. ) role cannot be neglected in any case. The atrocities faced by Indian Muslims and the role of […]
Will Arrogance Interfere with the Law?
So far, arrogance has prevailed since April 2022 and continues unabated. Arrogance, combined with a lack of wisdom, at times bordering on stupidity, is a terrible combination. It has been the order of the day for the last 18 months. The latest re-enactment was during the Interim Prime Minister’s visit to LUMS University; his anger […]
Shadows of Anxiety
The nation, in the last few years, has been passing through a stage when anxiety was written large on most faces. The worry so manifested varied from one class of society to another. Broadly, if we divide society into four main classes, the feelings of anxiety for each class could be perceived in its true […]
Pakistan’s Political See-Saw
Justice Umar Ata Bandial, the former Chief Justice of Pakistan, strived for several months to ensure the conduct of the country’s general elections. However, luck favored the new Chief Justice; Qazi Faez Isa, as he had the honor of finally having the President and the Chief Election Commissioner agree on one date. Whatever the means, […]
FATF turns to examine India’s Terror Financing
Karma works in mysterious ways. For years on end, India has called on the Global Terror Finance Watchdog to dangle the sanctions sword over its rivals in the name of state-sponsored terrorism. This time, however, it was New Delhi’s turn to have a taste of its own medicine when shrill alarm bells pointed to a […]