Reforming the Babushahion September 19, 2018At the time of partition, Pakistan was the main recipient of British bureaucratic legacy. Those we inherited included good, bad and the ugly. The good contributed their share by helping lay the foundation of the new state from scratch. I remember growing up in the vicinity of the new Pakistan Secretariat where we used to see our ‘Babus’ burning their candles at both ends in their tented offices … [Read more...] about Reforming the Babushahi
Anecdotes on the Quaid — IIon September 12, 2018Corruption has become one of the defining features of Pakistani politics. Our Quaid, considered this the most lethal disease afflicting our country. His motto was ‘If character is lost, all is lost’. Jinnah’s take on taking graft can easily be found in his documents and letters. My own family had access to 72 well-catalogued letters and documents, which he had received from various leaders in … [Read more...] about Anecdotes on the Quaid — II
Anecdotes on the Quaidon September 5, 2018A nation’s greatest treasure is its history. Unfortunately soon after Partition, Pakistan’s history fell into the hands of charlatans who distorted and disgorged it. Even the Quaid was not spared. Some so-called historians present him as a man on horseback, sword in hand. Though he is without a beard, he is wearing a cap with some inscription in Arabic, more or less like the Kurd crusader … [Read more...] about Anecdotes on the Quaid
When Kuldip Nayar outwitted Ziaon August 29, 2018Kuldip Nayar Sahib's ageless passion made him seem immortal. He was an inspiration to everyone. However, his contemporary Khushwant Sindh was much more colourful. Kuldip Nayar on the other hand, was more political and more scholarly. Both of them died leaving behind a massive, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural following, that continues to mourn them today. If one talks about … [Read more...] about When Kuldip Nayar outwitted Zia
Foreign policy predicamentson August 22, 2018We should be thankful that for the third time a in a row, a smooth transition has taken place and a new government has taken the country's reigns through democratic processes rather than extra-constitutional intervention. It is heartening that despite their reservations, all major parties have agreed to work within the parameters of the constitution to make Parliament reassert the sovereignty of … [Read more...] about Foreign policy predicaments
Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhayon August 15, 2018Leaders make history and history makes nations. I consider living to see Pakistan’s 71-year Jashne Azadi a special gift of God. On top of this, a former colleague from the Pakistan High Commission — a commodore from the Pakistan Navy serving the mission as head of the Naval and Defence Division during my tenure — made my day by sending me a video-clip of a Bengali Pakistani singer Shahnaz Begum … [Read more...] about Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhay
Existential threats and judicial activismon August 8, 2018A few months before the recent elections, I made a point to draw the political leadership’s attention to specific problems which pose a threat to the lives of ordinary Pakistanis. I had also stressed upon the need for comprehensive debates on vital national issues such as water scarcity and the booming population in election campaigns. Sadly, this could not happen because the leadership of the … [Read more...] about Existential threats and judicial activism
After the elections: the good and the badon August 1, 2018All is well that ends well, but if only one could say that about Pakistan’s recently concluded general elections! Notwithstanding the bloodshed, pre-poll rigging, massive-engineering, forced party desertions, discovery of abandoned ballot boxes, torn ballot papers and the internationally criticised role of the powers that be — these were one of the dirtiest elections in the country’s … [Read more...] about After the elections: the good and the bad
Neither here nor thereon July 25, 2018As over 100 million Pakistanis beeline to cast their votes today, everyone is confused and no one can forecast the result. Professional pollsters, experts, and political parties with all their monitoring activities — nobody could not at the end of the day, firmly say which party shall take the lead. However, one thing is certain, these elections can hardly be called free, fair and transparent. No … [Read more...] about Neither here nor there
Blood soaked pollson July 18, 2018Apart from before partition, when the Muslims of India voted for the creation of this country, Pakistani elections have always been a long catalogue of manipulations, intrigues and interference by the powers that be. Much of the ‘pakka’ sahibs used to call this ‘bandobast’ and in today’s Praetorian parlance it is known as engineering. Regardless — as martyred PPP leader Benazir Bhutto used to … [Read more...] about Blood soaked polls
