Prioritising polio eradication
Nothing exemplifies the state of Pakistani society and its governance better the resurgence of the polio virus. Here is a country boasting of world’s…
‘Lahore broke my heart’
Author Reema Abbasi spoke to me about her travels across the country while researching for “Historic Temples in Pakistan”. Some excerpts from the conversation.…
The Hindus of Pakistan
A seminal book on the Hindu temples of Pakistan should be read by all Pakistanis. Journalist Reema Abbasi and photographer Madiha Aijaz have done…
‘I know how men in exile feed on dreams’
To the accompaniment of songs, poetry and history, Raza Rumi spent a bittersweet evening with fellow exiles exploring the state of his banishment “Our…
Freedom to broadcast hate
This report by the BBC is extremely insightful. It talks about how broadcast media are fanning sectarian passions across Middle East – on all…
Negligence, the biggest disaster in Pakistan
As if the ongoing political crisis was not enough, we are in the middle of a natural disaster, once again. As before, the state…
Long live Malaysia
Malaysia has entered the fifty first year of its existence. This has been a half-century of determination, progress and keeping a fine balance between…
TALAASH WITH RAZA RUMI
Raza Rumi’s analysis on the political unstability in Pakistan in the wake of 2014 dharna and protests. Rumi says that the incumbent government has…
Not being dead is a victory for Balochistan’s journalists
Why, one would ask, is killing the only answer for disagreement? To say that Pakistani journalists are under attack is an understatement. They are…
Pakistan’s Dueling Military Cultures
C. Christine Fair, Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army’s Way of War (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014). Aqil Shah, The Army and Democracy:…
Will a new power-sharing arrangement emerge from this crisis?
Since early August, Pakistan has been battling itself, once again. Two opposition groups have paralysed the federal government and the capital for weeks through…
Pakistan’s perilous democratic transition
Pakistan’s perilous democratic transition has been rocked by the ongoing anti-government protests. The standoff between the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif…
Pakistan: Will instability topple democracy?
Even if PM Nawaz Sharif survives the current crisis, his government will be permanently weakened. Pakistan is in a state of crisis and the…
Watching the watchdog
Democracy is like an infertile woman that cannot produce anything, thundered a popular columnist (a real opinion-maker) at the Association of Physicians of Pakistani…
Directionless: trapped in a vicious cycle
The image below is that of a painting by the amazing Pakistani artist Saira Wasim and it relates to the theme of my piece…
Pakistan: Fuse lit for Independence Day fireworks
Tensions rise in Pakistan, as the country braces for protests. Pakistan faces yet another challenge and this time it is not the terrorist groups but…
On the divided media of Pakistan (Urdu video)
My analysis on the division of Media in Pakistan. There are several important issues associated with Pakistan’s Media. Here I highlight three of the most…
Reclaiming One Voice
A man transports empty water containers on a donkey cart on the street of Quetta (Reuters) Raza Rumi cuts through the high decibel terrorism…
Exodus from Pakistan’s troubled north presents risks, opportunities
By Raza Rumi, Special to CNN Pakistan’s much-awaited military offensive in North Waziristan was launched more than a week ago, and followed an attack…
Challenges for the PML-N
In early June, the PML-N completed one year in office and presented its second budget before the Parliament. Both these events were overshadowed by…