A look into the Osama papers on May 9, 2012More than 10 years ago, the US came to Afghanistan in search of the perpetrators of 9/11. The Taliban stubbornly refused the demand to handover al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. The US and NATO forces backed by the United Nations Security Council thus embarked on the journey to hunt the al Qaeda leader down. […]
The wake-up call on November 18, 2011Ever since the mammoth demonstration at Minar-e-Pakistan last month, Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been the focal point of the media’s attention. A few months back, one would often come across the party’s supporters disgruntled by the lack of media coverage of their political gatherings — but that is now a thing of […]
Game of spies on July 26, 2011The already beleaguered Pak-US relations took another dip with the arrest of Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai by the FBI. The news of Mr Fai’s arrest came as a shock to most countrymen, especially to those familiar with the name. He has toiled hard for more than two decades for creating awareness regarding the Kashmir dispute […]
Falling on deaf ears on June 13, 2011“It is not that we need help, but you people need to stand up so that you are not the next in line,” Waseem Fawad grimly stated as he concluded the tear-jerking tale of his brother’s demise. His tremulous voice signified the struggle to control emotions as he recounted Saleem Shahzad’s last days. I listened […]
Need to be fixed on May 31, 2011Pakistan’s security establishment has enjoyed unchecked, unrestrained, and unchallenged power through the course of its history. They remained masters of their own fate while maintaining an invisible authority over all the state institutions. They have been more than often politically active, and sometimes strategically over-ambitious. They have assumed roles that were constitutionally not assigned to […]
Petrol politics on March 15, 2011The recent hike in the prices of petroleum products provided yet another opportunity to the media and opposition to deliver fatal blows to an already beleaguered government. The bulk of the country’s population, quite expectedly and justifiably, rejected the price increase and mobs of flustered protestors were seen on the streets carrying banners condemning the […]
Living in the past on February 20, 2011Though the two countries are stems of the same root and enjoy a shared history that is centuries old, Pakistan and India have failed to develop cordial relations in the post independence period. Since their very inception, these neighbours have virtually been at draggers drawn. Starting from the bloodshed during partition through to Kashmir and […]
The governors farewell on January 7, 2011For the last three years, the Governor’s House in Lahore has been the hub of Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP’s) activities in Punjab. Its grounds were frequently flooded by PPP’s workers, equipped with the party flags, in order to attend political gatherings. However, this time the workers and dignitaries from all around the country had gathered […]