Ali Raza Abidi was killed for challenging SSP/ASWJ on January 1, 2019The cold-blooded murder of former Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNA Ali Raza Abidi in Karachi is yet another reminder that the longstanding issue of targeted killing in the metropolis is far from over. With the killing of one of the most active politicians of the city, government and law enforcement agencies’ claims of having restored […]
“Hybrid war” narrative is meant to suppress dissent on December 24, 2018Two democratically-elected parliamentarians Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar were recently placed on the Exit Control List — a decision which was later reversed by the federal cabinet following outrage on social media. Earlier, on November 30, the two Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM)-linked MPs from North Waziristan were offloaded from a Dubai-bound flight and informed that […]
‘All societies have trouble with rebellious women’ on December 22, 2018Author Sadia Abbas’s debut novel ‘The Empty Room’ explores family life in the metropolitan city of Karachi. It also deals with the complex situations a woman has to face, following an arranged marriage and how married women in the society are expected to go the extra mile to make their in-laws happy. Daily Times sat […]
Censorship at Faiz Festival: MNA Ali Wazir among 4 panelists barred from speaking at last minute on November 20, 2018In a last minute change, four speakers who were scheduled to speak at the Faiz International Festival in Lahore on Saturday and Sunday were prohibited from speaking. MNA Ali Wazir, academic Ammar Ali Jan, singer and activist Taimur Rahman and former editor Rashed Rahman were informed by the organisers hours before the event that their […]
‘Party politics not the only route to express progressive ideas’ on November 18, 2018a session titled “Is alternative possible?” was held at Faiz International Festival on Saturday to discuss the future of Left-wing politics in Pakistan. Panelists stressed on the need for unity among progressive quarters in order to challenge the status quo. Leftist politician and columnist Aasim Sajjad Akhtar said alternative systems, whether good or bad, have […]
Media freedom under threat as critical voices go off air on November 18, 2018With news channels in Pakistan taking mainstream anchors off air, fears about the freedom of media have grown in the past few weeks. Anchors Nusrat Javed, Matiullah Jan and Murtaza Solangi have been laid off by their respective channels while Talat Hussain, who had been speaking about censorship woes, announced discontinuance of his show. The […]
Punjab governor vows support to Russian companies wanting to invest in Pakistan on November 7, 2018American firm Global Group One’s Marketing Director Yawar Syed, who is also representing various Russian companies for their ongoing and upcoming investment projects in Pakistan, met Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar at Governor House on Monday. The governor welcomed the Russian companies’ plans to invest in Pakistan and said that the Punjab government would extend […]
Building dams not the only solution to water crisis on November 6, 2018A general rhetoric about Pakistan’s water crises circulating in the mainstream media for the past few months is that the country will go dry by 2025 if something is not done at the earliest. This expression is followed by calls to build dams and other sources of water conservation. The biggest advocate for the construction […]
Fixing the faulty justice system on October 30, 2018Pakistan’s criminal justice system has long been blamed for failing to deliver justice to the weaker groups and lacking the capacity to ensure fair trials. Last month, Supreme Court ordered the release of 21-year-old man named Muhammad Adnan who was arrested 11 years ago when he was charged with trafficking drugs — at the age […]
Stand up for the victims of blasphemy law on October 18, 2018Supreme Court reserved its judgement on blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi’s appeal against her death sentence last week and the verdict is likely to be announced in the coming days. Extremist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik, which evidently enjoys impunity across the country, has not only warned of launching country-wide protests but also threatened the judges of consequences if […]