Spies, soldiers and academics on July 11, 2018I have been under the weather for the last few weeks. Often on the eve of deadline for my column I feel burnt out, lazy, incoherent, confused and don’t feel like sitting at the computer to write. This being election time, we pen pushers don’t want to miss opportunities to pen down our unverifiable electoral […]
Let history not repeat itself on July 5, 2018July 5, 1977 was one of the darkest nights in Pakistan’s history. On that date, 41 years ago, the country was under the grip of its worst military dictatorship ever, headed by the ruthless General Zia-ul-Haq. Not only did he subvert the constitution; he also murdered Pakistan’s most popular and meaningful leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto […]
Hoping against hope on July 4, 2018In Pakistan one has to live hoping against hope. After having completed ten years of electoral democracy, with the third elections imminently around the corner, the country that came into being through a violence-free vote strengthened its hope that finally we have made it through. Democracy has come to stay, its roots are getting deeper […]
Democracy survives on June 27, 2018There is less than a month to go until Pakistan’s third general elections are upon us. The landmark event is already asserting itself in its various manifestations. For quite some time, there was a big question mark over whether the elections would be held on time or not. Even today, there are pessimists who see […]
Thank you for democracy BB! on June 20, 2018Benazir Bhutto — had she been alive today — would have been 65. There is a good chance that she would have been in power, and bracing for the upcoming elections in July 2018. It would have been yet another big leap forward towards the consolidation of democracy on the principles laid down in the […]
…and there was no one to speak for me on June 13, 2018One by one, doubts are melting in the wake of the intense electioneering heat. It seems that they will be held on July 25 after all, notwithstanding former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s boycott of the NAB proceedings against him anticipating his conviction, as well as the’revelations’ in Reham Khan’s still to be released memoirs. […]
An opportunity for change on June 6, 2018Elections have dynamics of their own. Martyred PPP leader Benazir Bhutto was a firm believer in elections as catalyst. She firmly believed that elections offer an opportunity to bring about change in the status quo. It gives a chance to the voters to decide about the government they want to have as sole arbiter of […]
To elections 2018 on May 30, 2018In a country where the million dollar question remains to be answered pertains to the constitutional requirement of a candidate to be ‘Sadiq’ and ‘Amin’ to qualify for the highest executive job of the Prime Minister of the country. Following Panama Gate scandal we have seen an intensive ongoing debate on the subject, leading to […]
Defining moment in Pakistan’s history on 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 […]
Beyond the usual suspects on 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 […]