Old sherbet in new bottles
The political turmoil in recent months has seen Pakistan’s military return centre stage. Since the exit of Gen Musharraf, the latter had taken a…
Suppressing a youth movement will harm Pakistan’s future
For weeks, the young Pashtuns are leading a broad, horizontal resistance known as Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM). This uprising of sorts is unique in…
An outgoing senator has warned the political elites. Are they listening?
Pakistan People’s Party’s former spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar, in his farewell speech, created history by stating some bitter facts about Pakistan’s dysfunctional democracy. What…
For Imran Khan, this is the time for introspection
After the Panama verdict in 2017 that ousted Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister, it was viewed by many as the boost for the…
Forget the world, militias are a threat to Pakistan
Sherin Zada/AP Photo The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international watchdog, is all set to place Pakistan on its watch list this summer.…
Asma Jahangir is no more — but her formidable legacy lives on
It will take some time to accept that Asma Jahangir has gone silent. That she is not at the centre of Pakistan’s political discourse.…
Young Pashtuns have shown the mirror to ‘mainstream’ Pakistan
A stage is set up in Islamabad during the protest demanding justice for Naqeebullah Mehsud.— Photo by Shakeel Qarar This past fortnight Pakistan witnessed…
The dynamic political scene confirms a fast changing Pakistani society
The disqualification of Nawaz Sharif through a controversial court verdict was the easier task. Reining in his support and ousting him from the political…
Zainab’s murder — fodder for opportunist political elites and media
The brutal rape and murder of 8-year-old Zainab was a tragedy that should have been a wake up call for the country and how…
Extrajudicial killings in the name of counterterrorism are unacceptable
As a successor of the colonial police force, police departments in South Asia are notorious for their high-handed, brutal methods, especially for what is…
End this culture of impunity
Pakistani journalists and activists continue to face intimidation and violence. Worse, they have to deal with a culture of impunity that impedes justice and…
Pak-US ties — bravado is no substitute for diplomacy
Pakistan’s relationship with the United States has hit a new low. Judging by the mistrust and anger on both sides, it will take considerable…
Salmaan Taseer – on the right side of history
Today marks the seventh anniversary of the senseless, cold-blooded murder of Salmaan Taseer. His martyrdom was a price paid for defending a poor Christian…
2017: Instability, manufactured crises and surrender
The foregoing year was tumultuous to say the least. Pakistan’s ruling elites – elected and unelected – reinforced old patterns of governance. After ten…
The unbearable cost of advocating peace
Raza Mahmood Khan, a peace activist and a human rights’ defender from Lahore, is missing since December 2. No one knows where he is…
Nawaz’s sixer?
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif’s recent statement on the clear succession plan has killed many birds with the same stone. Amid uncertainty…
The relationship with US matters whether we like it or not
Despite the tough posturing by the United States and Pakistan, following the announcement of Trump’s South Asia strategy, both countries have resumed diplomatic engagement…
Regime change — the final act?
It seems that the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PMLN has entered the final round of its power struggle. With its party head…
Mixing politics with religion continues unabated
For nearly a fortnight, a motley group of clerics and their supporters have caused a blockade of Islamabad – the capital of a nuclear…
Pakistan’s democratic transition is derailed. Does anyone care?
Pakistan’s decade-old democratic transition is going nowhere. Ten years after the military president Gen Musharraf removed his uniform and paved the way for national…