Imprudent Decision on October 31, 2022The PML-N’s decision to form the government as a leading party of the PDM was ill-conceived. What was the pressing need for Mian Shahbaz Sharif to take the oath of the prime minister’s office and make financial decisions, which had to be most unpopular among the public? An interim government consisting of men with financial […]
Misplaced Priorities on October 11, 2022A large majority of the people living below the poverty line have no interest whatsoever in the spy games, as these are called, played by the mighty. From the court case of the PTI chairman facing terrorism charges for threatening the judge and the police to the cypher inquiry, there is nothing for the majority […]
Mushrooming Housing Societies on October 2, 2022The only profitable industry in the country seems to be the developing housing societies all around the large cities. Undoubtedly, the crisis of urban housing exists in the country, whose population is multiplying at a phenomenal rate. To accommodate the exploding population, should arable lands be sacrificed to build colonies? For example, pass through the […]
Lust for Power on September 26, 2022Going by Imran Khan’s recent address in Chakwal, he set new limits for launching scathing criticism against the institutions of the country. As for his political opponents, he had already crossed the limits of decency and decorum by calling them foul names of his choice. He possesses intrinsic ingenuity to invent names and use them […]
Drama in Real Life on September 22, 2022Looking at the period of the last four years plus in hindsight, the political scene at the national level appears to be a high drama played out by the mighty and the powerful. The spectators, the confused and the bewildered public, were no more than the helpless pawns as usual. Many who remained abreast with […]
Huge Government, Small Economy on September 15, 2022Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in his interview with Bloomberg News said, “I want to see a Pakistan that lives within its means. That’s it.” What the finance minister advised speaks of his great optimism. It’s good to be an optimist but with caution. He desired far too much since it clashes with the collective interests […]
Recalling the Banana Republic on September 12, 2022The arrest of Shahbaz Gill created such uproar that the PTI chief Imran Khan felt impelled to question if Pakistan was a banana republic. In his tweet, he asked, “Descending into a banana republic. The civilised world will be shocked at our levels of barbarism. The worst part is an easy target has been chosen […]
Recalling the Banana Republic on September 5, 2022The arrest of Shahbaz Gill created such uproar that the PTI chief Imran Khan felt impelled to question if Pakistan was a banana republic. In his tweet, he asked, “Descending into a banana republic. The civilised world will be shocked at our levels of barbarism. The worst part is an easy target has been chosen […]
Defending Miftah Ismail on August 28, 2022Since the present government took over, the hardest task undertaken by any of its functionaries was by Miftah Ismail. As finance minister, he had to negotiate with the IMF for a grant of loan. Without a loan, a serious threat of financial default existed. Knowing our financial situation, the loaning organisation dictated its terms. And […]
Power Politics and Hapless Public on August 21, 2022Whenever people meet these days, the topic of discussion mostly revolves around national politics. It’s immaterial whether the occasion is a happy or a sad one. After the customary exchange of ‘hello and hi’, politics must take over. Since tolerance is not the nation’s high point, emotions often flare up. The last five years or […]