Pak-Afghan relations on November 14, 2018Rediscovering Peace through Ancient and Modern Silk Road: Stretching their lovesick arms out in the south-east and south-west of the Karakoram and Hindukush, perch the princely beauties of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is the plateau where Himalayas, Hindukush, Karakoram and Tianshan mountain-ranges of India, Afghanistan, China and Pakistan intertwine. At the crossroads of Central Asia, […]
The Trajectory of an Intolerant Mind on November 4, 2018What of human rights norms, the verdict of Asia Bibi’s acquittal, including the essential supplementary note, has been handed over in the light of civil law, substantiated by the principles of Quran-o-Sunnah.One wonders then what is the fuss about that mullahs are causing around? No evidence ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ was presented. ‘Presumed innocent’, thus the […]
Educating the transgenders uniformly on October 26, 2018Beyond legal recognition of the third gender, wider social acceptability can open up an overture for their education in regular schools and colleges. Education in turn can enhance their acceptability in society. Despite being granted certain rights by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, discrimination, humiliation, harassment and persecution continue unabated. Society’s trans-phobic attitudes towards gender […]
When education fails equality on September 14, 2018“The following day in school, the headmistress sent them back home. I know both the sisters are very intelligent but I am compelled to make that ‘unfair decision’. They are Ahmadis and cannot continue in this school as the villagers are threatening them”. This was the reason given to one man whose nieces were evicted […]
Rights not mere necessities, Mr PM on September 4, 2018Whatever socio-economic ‘rights’ the Prime Minister (PM) pledged to deliver in his maiden address to the nation are essential but not enough. Practically inseparable, the whole range of civil and political rights — including minority rights — out rightly failed to capture his consideration. Intending to attend the seventy third United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) […]
Education: a promethean task on August 10, 2018In his maiden speech as the would-be premier, Imran Khan expressed a strong will to improve the state of education. Despite frequent failures, Pakistan has been committing to ensure Education For All (EFA) to its own people as well as to its donors for the last one-and-half decade. The state has spent millions of dollars […]