Sikandar Noorani

As per latest notification of Interior Ministry Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has been banned amid serious security concerns. In the wake of surging terrorism in bordering areas of KP, banned PTM has been meaningfully vocal against state institutions especially armed forces and LEAs. Reportedly, the group has been fueling ethnic fire out of cross-border terrorism […]

Surging terrorism in Balochistan needs to be analyzed in the correct context. Growing concerns about the evolving security challenges are not misplaced but a miscalculated response would be damaging on many accounts. In the past, comrades of different brands tried to lure in the Baluch youth towards ill-conceived revolutions. Since 1877, the British government managed […]

The 15th report of the ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda/Taliban Monitoring Team, submitted to the UN Security Council last week contains eye-opening facts. According to this report, the banned militant network Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is the “largest terrorist group” in Afghanistan. One can say unhesitatingly that UN reports have endorsed Pakistan’s genuine concerns that the current […]

The statement of Interim Afghan Government (IAG) representative Zabhiullah Mujahid after the Doha conference seems misplaced. While praising the spirit of cooperation at the Doha conference, he said “Afghanistan has come out of isolation”. None of the country has recognized the IAG as a legitimate ruling regime. Numerous reports from UN bodies have pointed out […]

In a first verdict on 9th May arson, an Anti-terrorism court of Gujranwala has sentenced the fifty-one culprits involved in arson for five years after the completion of the trial. The case pertained to PTI workers vandalizing state and military properties following the arrest of the former prime minister in May previous year. The riot […]

The successful conduct of elections across Pakistan was a blow to those who wanted to keep the country in chaos. During the past two years, political turbulence remained at its peak and its ill effects on the economy are yet to be dealt with deliberately. Rumours were spread systematically about the prolonged postponement of elections […]

The nation feels relieved with the smooth conduct of general elections across Pakistan. After peaceful polling in a congenial environment, the much-awaited results have started pouring in. A smooth transition from the voting phase to the counting process has practically beaten all those quarters who wanted to push Pakistan into the dark pits of chaos. […]

Very few Kashmiris might have expected justice from the Indian judiciary on the petitions related to the abolished statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. The controversial verdict of the Indian Supreme Court on the sensitive matter of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy has further substantiated the concerns of disappointed residents of Jammu and Kashmir who are undoubtedly […]

Ripples created with unexpected raids on BBC offices were downplayed with claims of ardent tax evasion investigations by the Indian government last year. This deceptive argument was too baseless to believe. The timing of meaningful activism of tax authorities was sharply linked with the release of a revealing documentary by BBC UK titled “India: The […]

Debate on the necessity of military courts has revived after the recent 4-1 verdict of a 5-member bench announced in the form of a short order on 23 October. Though detailed judgement is awaited as of today the Ultra Vires tag on Section 2(1) d and Section 59 clause 4 of PAA has practically barred […]