Protecting Reputations, Or… on June 13, 2024The entire primetime talk shows overwhelmingly discussed the Punjab government’s recently notified Punjab Defamation Act 2024, with the print media generating articles and editorials on the aggressive nature of this law. Social media is rife with criticism of the legislation, which has already been challenged in the Lahore High Court and admitted for hearing. One […]
Judges versus Judges on June 5, 2024The entire proceeding of the Supreme Court on the Sunni Ittehad Council’s petition seeking the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities in the National and Provincial Assemblies seemed like a clash between the Chief Justice and the rest of the bench. The Chief Justice used the strength and power of his argument to […]
Punjab Defamation Act 2024 on May 25, 2024The Punjab government has recently enacted the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, which boasts a broader scope compared to the existing Defamation Ordinance 2002. This comprehensive Act significantly impacts writers, analysts, editors, journalists, vloggers, and both traditional and social media practitioners. While the Act introduces several noteworthy provisions, it also presents both advantages and disadvantages when […]
Wheat Crisis: Belling the Cat May Not Be So Easy on May 7, 2024There has been significant controversy and public outcry over the continued import of wheat in May 2024, despite the government’s target to halt imports in February 2024. This decision comes at a time when the country’s own wheat crop has flooded the market. The middlemen, flour mills, and hoarders are more inclined to store and […]
Politics behind $90 billion on April 27, 2024The recent US bipartisan approval of a $90 billion aid package to fuel wars in three conflict-ridden regions underscores a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, signalling a departure from the isolationist stance of the former Trump administration. Unlike the “America First” policy and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from conflict zones advocated by Donald […]
Bahawalnagar Incident on April 15, 2024With extensive experience supporting ministers and leaders in various capacities – from press attaché in Kuala Lumpur to Press Minister in Paris, and culminating as Press Secretary and media advisor to the President – I had developed a habit of instinctively evaluating public relations campaigns. The Bahawalnagar incident serves as a prime example. Despite an […]
Extrajudicial Killing: Responding to India’s Actions on April 13, 2024In January 2024, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary made a significant revelation, alleging that India had orchestrated at least 12 extrajudicial killings in Pakistan linked to the Kashmir cause and the Khalistan movement. This disclosure marked the third high-profile accusation against India following similar allegations involving Canada and the United States. By engaging in these unlawful acts, […]
Upscaled Iran-Israel Conflict on April 5, 2024The recent wave of high-intensity attacks on Iranian interests in the Middle East, coupled with strikes on symbols of power and authority within Iran itself, has left the entire Iranian nation and its leadership in a state of shock and mourning. Just as Iran was beginning to grapple with the devastating loss of lives following […]
Bloody Nose to India, Iran and Afghanistan on March 22, 2024Pakistan’s geopolitical trajectory has been deeply intertwined with the interests of superpowers since its inception. Positioned as a frontline state during the Cold War, Pakistan found itself at the epicentre of the ideological battle between communism and capitalism. Opting for the latter, Pakistan forged significant alliances with the United States and its allies through agreements […]
Matching Shahbaz Speed with Chinese Speed on March 15, 2024Shahbaz Sharif, celebrated for his administrative prowess, confronts the formidable task of guiding the nation towards political stability and economic resilience. To achieve this, he must enact bold reforms, including the elimination of subsidies and the privatization of underperforming State-Owned Enterprises like PIA. Moreover, vital institutions such as the Federal Board of Revenue must undergo […]