Opinion

Even without going into North Waziristan, which will have its own cost, this war is becoming expensive.

The people of Pakistan have allowed the religious right to triumphantly weave a web of lies...

One thing that we can be rightly proud of is the freedom of expression that our electronic and print media enjoy.

I have never had much of an appetite for conspiracy theories because I find Pakistan mind-boggling enough as it is.

We don’t realise that highlighting communal trouble in India is not good for the Muslims there.

It may be time to ask ourselves the question: Is the two-nation theory still valid?

Appeasing short-term bargain-lobbies at home and not losing sight of long-term national interest is tricky business.

There is an urgent need to act, otherwise Pakistan’s fate could be similar to that of the Weimar Republic.

It is no good wailing, gnashing our teeth at horrible displays of intolerance, injustice and hypocrisy in our country.

most iniquitous fact pertaining to section 295-C of blasphemy laws is that it is an incitement to murder.

It is difficult to retain perspective when only 2,000 gather outside Governor House to protest death of Taseer.

Many colonially carved nation states around world have faced, severe challenges of legitimacy.

The federal ministers for education and health seem unhappy with the devolution of their ministries to the provinces.

A ‘Year of Education’ could be the catalyst for a transformation of Pakistan's schools system.

There is no militant liberal organisation existing. So, who are the liberal extremists?

Syed Ali Shah Geelani doesn’t want India and Pakistan to talk. Nothing new about that.

In Pakistan, thrift and parsimony have always been signs of weakness. People admire authority, pomp and ostentation.

What differentiates the smiling face of Mumtaz Qadri from that of an apprehended criminal is a lack of guilt.

Advising Pakistanis not to panic is as hopeless as asking Afridi to refrain from trying to hit a six on every ball.

Justice must now speak a language that everybody understands: Murder cannot be justified, no matter what the grounds.

Is being westernised liberalism? If so, do the liberals wish to colour Pakistan’s social landscape in western colours?

What we need now is a national effort at reconciliation between the religious right and the secular left.

No one measured up but Raja Paurava, king of the Punjabis of the Chaj Doab.

It is only when we educate ourselves that we can dream of educating the masses.

It is the Pakistanis who will set the tone for justice by speaking out, if lawmakers and keepers continue to fail us.

The feeling is not nice and, to be frank, the total rejection is frightening.

He only wanted to amend law to make sure honour of Prophet (pbuh) is not used by people to settle personal scores.

Salmaan Taseer had raised the issue of amending the procedures of blasphemy law in order to prevent its misuse.

The country had many problems, as it has had since its very inception.

A talkative Taseer told me several tales during the one-hour journey to Lahore.

The question is, do they have a big enough social support base to claim electoral victories?

Few people have shaped events of contemporary age in line with their own vision, policy more surely than Bhutto.

These contradictions are important to flag when dealing with the issue of blasphemy, emotions it generates.

Let us give ourselves some idea of how courageous the dozens who flocked to the vigil in Lahore really are.

Pakistan has become what Suhrawardy had predicted, an extremist and violent state.

French Revolution may descend into orgy of beheadings but its accepted and celebrated by all liberals.

Assassination of the servin­g govern­or in Pakist­an will undoub­tedly unleas­h a wave of uncert­ainty.

There is no doubt that Governor Taseer was targeted for his views on the blasphemy law.

Can we truly say that we have not seen the writing on the wall too many times already?

Assassination of Salmaan Taseer is indescribable, not just for having taken place but for its aftermath.

Amidst a gutless government, Salmaan Taseer at least had the courage of his convictions.

Angry Muslim mobs in 2005 burnt down three churches, a convent school, a nun's hostel and half a dozen houses.

I have absolutely no regrets: Day three at Newlands was the best day of Test cricket I have ever watched.

Ever wonder at what point a fissure grows into a rupture? Salmaan Taseer’s murder was one such occasion.

I am mourning not only his murder but also the murder of my own ideology — that of ‘live and let live’.

As Afghanistan slips into another civil war, let us keep Pakistan out of it.

Salmaan Taseer was shot dead because he believed all citizens should be treated fairly.

Celebrate all manner of bloodlust because soon there will be nobody left in your life who can call murder by its name.

Many stories which do not merit to be consider news are played on the screens because they can be sensationalised.

Today, we cannot agree to what constitutes murder. If we fall silent, tomorrow we may fail to recognise it at all.