Make the punishment fit the crime! on February 19, 2020I’ve often wondered why Pakistan is in such a sorry state. Why, for instance, do people display such blatant disregard for traffic rules? Is it because they know that even if they get stopped by traffic cops, they’ll get away by paying them a couple of hundred rupees? Why is it that there are rampant […]
It’s not corruption; it’s perception, stupid! on February 12, 2020The ruling party went into panic mode after the publication of Transparency International’s report, according to which Pakistan had slipped two or three points in the Corruption Perception Index. It implied that corruption had not been contained. It had increased. The very learned lady advisor on (mis)information said something about it being a conspiracy against […]
Reactions to the death of Danish on February 2, 2020In this great republic (often called the Land of the Pure), which has been reportedly turned into a heaven on earth by Mr Clean and his very able colleagues, it is not surprising to see so many people deeply concerned at the death of Danish (a character in a TV play). For a week before […]
Land grabbing, Vawda and corruption on January 26, 2020It’s the kind of thing that has been happening for centuries and usually doesn’t raise eyebrows. Someone sees a plot of land lying vacant for a long time, finds out that the owner is poor, or dead or out of the country, and then occupies it. In this highly corrupt country, he is usually able […]
Will the flour shortage change anything? on January 21, 2020Last week people had only one thing to discuss: the very able Faisal Vawda placing a boot on a table and two opposition politicians leaving in disgust. The flamboyant minister for water has done other memorable things too in the past year, like predicting that his government would arrange so many jobs in the country […]
I no speak English! on January 15, 2020We should really be grateful to the selectors for choosing such highly intelligent people to rule over us. You know, like that genius who claimed that rampant inflation is actually good for the country. And the one who spoke openly about killing some five thousand Pakistanis to solve the country’s acute problems. Not to mention […]
The emperor has no clothes on January 6, 2020It’s been over 15 months since the Dear Leader was imposed upon us in the hope that he would easily change the fate of the country. In these months, the country’s debt has grown by another trillion-and-a-half (more than a hundred billion rupees every month). Those who were stupid enough to believe that he could […]
The neutralization of NAB on January 2, 2020Friends and countrymen, I have come to bury NAB, not praise it. The good that NAB did for the PTI will soon be forgotten. Its mistakes will, however, forever be remembered. The great Imran says his friends will benefit. And Imran is an honourable man. As we know, friends need to be helped when they’re […]
Another massive gas price increase on December 24, 2019In all the tumult and confusion of this past week, an important piece of news didn’t receive as much attention as it should have. The prices of gas are going to be increased three-fold, by more than two hundred percent. If you paid a thousand rupees last month, this month your gas bill for the […]
Pakistan: failed state? on December 18, 2019The lawyers’ attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology was shocking, but more shocking is the fact that it is being defended by some top legal minds in the country. Should we be surprised? Remember how the killer of Punjab’s Governor Salman Taseer was garlanded by lawyers who thought he had done the right thing? […]