Defining moment in Pakistan’s historyon May 23, 2018The general election of 2018 will be a defining moment in our history. So far, election campaigning has not been focused on issues. Rather it has been about exchange of vitriolic among politicians trying to run one another down. Despite all that, since elections always act as a catalyst, 2018 would perhaps be the year when the fundamental issue as to who is the real arbiter of power — people or … [Read more...] about Defining moment in Pakistan’s history
Beyond the usual suspectson May 16, 2018Nasim Zehra, author/anchor has rightly termed the fall-out from former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s interview about Mumbai 26/11 as ‘nauseating hysteria’ that has reduced us to reactionary self-flaggelation. Indeed, Pakistan is no banana republic that a statement like Nawaz’s can put pressure on the army or Pakistan at international forums. However, it did impact back home. In a hullabaloo of … [Read more...] about Beyond the usual suspects
We need a level playing fieldon May 9, 2018Tentatively elections 2018 could possibly be held in July or a little later subject to Monsoon, sowing and cutting season — or any other Act of God or devil whatever. I had spelled out my doubts in one of my columns here headlined ‘There’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip’. Knowing the enigmatic nature of our politics one cannot rule out any eventuality any moment. We lost half of the … [Read more...] about We need a level playing field
Mourning Hazaras isn’t enoughon May 2, 2018At the time of writing this piece the hunger strike by the members of Hazara community following the targeted killing in Quetta, entered the fourth day. They want to wake up the authorities to the sad plight of Hazara Shia community. They want the army to do something substantive to ameliorate their deep pain and recurring anguish that is inflicted on Hazaras in the provincial capital and … [Read more...] about Mourning Hazaras isn’t enough
Many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip’on April 25, 2018In the obtaining scenario in Pakistan when elections — if held — are not far, a state of flux reinforced by uncertainty seems to be holding the fort. Prime Minister Shahid Khan Abbasi is confident that elections would be held in time, so says ‘Awami’ Chief Justice Saqib Nisar who has reassured that if there is any attempt at judicial or any other coup — then his whole herd of 17 Supreme Court … [Read more...] about Many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip’
How to save Pakistan?on April 18, 2018Encouraged by the religious-political and remunerative gains of blackmail, it seems that more sit-ins will take place before we reach the deadline for the general elections. Right now it seems that the incumbent government is the weakest government we have ever had, and innocent citizens are being pushed into the cold. Meanwhile, political engineering and Messiah manufacturing continue, as they … [Read more...] about How to save Pakistan?
Pakistan’s ticking time bombson April 11, 2018The National Assembly’s (NA) final session is in progress. Unfortunately, the outgoing governments, its two Prime Minister’s (PM) and numerous other ministers have done nothing to honour this house. They all walk shamelessly tall, despite their numerous failures and the plethora of corruption that precedes them wherever they go. All the while, this country’s citizens’ socio-economic problems … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s ticking time bombs
Bhutto was not born to dieon April 4, 2018In every nation’s history there are individuals who are larger than life, whose indelible imprints on sands of time are inerasable, and who are not born to die. Pakistan too has had a few such leaders. Pakistan’s founder Quaid-e-Azam was first among them. He was a powerful personality and lucky to die a natural death instead of being disposed of unnaturally at the hands of the emerging power … [Read more...] about Bhutto was not born to die
Recipe for a national disasteron March 28, 2018It will be a tremendous achievement in 70 years to complete a full decade of democracy in a few months’ time notwithstanding confusion getting worst confounded by the powers that be who perhaps need bell, book and candle treatment to exorcise them of their hideous doctrinarian ambitions. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi’s statement that there would be no judicial or martial law, elections … [Read more...] about Recipe for a national disaster
Begum Bhutto and dictatorson March 21, 2018The picture of an Independence Day march by the first contingent of Pakistan Women National Guard in 1947 is a manifestation of Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan and the role that he had envisioned for Pakistani women. Women’s National Guard was established by the widow of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan. It shows leading with the National flag Begum Pasha Haroon, artist Sughra … [Read more...] about Begum Bhutto and dictators
