Opinion

Dear prime minister: go and stand inside that bus in Karachi, alone; look at the empty seats, hear the silent screams

The real problem is that the State is failing at what it claims to be its defining features — Security and Ideological

State might not be functioning as it should be, but laissez faire attitude of people is making our security nightmare

Pakistan can achieve potential growth in next 1-2 years if it undertakes critical reforms delayed by successive govts

For MQM to be taken seriously on its words, it should immediately announce a programme of voluntary de-weaponisation

When religion starts to interfere in the matters of the state, there is little to gain and much to lose

We wreak havoc during the day with abandon and transgress all boundaries of morality under the dark cover of night

Martyrs of Wednesday’s attack must cease to be mere addition to rising toll of religious extremism, sectarian conflict

From countering hate ideologies to improving law enforcement, civil govt have to act to end impunity culture

Balochistan is the key to the success of the CPEC and the strategic goals associated with it

The body was there for eight hours before an Edhi vehicle came to remove it. A human as rubbish

I braved odds to visit Pakistan in 2012, just to be in Lahore, the city where my mother’s side of the family had lived

In her proclamation of seeing herself as an individual and not a woman, Reham Khan assumes gender blindness

Advice from Chinese friends is unequivocally clear, categorical: develop consensus on the proposed CPEC

Populations in the Kacha areas are one of the most neglected ones in Pakistan. Very little has changed in their lives

People have used technology to address civic, political tribulations. Its, however, easy for technology to be misused

The ideological aspect of counterinsurgency operations seems to have been accorded low priority by the government

We have a long way to go before we can consider ourselves worthy of celebrating our mothers

13-year public absence of Mullah Omar, success of IS has provided new generation of militants with new rationalisation

What was even more disturbing was sheer volumes of cigarettes not only being sold, but also openly hawked

No doubt book had enough drama to draw on: where it succeeds, however, is the wonderful verve with which it is written

What hooks people is the rush they get from social recognition, the thrill of getting a ‘like’ or a re-tweet

Authorities have conveniently mixed up Afghan Pakhtuns, who are legitimate citizens of Pakistan with Afghan refugees

As our armed forces combat enemies, lawmakers should ensure legislation that promotes fundamental rights of Pakistanis

Parliament was told in February that 933 people were killed in the name of honour between 2013 and 2014

The tool of enslavement is no longer armies, but debt — both at the individual and national levels

Zia’s legacy stuck hard, fast and in spite of entreaties by the few secularists who regularly quote Jinnah’s speech

We must not expect Bollywood to be neutral or balanced about Salman, nor take what it says about people like him

If Gen Raheel says “RAW is whipping up terrorism in Pakistan”, such disclosure will force it to limit operations

Imran Khan has learnt lessons Shahbaz has not. But he has the wrong man in K-P

Hate generates heat in political system, which loosens up political atoms, and makes them manipulation prone

Life counts for nothing when it comes to the leadership which is only concerned with preserving lucrative projection

The DMG, or the civil services as a class, became more political agents than the servants of the state

Suppose for a few minutes that we were to ask uncomfortable questions of Imam Kaaba, what would those be?

Without an effective invisible intelligence arm, police may be reduced to status of a mere spectator of eventualities

Teacher unions must realise the need to become more than pressure groups for increasing teacher salaries

Govt is advised to consult, involve all stakeholders, use this opportunity to initiate long-delayed economic reforms

Is ‘free speech’ only limited to vilifying the prophet of Islam (Peace Be Upon Him)?

Had rule of law kicked in 18 years ago without pressure from govt, perhaps younger Kanju may not have tread same path

The undeniable fact as we went our separate ways was that things may not all be as bad as we kept telling ourselves

Slowly but steadily, Pakistani dramas are seeping into Indian psyche, creating an imprint and becoming a way of life

We can't withstand pressure of solving Pakistan’s real problems without believing there is light at the end of tunnel

Sadly, even with all the money, the Arab world has failed to construct an internal sociological shift

Hamid Khan or a fresh PTI candidate may still be defeated in by-election, but what needed to be done has been done

Why can’t obvious offence, such as the one Ayaan allegedly committed, be taken to its logical conclusion instantly?

Improvement in India-Pakistan relations can be a game-changer for Pakistan and the region

In a world obsessed with politics, or worse, with politicians, ‘market’ demand for science journalism is negligible

Indonesia's present leadership has sprung from middle-class without any dynastic hang-ups, links to military junta

Let’s all be a part of the ‘I Am Karachi’ campaign and put some soul back into this city

Viability of a fully functional Gwadar port is threatened by a worsening law and order situation in the province