In praise of teachers on March 28, 2020“Have you ever really had a teacher? One who saw you as a raw but precious thing, a jewel that, with wisdom, could be polished to a proud shine? If you are lucky enough to find your way to such teachers, you will always find your way back.” This beautiful excerpt from “Tuesdays with Morrie” […]
Raging Black Coats on December 14, 2019On Thursday, December 12, 2019 I woke up early to go through the formulations again on a brief I had worked on late last night. These matters were remanded from the Supreme Court after its recent ruling in a similar case. It’s a Herculean task to argue a remanded matter before the High Court when […]
Maryam’s world on August 4, 2019Maryam has transformed the party of patronage; one that palmed on rent-seeking into one of resistance. For the first time since the formation of PML faction led by Shareefs, the party, in its posturing, has challenged the establishment. While for many, this transformation isn’t ideological, Maryam has still breathed a new soul into a party […]
Rebooting deference on July 22, 2019The courts in Pakistan have paid little attention to the principles of deference while expanding on their Constitutional jurisdiction. This expansive approach, with little regard to underlying principles of separation of powers, has manifested in most, if not all areas of law, that the superior courts have touched. Deference is a requirement of comity that […]
Dispute Resolution Councils on June 26, 2019Courts are just one, albeit an important institution, for dispute resolution. There are several other formal structures in a state, as part of the justice system, that operate to settle disputes. These include; tribunals, ombudsman, committees within the parliament, different grievance rederessal forums in autonomous bodies provided in special laws, including quasi-judicial powers vested under […]
Towards a Tayyaba amendment in NAB Ordinance on May 31, 2019Calling Tayaba Gul a villain is convenient. The lack of sympathy for her is easy to rationalize. Who is she after all? Where did she come from? Whatever her antecedents, she is not rich, powerful or famous. No wonder we are not inclined to be generous towards her. Worse still, she seems to have opinions […]
Legal aid in Pakistan on May 6, 2019A vast majority of citizens and non-citizens are excluded from access to justice in Pakistan. Overwhelming majority does not have financial provision or adequate legal representation in the courts. This is a substantive right of people under the Constitution that makes it obligatory on the state to provide inexpensive and expeditious justice and eliminate of […]
Access to Justice on April 27, 2019In a remarkable development, the Indian Supreme Court in Swapnil Tripathi’s case, entertained and accepted petitions seeking declaration that Supreme Court proceedings of “constitutional importance having an impact on the public at large” should be live streamed in a manner that is easily accessible for public viewing. In addition, directions were given to frame guidelines […]
Jingoistic nationalism on March 5, 2019It has been a fabulous February for Pakistan. A country that has struggled with narrative, role and identity post 9/11, has emerged as the leader in the comity of nations. In the span three days, it has controlled the narrative on terror, redefined its identity and unabashedly projected its role as an envoy for peace. […]
Politics of provinces on February 17, 2019There is no good argument against the creation of more provinces. Then what cause withholds us to start that process? Politics. Our parochial, self-serving and divisive politics. This government led a spirited campaign for the creation of the South Punjab province, cautiously divulging little on the campaign trail regarding the precise geographical boundaries of that […]