Underutilised Ombudsman! on September 12, 2018States are social constructs and are intrinsically meant to serve its people. If any state fails to perform such inherent political and administrative tasks, it loses all normative grounds to exist with the same nomenclature. On account of such political conviction, it is always heartening to see if any state institution in Pakistan seems to […]
Delays in the delivery of justice in civil cases on August 5, 2018Despite the recent series of efforts and good will by the judiciary, the justice system in Pakistan remains frail and far from providing timely and inexpensive justice to the masses. As a result, the sufferers of this injustice, especially the women and other marginalised sections of society, are either forced to remain silent and tolerate […]
Timely justice — what’s the holdup? on July 18, 2018The timely dispensation of justice to the public in Pakistan is one of the core issues the justice system faces, notwithstanding the fact that the constitution of the country guarantees that the State shall ensure inexpensive and expeditious justice (Article73). There are various instances which sadly suggest that cases were disposed of long after the […]
Pakistan’s treatment of old, terminally ill prisoners on June 19, 2018Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has recently taken notice of terminally ill prisoners confined in all prisons of Pakistan. This announcement was made in the backdrop of his visit to Central Prison, Karachi on May 12, 2018, where such prisoners remain confined. The doctrine of mercy also remains restricted. Undoubtedly, legitimate law of […]
Religious extremism: a case for a secular Pakistan on May 16, 2018When arrest warrants of hatemonger Khadim Rizvi were issued in the month of March this year on account of Faizabad sit-in held last year, none dared to arrest him and he continued to make public events in a very brazen way. Faizabad sit-in was one of the most fatal offshoots of the culmination of the […]
Shrinking academic spaces on April 29, 2018The dismissal of Professor Dr Ammar Ali Jan from his position by Punjab University on the ‘charges’ of doing his job — promoting critical thinking amongst his students — came as utter shock to me. Also, because one of the lessons that I learnt during my studies in the University of Sydney was that education […]
The outcome of Pakistan’s third UPR review on March 24, 2018The Human Rights Council adopted outcome document of the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Pakistan on 16 March 2018 during its 37th session. Earlier in November 2017, the review of Pakistan was done in Geneva by the working group on the Universal Periodic Review. The outcome document carries 289 recommendations made by various States […]
Pakistan’s future in GSP+ scheme on February 2, 2018The Second Generalised scheme of preferences (GSP+) assessment report of Pakistan, covering the period 2016-17, prepared by Europe Commission is out now. Unlike previous first report, the current report is comprehensive which makes holistic and critical overview of level of compliance Pakistan has made within the reporting period with twenty seven international laws covering four […]
Election manifestos and human rights on November 10, 2017General elections scheduled in the month of September 2018 are around the corner. Political parties have begun developing their election manifestos. The election manifestos of the parties are, in principle, set of concrete commitments and promises parties make with voters to bring them on their side in the elections and to garner political support among […]
Drinking water crisis on November 2, 2017Man in general are ruthless to nature and the environment. He has acted against the fact that nature is finite treasure and is likely to vanish if he continues to behave with his perpetual insanity. Also acting against the simple fact that it is not nature that depends on survival of man rather it is […]