Creating a new Pakistan on September 11, 2018Imran Khan’s goal to follow the ideals established by the Islamic state founded at Medina is highly noble and inspiring. However, the changed realities of these two eras require some careful consideration before superimposing a 622 AD model on a 2018 nation-state. Medina was blessed by the presence of the Prophet of Islam (SAW) himself, […]
A police force for the people on March 20, 2018This country’s police force is known for its predatory behaviour and obsequious slave-like relationship with those in power. Their role has now shrunk to performing two functions, providing security to those in powers and protecting criminals. When a provincial police force is unable to capture a few dozen ‘thugs’ like the ‘Chotu’ gang of Rajanpur, […]
The naive approach to gun licenses on January 7, 2018On December 27 2017, the federal government (through a public notice) suspended all licenses for prohibited bore weapons. The public notice explains that every prohibited bore license in Pakistan held by any individual or company, other than the state’s own law enforcement agencies like the police and the military, would become invalid after 31 January […]
Of killer brats and gun culture on December 7, 2017The rich Pakistani elite think of themselves as a special gift of the Lord, and to pass on this evolutionary fortune, they breed a bunch of utterly spoiled, arrogant and conceited species, best described as the ‘killer brats’. Some well reported incidents may be recalled to put their activities in perspective. On Sunday after an […]
Eliminating gun culture on November 11, 2017In 2015, the police in Japan fired just six rounds. That was all that was fired by the entire police in the entire country. Japan has succeeded in bringing its yearly gun homicide rate to near zero. This was accomplished without the Japanese Prime Minister making ad nauseum speeches to eliminate weapons. This was achieved […]
Length of my beard is none of your concern on June 2, 2017On 29 May 2017, world’s leading Islamic scholar – the assistant commissioner, Kharan – issued an order banning barbers from trimming the beards of their clients in a manner that may suggest any creativity, design or style. He also categorically declared that this practice was un-Islamic as all the national and international scholars were against styling […]
Modern slavery on March 16, 2017“Rags make paper, paper makes money, money makes banks, banks make loans, loans make beggars, beggars make rags.” ~ Anon. Psychologist Martin Seligman’s theory of ‘learned helplessness’ explains why individuals may accept and remain passive in negative situations despite their clear ability to change them. One wonders if this theory is equally applicable to nations. […]