In a recent workshop organized by the Centre for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad, participants, mostly professors and lecturers were taken on a field visit to a Baha’i Centre in Islamabad. The purpose of the trip was to have the attendees interact with people of the Baha’i faith, learn about their culture and tradition, […]
The Jhadav conundrum
A new war of words erupted between India and Pakistan this week, as news broke out that Commander Kulbushan Jhadav, an Indian spy caught and trialed in Pakistan had been awarded the death sentence. The resulting cacophony of political statements and public sentiment from both sides is deafening and disconcerting. Indian Minister of External […]
Military courts and the criminal justice system
The Pakistani parliament overwhelmingly voted for the reinstatement of military courts last week. This was not unprecedented, nor was it unexpected. The courts were established in a state of national grief, after the atrocious attack on schoolchildren in December 2014. They were created because of the criminal justice system in Pakistan – responsible for providing […]
Pakistans minorities: second class citizens
A newspaper advertisement in Bannu, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) recently called for applications for the khakroab position. This is the official term for a sweeper, a member of the janitorial staff. Historically, because of institutional racism and religious persecution, this role has been almost exclusively reserved for Hindus, and especially Christians. The advertisement, in the column […]
NAP implementation: focus on deradicalisation
The Prime Minister (PM) recently advised law enforcement agencies and the military to speed up the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), especially through the enhancing the pace of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (ORF). ORF was launched on February 22, 2017, after a wave of attacks rocked the country, following a period of relative calm and […]