Deprived of innocence on February 7, 2017Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections has heralded a new era of nationalism that is, quite clearly, xenophobic. The US under Trump is scared and, thus, does not want people from certain parts of the world to even touch its soil. Also, it seems determined to introduce policies of protecting indigenous businesses, which render […]
Gridlock in democracy on January 24, 2017There is no hurdle to democracy in Pakistan but the non-compromising attitude of the adherents of London Plan towards the parliamentary form of Government. Why has the political class not tuned to the presidential form of government? It is not opportune to look back at the socio-economic conditions that had made the idea popular but […]
Neglecting social sector on January 17, 2017One third of population living in extreme poverty is exposed to the threat of dislocation due to droughts and flash floods and vulnerable to deadly diseases owing to disturbed water cycle, natural habitat and crop patterns. Commercialization of agriculture and irresponsible use of pesticides have resulted in contamination of soil, air and water. Clean drinking […]
Listen to learn on January 10, 2017Khyber-Pukhtunkhwah government has decided to close down 360 state-run primary schools, where the number of enrolled students is not more than 50, in Mansehra district and hand over the buildings to deputy commissioner for some other use. The decision, taken in order to rationalize expenditure and improve quality in education sector, would affect 250 boys […]
Building defences against anarchy on July 20, 2016While addressing a rally held in connection with the 2008 elections, Benazir Bhutto said that her party would not endorse polls results if the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did not emerge the second largest party after the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). She said so as per the spirit of the Charter of Democracy (CoD), famously […]
Rethinking foreign policy on July 4, 2016Bestowed with lush green valleys, fertile floodplains and remarkable deserts Pakistan can feed a large population, which its neighbours like Iran and Afghanistan cannot do. At the same time, the country is not as large as India or China, and can only aspire for the role of a balancer in regional politics. But the same […]
Would PTI deliver? on June 8, 2016The Economic Reforms Protection Act 1992 is in the limelight again, thanks to the Panama leaks and, the outrage about accountability vis-à-vis offshore assets of the privileged part of Pakistan’s population. How all this happened is not that big a story but it is a well-thought out plan to plunder this poor nation. All appears […]
Stigma of corruption on April 30, 2016If Pakistan had not been passing through abnormal times, the discourse on corruption would have been confined to the realm of governance. The army chief did have not to openly offer his help to end the phenomenon, which he rightly insists is linked with the ongoing spate of terrorism across the country. Pakistan is rife […]
The story of Katcha Jamal on April 17, 2016Denying for long the existence of no-go areas in Punjab, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, in the largest province of Pakistan, has been proven to be lying. In Katcha Jamal, a 10 kilometre-long strip at the confluence of Punjnad and Indus rivers, near Rahimyar Khan, Ghulam Rasool alias Chhotu has been acting as the […]
What to do with FATA… on April 8, 2016The ISPR, repeatedly, states that the army operation in FATA is almost complete. Is the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ready to put the region under civilian rule? Obviously, it is not. The problem is structural and is not particular with the Sharifs only. The ruthless class that the colonial masters created and made […]