UNPACKING THE BLASPHEMY LAWS OF PAKISTAN
Introduction Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws have been used to perpetrate legitimised violence, executed in the name of religion. These laws have been used particularly…
Two poems on justice – from Sri Lanka
Herat Hami A poem by Wimalaratne Kumaragame (a translation) Herat Hami who lived in Aliya Watunu Wawe*1 Even someone like me was more important…
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…
Mukhtar Mai – Media and Misogyny
My piece for DAWN As if the showering of rose petals on Mumtaz Qadri and the release of a new Urdu book ‘Parwana-i-Shama-i-Risalat’ extolling…
Mukhtaran Mai: Pakistan betrayed you once again
April 21, 2011 will be remembered as a black day in Pakistan’s history. Not because this was the day when the Supreme Court acquitted…
Whither rule of law?
State effectiveness, by most definitions, has been waning in Pakistan. The ability of the law enforcement agencies and institutions to deliver services and entitlements…