Opinion
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Turtles can fly — or drown
The issue of disputed territories suggests that Obama’s ‘mission accomplished’ declaration was slightly premature.
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An urban planning disaster in Lahore
The quick announcement, groundbreaking of Kalma Chowk underpass, the Rs2.3b project, is an example of poor governance.
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Desperately seeking imagination
If we can’t laugh at ourselves, if we believe we are only born to die, then something is seriously wrong.
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Pakistan’s identity war — I
The biggest identity crisis for Pakistan is between radical Islamism and a pluralistic vision of a Muslim state.
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Fencing the cities
There is need to reform building by-laws and zoning regulations with a view to eliminating elite bias.
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The paradox
There is a medieval legend, a sword so powerful that whoever wielded it could defeat entire armies single-handedly.
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Rhetoric and reality in the Afghan conflict
They, the people, will not be reconciled to being mere pawns in a larger strategic contest.
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America’s new Joseph McCarthy
According to Congressman Peter King, his country’s Muslims are just not doing enough.
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The real agenda of the Pakistani Taliban
Their agenda is Pakistan-centric and they exploited the vacuum created by the absence of the state’s writ.
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Revolution or bust
A ‘homeopathic’ revolution, if you like, to prevent the one that threatens to spin out of control.
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It’s educational
If we want change, let’s craft the tools to create it with books and learning.
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Has celebrating International Women’s Day achieved anything?
The meaning of the day is broadened to include all kinds of political, economic and social rights for women.
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Utter resignation
Rehman Malik’s opponents still have some hope as he has promised that he will resign if a security lapse is proven.
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New dawn or false hope?
The architects of the uprisings are neither Islamists nor secularists, but are the “post-Islamist generation”.
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You aren’t the only one, George
He is not the only one. But his departure will be explained away as a ‘naive gora’ fleeing in panic.
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Who should an MP be loyal to?
An MP’s duty is to the people and, as a consequence, to his or her party — not the other way around.
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The Arab awakening: Continuing or faltering?
The Islamists have returned but with a similarly low profile.
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The Ten Commandments
The parting of ways between the Nawaz faction of the Muslim League and the PPP was not at all unexpected.
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In a rape victim’s shoes
While taking a case through the legal system you will be faced with almost insurmountable barriers.
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Empowering women
Inspired by the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, we have made considerable achievements.
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Where is India’s civil society?
Civil libertarians supposed to come in to show up the mirror to the political class as well as the rest of us.
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The Christians in our midst
The greater tragedy is that we carry out our inhuman crimes in the name of Islam.
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Diplomatic immunity for criminal offences
The case can become a major foreign policy issue that can mar the relationship between Pakistan and the US.
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Karachi’s challenge
We must look further than national economies and focus on specific challenges posed by cities as drivers of growth.
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Appointment of judges
Will the honourable court reconsider its stance and let the principle of parliamentary supremacy rule?
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Sindhi Hindus in Gujarat
These Hindus, partly to be accepted as true Hindus, participated in the anti-Muslim violence in Godhra in Gujarat.
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Will the moderates ever stand up?
The moderates, although quite loud, have refused to stand up to tyranny, and expect others to do it for them.
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Are you there Mr President?
Restrictions on artists, students and journalists are ridiculous and give an image of a state with an iron curtain.
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The media and the national interest
Another facet of the media’s power is that it can globalise an issue in no time
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The sorry predicament of Lara Logan
The cheerleaders of the Free World have had the tassels prematurely shaken from their pom-poms.
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When desire shall fail
No, George, this is no country for young children, this is no country in which to bring up and school your son.
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A tale from Taxila
Xuanzang who came to our part of the world in 631 CE, was a remarkable man and a raconteur of the first order.
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A fatal intolerance
Regardless of who murdered Shahbaz Bhatti, we as a nation must accept collective responsibility.
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Senators, please reconsider
The honourable senators must appreciate that the autonomy of SBP is as important as the independence of the judiciary.
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Davis and Pakistan’s sovereignty
If our politicians really care about sovereignty, they should get the drone attacks stopped.
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How to rename a stadium
Why name a cricket stadium after Qaddafi? Why not a missile? Gaddaf 1 (and so on), or something like that.
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Uniting Pakistan’s minority and majority
Ours is a nation of minorities: A patchwork of cultures, ethnicities, languages and sects.
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No room for complacency
If Pakistan hopes to progress into the semi-finals and finals, they need to do some serious soul-searching.
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Howl at the moon
If you nurture a grudge for long enough, eventually it takes over and starts to nurture you.
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Long and short of it
What you see as strategic buffoonery by a group of men with more khaki than sense, I recognise as a strategic move.
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George ka khuda hafiz — II
Unfortunately, no one is immune to the ills that this country subjects its citizens to.
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The West’s hypocrisy
The international political community has seen dictators in the Middle East and Adrica as good guys on a roll.
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Missteps and misperceptions
The Raymond Davis case has confirmed the limitations of our ties to Washington.
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Turning a blind eye to public anger
Parliament’s utility as well as the executive’s governance is under serious doubt.
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When an NOC is necessary
It should be mandatory for some members of our political class to obtain a NOC before they open their mouths.
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Lessons and costs of the Libyan uprising
Let us not remain the one country in which billionaire political leaders pay Rs5,000 as annual income tax.
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How we have failed
Pakistan is still divided and confused over matters which collectively form its national identity.
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It pays to watch Sachin bat
As cricket fans, Indians or otherwise, putting aside worldly matters, you need to sit back and admire the legend.
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Marriage and betrayal
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has revealed that the breakdown of the PPP-PML-N alliance is not a divorce but a separation.
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The CIA, the ISI and ‘desi liberals’
It is critically important to find out what hundreds of CIA agents are doing in Pakistan.














































