State of Human Rights in Pakistan
“The elected government’s authority remains notional in several areas – particularly those concerning the intelligence agencies” – Ali Dayan Hasan, Pakistan Representative, Human Rights…
Faiz Ahmed Faiz: poet of peace
By Najam Sethi This year, South Asia celebrates the centenary of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Pakistan’s pre-eminent Urdu poet in the classical tradition of the…
On human rights, courts and governance
My interview Ali Dayan Hasan of Human Rights Watch published in The Friday Times No government institution, including the courts, should be immune from…
Salmaan Taseer: A life less ordinary
Remembering the man that was Salmaan Taseer o these liars and swindlers, these contractors of faith I am a rebel, I am a rebel…
Pakistan: It is time for the judiciary to address incompetence and prejudice within its own ranks
Ali Dayan Hasan, Senior South Asia Researcher for Human Rights Watch, spoke to Raza Rumi about the blasphemy law. What is your position on…
Islands of Hope – Life and Works of Akhter Hameed Khan
Raza Rumi reviews a book on the life and works of Akhter Hameed Khan, a legendary development guru “It is not enough to say…
Trade with India is a rational policy choice
China and Taiwan are sworn enemies. In 2009, the total volume of their trade was 110 billion dollars. India’s trade is expanding with…
On counterterrorism and human rights
From an interview that I conducted: There is, of course, a nationalist discourse, as shrill as it is bogus, centered on US-bashing and lionizing…
Myths, fables and lies: The murder of history in Pakistan
KK Aziz’s seminal study, – The Murder of History – is essential to understand what went wrong in Pakistan. The most worrying sign of…
Unpacking the governance debate
If the intent of the unregulated media and a recalcitrant establishment is to dismiss the government to achieve better governance then this is at…
Preparing an early recovery plan
Cumulative estimates of losses are increasing (initial estimates have gone beyond $15 billion) and over 20 million people have been displaced in 71 districts…
Fighting corruption through digital technology
State accountability – all is not that bleak Much has been written about corruption and how there seems to be no way out of…
Saints who ruled India
‘The War that Wasn’t: The Sufi and the Sultan’ By Fatima Hussain Publisher: Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi Pages: 245 Book Review Last…
Post-floods: Pakistan must embrace a comprehensive reform agenda
Pakistan’s governance is a nightmare for its citizenry. More importantly, it is also an international issue now. The multi-dimensional disaster in Pakistan could lead…
Travelogue (final) Entangled destinies
Contrary to the Mall culture booming across India, Khan Market is a high street experience. I am claustrophobic in Malls and therefore a place…
Travelogue (Part III): India’s Silicon Valley
The tragedy of this first-ever visit to Bangalore was its short duration. Having said that, it is always better to have seen a city…
Disaster management; which way now?
The NDMA also needs to be taken seriously by senior decision makers. Its capacity should be strengthened and the organization decentralized through investing financial…
Travelogue (Part II) – Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan
Things had changed. Bombay has metamorphosed into Mumbai (shining India is also more parochial); Sahar airport had been renamed (as Chatrapathi Shivaji International Airport)…
Travelogue (Part I) – Jammed in Delhi
The more we fight, the more similar we look. After the 2008 tragic incidents in Mumbai, the Indian and Pakistani media displayed their raw…
Redefining national interest
There is simply no alternative to information flow and dismantling the iron curtain. Let the disputes remain, but allow media access across the borders.…