The widespread abuse and exploitation of women are not confined to a particular area; it is happening across the world, endangering women’s daily lives and gravely shaking their identity and dignity. Gender-based violence (GBV) represents a profound societal issue that extends beyond individual harm to threaten the very fabric of communities and nations. Defined as […]
Honour and Corruption
There is no denying the fact that honesty fosters honour and corruption brings dishonour. This is true – for individuals as well as states. A state populated by honest people occupies a much higher place in the comity of nations than the one where corrupt and dishonest people outnumber those with honesty and integrity. It […]
Empowering Women
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, rightly observed in 1944: “No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you; we are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within four walls of the houses as […]
Dark Realities of University Education
Education is universally recognized as the cornerstone of a nation’s progress. It serves as the engine of innovation, economic development, and social transformation. Countries that prioritize education – notably in the West – not only invest heavily in the sector but also design systems that encourage critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. These are skills essential […]
Blasphemy Crisis
In Pakistan, blasphemy accusations have become synonymous with mob violence and extrajudicial killings, overshadowing justice and eroding fundamental human rights. The recent murders of Dr Shah Nawaz in Umerkot and Abdul Ali in Quetta serve as chilling reminders of a society where allegations – often unsubstantiated – can rapidly escalate into death sentences. These tragedies […]
Politics, Religion and Extremism
Religion and politics have had a complex interaction throughout history to the present. But in the early decades of the 21st century, the rise of violent extremist ideologies disrupted the very fabric of society and undermined the foundational principles of the Westphalian order (1648): welfarism, secularism, plurality, inclusivity, and democracy. The separation of the church […]
Pandemic of Gender-based Violence
The universality of violence against women is now beyond question; it happens everywhere – there is evidence of its occurrence in all states and cultures. According to the World Bank, violence against women and girls, in other words, gender-based violence (GBV), has become a global pandemic, affecting the lives of one in every three women […]
Pakistan in 21st Century
Pakistan was carved out of India in 1947, but its birth was not as per normal circumstances. Lawrence Ziring has likened the emergence of Pakistan to “a premature, feeble offspring at birth and although it survived a critical infancy, it never gained the strength necessary to combat its inborn ailments.” There is no evidence that […]