Opinion

As Pakistan moves to the general elections in 10 days, it is not clear how fair and free would these elections be.

Current status of women candidates on general seats shows that there is hardly any shift in the patriarchal mindset.

The voter of today is more aware and concerned about the commitments that a party makes and how well it fulfils them.

Research on determinants of militancy in Pakistan is changing how we view those who join the ranks of militancy.

Provided that conditions are made safer, popular support will culminate in unexpected results in south Balochistan.

Much will depend on how the swing of the youth vote is calibrated and directed to the polling stations on D day.

The cost of each of the 3 “free lunches” when they ended quickly appeared in the shape of massive crises.

US, Nato forces haven't left Afghanistan, but debate has already begun as to who's responsible for the dismal failure.

Our students are taught not to question the teacher or the textbook and to just regurgitate material.

Dealing with the situation in Sindh today requires a package deal including reforms, restructuring and other efforts.

The electoral exercise on May 11 is just a trailer and the real movie starts when the elections are over.

At least, we want to give democracy a shot, and that is the most important thing right now.

Reforms should bring the middle classes and the poor into the process of investment and high wage employment.

There are no ‘grand strategies’ in any of the manifestoes that can address the difficult issues that must be tackled.

Recurrent analysis of own performance vis-a-vis their manifestos will help political parties to be more self-reflexive

The inability of PPP, MQM and ANP to indulge in any sort of electioneering is indeed a shame.

The bomb blasts ripping through ANP, MQM and, though to a lesser extent, PPP have been called a new kind of rigging.

Your vote might just make the difference between those who care for the country and those who care for themselves.

Indians will vote for parties that are formed on the basis of linguistic and regional chauvinism and are caste based.

The US cannot just continue to engage the Pakistani leadership as the sole determinant of Pakistani politics.

Improved sanitation allowed cities to grow. Indeed, it spawned the Urban Revolution.

Elections should be on time. Elections are all we have got and are unquestionably better than any other alternatives.

The peace lobby has grown despite the ridicule and the jibes from hawks in both Pakistan and India.

Election manifestos seem like hallucinations when judged on the track record of the parties touting them.

Politicians have talked the talk on education long enough; let’s nudge them to now walk that talk.

No reconciliation imposed from outside will work in Afghanistan. Afghans alone must be the arbiters of their destiny.

Instead of uniting against forces of retrogression, our politicians are trying their best to be part of them.

Parties spent time and money in preparation of their manifestos but have not changed their well-known narratives.

Governments in North America have become habitual in protecting their power base through intimidation.

Lists submitted by Ministry of Information to Supreme Court are interesting and present a serious problem.

ECP, government institutions should make foolproof security arrangements for candidates, political workers and voters.

I say to Musharraf's supporters: whatever is going on is due to kind ministrations of people you hold in high esteem.

For the first time, BRICS members cement initiatives for which they must resolve sensitive issues for settlement.

As a nation, the time has come to stop brushing deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases under the proverbial carpet.

Having tried partnerships with traditional power centres, army probably wants to create fresh breed of stakeholders.

All this will hopefully initiate process of redefining civil-military relations with better clarity, for greater good.

Today, for the first time in our history, we are a work-in-progress federation, not anymore a unitary state.

While Afghanistan cooks their own goose, an angry, disgusted population waits for the departure of foreign occupation.

The ignominy of seeing a messiah come in and proclaim to “save” the country has deeply traumatised the nation.

Though the dependence on auto rickshaws still adheres, they aren’t the only option for the Delhi commuter anymore.

Ideas and words are lost on us, just like we have lost the distinction between Character and 140 characters.

Sometimes, single-handedly, our well-meaning journalists can misrepresent reality.

We hear so much of corruption that we normally ignore that leaders can be foolish also.

The moral character of the candidates should best be left to the voters to judge.

If this historical occasion is used sombrely, trial against Musharraf might lead us to truth and reconciliation course

We need a Pakistani conception of justice which builds upon common law, Islamic inheritances and South Asian heritage.

Social sectors, along with agriculture are the two priority areas for PTI, as mentioned in their manifesto.

State institutions and processes cannot adopt clear-cut policies unless the question of who rules Pakistan is settled.

Politicians need to take a more active role in implementing environmental policy frameworks.

Our political parties have their own priorities oblivious of the real challenge that we face.