Opinion
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Moral policing and taxes
Streets of Pakistan are abound with informal, but highly effective moral policing, not just for women, but also men.
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Dual citizens and political office
Citizens & dual citizens are not alike; equality before law does not mean citizens & dual citizens be treated alike.
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Some sanity, but the shenanigans go on
What made the honourable Supreme Court seal the letter after Their Lordships had read it?
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A pyrrhic civilian victory
Gilani & the PPP are like an army that surrenders, then throws a couple of spitballs in the direction of the victors.
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Of elections and education
Let us, for a change, insist on substance this time around on all matters pertaining to the education policy.
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Land of some haves, many have-nots
The ruling elite-the politicians and the military-treat power as a privilege rather than as a sacred public trust.
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The State Bank blinks
State Bank did not withhold its caveats in the annual report so one is entitled to wonder why they’re doing so now.
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On providing sewage
In Lahore, the entire city’s sewage is discharged, untreated, into River Ravi.
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The watchers must watch the watchers
For too long, media groups have avoided, nay grossly neglected reporting on the media itself.
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Political influence of fringe religious groups
People in the US & Israel continue to show a strong fascination with ‘fundamentalism,’ influence of religious groups.
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Colour me rainbow
Despite Islamic pretensions, Pakistan has become an inhumane society, bitterly divided.
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America and the Taliban
All the Afghan people desire is peace, but are unlikely to get little of it.
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Moral panics
Societies have passed through stages when they are consumed with moral panics.
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So who will watch the watchdog?
Journalists have a wider responsibility to the citizenry at large to tell the truth.
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The many faces of Afghan peace
Taliban are not as cohesive as one thinks, younger generation of foot soldiers are ideological, less likely to sway.
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Bloggers vs thanedars
Our argument was that it was Maya Khan’s burden to show basis on which she harassed people, not of those being hounded
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Did no one kill Saleem Shahzad then?
The Commission's inquiry report manages to raise more questions than answering the existing ones.
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Bacha Khan: our forgotten Quaid
I wonder if Bacha Khan would be tempted to break his vow of non-violence if he saw today’s ANP?
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Egypt’s rocky road
The litmus test would be the writing of the constitution with which it would complete the process of democratisation.
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The challenge of real change
The challenge of change is to bring about a structural transformation of the institutional framework.
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Whatever happened to the Great People?
There was a time when PIA was one hell of an airline — an institution that people looked up to.
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Governance and citizen’s discomfort
Political uncertainty need not have produced poor governance. In Pakistan, however, the two came together.
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Pakistan’s rush for more bombs — why?
The rush for more bombs has much to do with its changing relationship with US and Indian military modernisation.
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International scrutiny of the Supreme Court
Can the honourable judges of our apex court ignore the views of the ICJ, and international media?
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Moving on
Mansoor Ijaz was never worthy of a moment’s consideration & I will be thrilled if he does not come.
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The politics of living under terrorism
Pakistan is sinking because it doesn’t want to look terrorism in the eye.
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The value of second thoughts
Ijaz was seen as such a potent threat to the future of democracy that he had to be discredited, than be heard again.
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A question of presidential immunity
If the verdict of the SC is same as a layman’s point of view, President is immune; but only for his tenure in office.
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The flight from Rajshahi
They wanted to leave before sunrise, afraid of being shot by West Pakistani troops who'd shoot anyone moving out.
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Jalaluddin Khwarazm
When Jalaluddin knew defeat was certain, he madly galloped his horse to the river edge and leaped off.
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The constitution, the letter and the memo
Government claims ‘restoring’ original 1973 constitution, but it still remains riddled with Zia’s Eighth Amendment.
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How the media covers education
Most news items published under education are actually administrative statements like press releases.
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America and its relationship with Muslims
Overall, the truth about America’s behaviour and foreign policy is kept well-hidden from the American population.
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Wooing the rural vote
Imran Khan declares that his tsunami would be more rural than urban. This is what it must be if he is to succeed.
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Making absolute fools of ourselves
In short, we are an irresponsible, unfair, inequitable, capricious, bitter people.
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A Saudi princess speaks up
Princess Ameera al Taweel's brother-in-law reprimanded her for criticising Saudi's rigid laws for women in the US.
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Maya and the media
Morning shows are either deliberately frivolous or, as is the case with Khan’s park run, dangerously judgemental.
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Egypt — one year after the revolution
A year has gone by but the road is still long. Egypt has just started building its democratic institutions.
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Afghanistan — what will happen after the Americans leave?
Peace, stability being restored in Afghanistan is of greater significance to Pakistan than Islamabad political ploys.
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Another road in Lahore?
Lahore has sprawled since the 1960’s, has gone well beyond the New Campus of the Punjab University.
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The meaning of ‘Shalimar’
Anna Suvorova in her book Lahore: Topophilia of Space and Place has succeeded in unravelling the origin of the word.
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Wasted youth
Quest for entertainment led me to listen to some terrible songs, hold some regrettable hands. No more though
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Relations on hold?
Pakistan’s relations with the United States are critical to our well-being and the region’s stability.
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Here comes the PFG!
The ‘non-political pressure group’ Pakistan First Group has a manifesto of ‘checking army, ISI bashing’.
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Bowing before the judiciary
Gilani won’t be missed if ousted for contempt of court. Six hopefuls are already crouching in the pipeline.
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The SC on the army and ISI chiefs’ removal
CJP is humbly advised to re-trace his missteps on the matter, PM is within constitutional authority to remove chiefs.
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In the parks of Karachi
Ms Khan is boorish & uncouth, as was her self-righteous posse who felt happy chasing boys & girls in Karachi parks.
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Dialogue in Doha
The issue is no longer Pakistan pursuing ‘strategic depth’, its adjusting Pakistan to dialectics of Afghan situation.
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Living the hard life
The wars of today are all based on acquiring or holding on to natural resources.
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Terminally ill
If dispatching the government before completing its term harms democracy & means we can’t criticise it, so be it.