SC Shines Light on PM Sharif’s Shenanigans on May 22, 2022“Sau Ganday we khaday tay chittar wee” is a popular Punjabi saying. A conceptual translation would be “indecision and stupidity cause great suffering”. This folklore is associated with Ranjit Singh. While rendering decision on a misdemeanor by a poor farmer, he punished the perpetuator to either eat 100 onions or receive 100 lashes. The farmer […]
Hapless Prime Minister Wilting under Pressure on May 15, 2022Majha and Saja were in business together. Majha had lent money to Saja who kept reneging on his promises to repay. Majha got fed up and complained to area elders. They were summoned to the council (Pariya) in a nearby village. Both boarded a bus to attend. En route, their bus was robbed by local […]
The Defaming Game on May 8, 2022“G atka” is a form of martial art associated with Punjab. Its origins can be traced back to the 15th century. It is popular among rural Sikh communities and adopted by many in the region, including Hindko speakers. Wooden swords are painstakingly carved and used in this sport. I attended Burn Hall School run by […]
Conspiracy or Intervention–A Useless Debate on May 1, 2022Hina Rabbani Khar, in her second term in Foreign Ministry, came up with a novel explanation for the intervention memo. As reported, she stated it was Donald Lu’s personal opinion! Those of us who have an understanding of the workings of institutions like the State Department finds this explanation ridiculous. A responsible official like the […]
Defining Moment – Choose Corruption or Self-Respect on April 24, 2022It was a warm sunny day. Excitement and anticipation was in the air on this 25th day of April 1996. Chairman Imran Khan was to launch Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf at an event in a local hotel in Lahore. There was huge presence of local and foreign media. A cricket icon turned philanthropist was donning the robes […]
“Do More” Within Days Of IK’S Exit. What’s Next? on April 17, 2022When you cheat in an exam after bribing the staff, there is a sheepish look for the uninitiated. However, if you are an accomplished liar, you gloat and pretend as if nothing happened. That is the attitude prevailing in the new setup. It may have worked in the previous change of governments. The two contenders […]
Beggars Can’t Choose but They Can be Chosen on April 10, 2022Donald Lu is the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian and Central Asian Affairs since 2021. As a veteran diplomat, he has extensive exposure in this region. He served as a Political Officer in Peshawar from 1992 to 1994 and was Deputy Chief of the US Mission in India from 2010 to 2013. He […]
Loot Sale Triggered by Foreign, Local Partners on April 3, 2022Following developments in Pakistan, a quote from Henry Kissinger says it all, “America is strong for two reasons. They search for traitors in their country and kill them. And they search for traitors in other countries and use them.” We have an abundant supply of such “For Sale” material willing to sell their Motherland. It […]
What’s After OIC Prestigious Moot? on March 27, 2022With a dust storm on the political horizon, conspiracy theorists and rumour mongers are having a field day. The dust will begin to settle soon. Watching a clip of my friend Hassan Nisar cleared my mind about what we are contending with. Both PPP and PML (N) are far from being political parties; they are […]
Future Course for PM Khan on March 20, 2022Marcus Aurelius was the last Roman Emperor during a period known as “Pax Romana,” an age of relative peace and stability between 27BC and 180 AD. He was a successful ruler and recorded in history as a prominent Stoic philosopher. His thoughts are valid even today. In his philosophical work, The Meditations, he writes, “When […]