Symbols of dictatorship on December 14, 2018It is not essential for a dictatorship to be led or represented by an individual or a single political entity. It can be an institution, a collusion of institutions or groups sharing vested interest. Nonetheless, its basic features are common as every dictatorship strives to control the polity through a myriad of tools to the […]
Afghanistan wading through blood on December 10, 2018Afghanistan is one of those unfortunate states in the world that has continuously bled for about 200 years for no fault of its own. First with the advent of the colonial power in the form of the East India Company and later through a formalisation of the British Raj. The major reason is the important […]
State should guarantee rights of all ethnic groups: Achakzai on December 3, 2018Quetta: The Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMap) organised on Sunday a public gathering at Quetta’s Sadiq Shaheed football ground to commemorate the 45th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai. One of the key speakers on the occasion was Abdul Samad Khan’s son and PkMap Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai. The event drew huge crowds […]
A strategically silent Nawaz on December 2, 2018Silence has its own language but some silences, particularly in the political sphere, assumes its own connotations and its prolongation actually turns torturous for the opponents. Currently, silent Nawaz Sharif is no less than a dilemma and an enigma that has turned into anxiety for certain quarters. Seemingly in troubled waters, the uneasiness in the […]
SP Tahir’s abduction and murder on November 26, 2018For the last one and a half decades there is an enforced new normal in the land of the pure. If you or your loved one has gone missing, a euphemism for abduction or forceful disappearance, only silence can protect you from further devastation. Raising voice or making noise may not only cause physical or […]
Saraiki or South Punjab province? on November 17, 2018There are melodies in languages but it is a rarity that a language is melodious. Do visit a Saraiki Jhoak if you want to feel the softness of language and humbleness of culture. For elevation of soul, Ghulam Fareed’s mystical poetry will nurture the need for love and tranquillity. Hailing from the rugged Northwest visiting […]
Time to Ruminate on November 4, 2018After a long imposed ordeal of 9 years, Asia Bibi was saved from the gallows by a three member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan through its landmark verdict of overturning her death sentence. Asia Bibi, a Christian and a mother of four, hailing from an impoverished background, was accused of blasphemy during an […]
PTM’s roars continue on November 2, 2018Trampling all odds, Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement(PTM) is consistently proving its resilience, relevance and ingenuity despite facing relentless onslaught, hurdles and threats. The PTM’s public gathering in Bannu on October 28, 2018 was an unprecedented feat accomplished by its young leaders and workers. The rally was one of the largest and hugely attended events in the […]
Royal chopping of dissent on October 19, 2018The lurid details of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder emerging in the press, put to shame all the previous terminologies and metaphors of savagery, mostly attributed to the so called dark ages and medieval era. Savagery, barbarism, tyranny and tyrants are not mere attributes of a specific era but are part of a mind-set which still exists, […]
How the PTI came out on top on July 30, 2018Since its inception, Pakistan is not naïve to political circus and farcical innuendos. While the recent elections have been accepted as legitimate, there is no denying that there were numerous coincidences which made it seem similar to previous farcical performances this country has witnessed. These coincidences can be seen as far back as 2013. It […]