Dure Akram

In a country where glass ceilings are the norm and sticky floors, an unavoidable reality, any development that favours women at the expense of men is a rarity, a surreal delicacy. As a historic move for Pakistani politics, Maryam Nawaz took oath as the first woman Chief Minister of Punjab last week. But following the […]

Three weeks is too long of a time for any parliamentary democracy to decide who deserves to be given the baton next. Haunted by a long-drawn-out delay, the 12th general polls in Pakistan held on February 8 were supposed to bring about at least a semblance of stability. Although brought on by a unique show […]

It is not every day that a country of over 240 million heads to a nationwide exercise to choose the next set of leaders tasked with the crucial and most significant responsibility: governance. Now that the dust has settled, political parties are ready to proceed in full knowledge of their split mandate and there’s a […]

Hope tends to lose its path whenever the tunnel gets slightly longer. Therefore, every passing day since the vote of no-confidence added to the worries of those who held democracy dear. When would we come out of the stopgap arrangements, they wondered? The glaring failures of the PDM government in overcoming the most basic of […]

That we have miles to go before truly embracing each and every one of us as an integral part of the fabric does not need to be said out loud. But some occasions serve to push the dagger further in, rotating it through and through, and making our ideals a laughing stock. As Pakistan gears […]

Women’s rights have long been a contentious issue in Pakistan, a country deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions and chauvinistic norms. As the nation gears up for its upcoming elections, it is crucial to examine the election manifestos of political parties and their stance on women’s empowerment. Unfortunately, a significant observation arises – the absence of […]

Lo and Behold! The election week is here. Sit back and witness the assiduous courting of masses by all parties and the fury unleashed on the same forum. But as leading political parties are trying hard to cut the legs out from under each other, one particular party’s desperation has plunged it into a deep, […]

Daring to disagree with Jean De La Fontaine, sadness does not fly away on the wings of time. At least, not always. If the ticking of the clock actually carried some magic, the past 12 years would have been enough to pierce through the blanket of silence commemorating a fallen warrior: Salman Taseer. As his […]

Timing is everything. So when Kabul decided to send a new message to the international community about control over its water destiny, it had its eyes on the eastern front. Fresh tensions have emerged between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the wake of an announcement by the Taliban government to build a hydroelectric project. Zabihullah Mujahid […]