Pakistan and IMF dispenser boys!on May 22, 2019Meer Taqi Meer was one of the founders of rich and versatile Urdu poetry. Full of appropriate metaphors and smilies for all occasions, he need not write in million words to seize gravity of a situation like Pakistan's economic problems metaphorically. He would have simply put it in his most quoted verse-'Meer kiya saadaa hain beemaar howay jiss kay sababUsee attaar kay Londay say dawaa … [Read more...] about Pakistan and IMF dispenser boys!
Learning lessons in pollson May 14, 2019Surgically separated Siamese twins have a tendency to keep kicking at each other. It is said that similar are relations between India and Pakistan. Apparently they cannot live separately, they pin prick each other to remain in good humour. I would not like to draw any more similarities as it would amount to stirring the hornet's nest of patriotism and be drawn into exchanges of accusations of … [Read more...] about Learning lessons in polls
PRESS FREEDOM DAYon May 1, 2019In the much promised aura of tabdeli following the last elections in July 2018 the nation had multi-faceted hopes for change for the good of the country. Unfortunately I was one of the sceptics who thought that those promises were too good to be true. Indeed, the peaceful transition from one elected government to another a third time was surely something to be proud of and it ignited a hope that … [Read more...] about PRESS FREEDOM DAY
ZAB’S REINCARNATIONon April 24, 2019Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto made it big on Monday in the Parliament when he spoke scathingly at length about the conduct of the Prime Minister, his Ministers and his government's total failure in running the affairs of the state and of ruining the economy in particular. Vintage journalist like me, sitting many thousand miles away from the Parliament could only make an evaluation by interpreting … [Read more...] about ZAB’S REINCARNATION
Hazara killing fieldson April 17, 2019Christchurch mosques killing in New Zealand stunned the entire world's conscience to shame. Instantly its prime minister-a brave woman with a mother's heart-rose to the apogee of human greatness when she rushed to be on the scene of crime and be with aggrieved families to share their grief and help them recover.For days and weeks she was seen attired in black mourning dress visiting the … [Read more...] about Hazara killing fields
More of the same, is it?on April 10, 2019General Elections in India are around the corner under the full drum beats. Pakistan has had its polls in July last and the promises to the people for a piece of moon, rivers of milk and honey seem to rolling in a space craft with destination unknown. Notwithstanding the ongoing sabre-rattling more of media ranting than anything else, silver linings from under the dark clouds are scary but not too … [Read more...] about More of the same, is it?
Bhutto’s defence doctrineon April 3, 2019It is said that when one can't make history, one would prefer to rewrite it. That's what we have been witnessing ever since the advent of Pakistan. Starting from the day when a Babu attempted to superimpose Quaid's August 11, 1947 speech by censoring that portion that laid bare his vision of a democratic and secular Pakistan guaranteeing equality to all its citizens. Even the controversial … [Read more...] about Bhutto’s defence doctrine
FATF or Sword of Damocleson March 27, 2019December 16, 2014 was one of the darkest days in our history secondly only to fall of Dhaka. On this day, 150 including school going children of Army Public School were mowed down by terrorists in cold blood. Though draconian action was promised, and punishment guaranteed through a National Action Plan. It has been three years now parents of the massacred children are still waiting to see … [Read more...] about FATF or Sword of Damocles
Book review: ‘The Changing Global Geo-Political and Geo-strategic Dynamics: Challenges for Pakistan: Past and Present’ By Ambassador M. Alam Brohion March 26, 2019Ambassador M. Alam Brohi having played his innings in the world of diplomacy to the brim and having successfully authored his first book -A Voice in the Wilderness: Memoirs and Reflections - has surprised me with his second so instantly. Writing 'The Changing Global Geo-Political and Geo-strategic Dynamic: Challenges for Pakistan: Past and Present', immediately after his first was indeed a very … [Read more...] about Book review: ‘The Changing Global Geo-Political and Geo-strategic Dynamics: Challenges for Pakistan: Past and Present’ By Ambassador M. Alam Brohi
Whither Pakistan?on March 22, 2019Pakistan had just come into being in August 1947, its founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had firmly believed that the largest Muslim state had come to stay and that no power on earth would be able to destroy it. However, according to him, if there were enemies within, no enemy would need to do us any harm from outside. Indeed, his words were very prophetic. Whatever damage we have done to … [Read more...] about Whither Pakistan?
