Opinion
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This thing called Islamophobia
Truth is Muslim refusal to integrate, in closed ethnic communities makes it difficult for citizens to embrace this.
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Sorting out Karachi’s troubles
One must not allow any group to run Karachi as an exclusive domain or allow it to be carved into mini ethnic-states.
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The making of the modern maulvi — II
Gilani wrote a 750-page tome about the conventional system of religious education to counter growing Wahabi influence.
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Fun is not endemic
Politicians, would be funny were they not so goddamned dangerous and disruptive.
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Place names
Army habitually abbreviates words, titles, etc and found the Baloch name Gwalisthap too long for their liking.
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Is gold the answer?
The more countries start to think about gold as an index, the more the authorities will try to keep price from rising.
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Control and confession by torture
Today, police torture is taken as a given.
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Born in Pakistan, murdered in America
Americans are unnecessarily maligned in Pakistan, yet so are Pakistanis in America.
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The arrival of the Neo-Gandhians — II
I might have had fewer problems with this Anna's alleged mass movement had it not so deliberately relied on Gandhi.
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An unravelling economy
Our national debt levels soared as fiscal facts refused to adjust to reality created by bursting of liquidity bubble.
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The kindly ones
Apparently, the MQM strike extended to cruising altitude as well. Maybe there are tires being burnt on the runway.
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Knee-jerk secularism won’t solve our problems
It is Iqtidar’s suggestion that Islamists might be something more than just mindless drones that troubles Siddiqa.
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Political dance of death
The most important reason for not embroiling army is that all political parties know what and who is going on.
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More Mayor, less Malik
Mustafa Kamal was a good one; he lacked real power. Karachi requires a directly-elected mayor with genuine power.
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Developing positives
Establishment of biogas units would assist in power production, minimising loadshedding, and helping the environment.
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Need for lowering expectations
Pakistan remains relevant but barely so and for all the wrong reasons.
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Pakistan, US and the FMCT
Pakistan can freeze its stocks unlike India, negotiate a treaty on future production or let Indian stockpile grow.
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Preparing for a revolution?
Those with power of pen, can write; others can use electronic media to bring change quickly.
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Anna Hazare’s narrow focus
In the cacophony of noisy support for Anna Hazare’s campaign, a Shehla Masood’s killing has gone virtually...
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The economy, stupid
Social research indicates that 42% of Pakistanis think corruption is the biggest threat to the nation.
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Preparing the population for a modern economy
Why has Pakistan done so much better in tertiary education than other large South Asian countries?
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Turning the other cheek in Pakistan
Imagine if hunger-strikers said they would maintain fast until all parties concerned sat down to broker a solution.
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A diversion to nowhere
Pakistan does not have unifying, centralising agency of internal ‘multinationals’ to knit India to Union government
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With zeal and fervour
While there was gloom and doom elsewhere in the country, the president dished out civil awards to zealous supporters.
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Remembering the goons
“The Goon Show is more than a comedy cult. It is a state of mind” is how Books and Arts put it in their Dec 1957...
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How Urdu got associated with Muslims in India? — I
Sanskritic words were removed from the Urdu language and Islamic cultural allusions and metaphors were put in place.
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Nawaz Sharif’s ‘roads’ doctrine
There is a South Asian Free Trade Area in force that makes cross-border investments possible, making war impossible.
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Obituary of liberal-secularism — I
The problem is that liberals are ill-equipped to deal with religion in a religious ideological state.
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Looking for a leader
With right leadership, Pakistan will encourage justice, infrastructure built; systems put in place and merit valued.
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Postcard from Turkey
While Turkey strictly adhered to the vision of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Pakistan shunned Jinnah's vision immediately.
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The making of the modern maulvi — I
Since prophets quoted in Holy Quran declined economic benefit for the divine task, so too must preachers today.
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The troublesome Lashkar
To this day, the Pakistani state and the international community remain unwilling or unable to dismantle the JuD.
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The nature of human knowledge
Democracy is used as an image and to project power, without ever coming in touch with ground realities.
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London awaits American Supercop
Striking balance between capitalism and socialism, rule of law and avoiding police brutality, London show leadership.
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Looking East to cure recession
China will be asked to import more and export less. This will spur demand and jobs in the West and economic revival.
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Waiting for good governance
Countries manage to develop despite dubious morals as the forces of development override imperfections.
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Arrival of the neo-Gandhian
Fasting was a key weapon in Gandhi's many battles over much larger issues.
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A matter of interpretation
Qasmi traces how women of the Subcontinent were denigrated to pre-Islamic status, violating rights accorded by Islam
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An American tale in Pakistan
In Pakistan, for instance, the opponents of reform have a villain, and it’s name is ‘corruption.’
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Do away with the FCR altogether
There is a very good case to be made that the FCR should be declared unconstitutional.
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Prosecuting building control officials
The most negligent ‘jokers-in-the-pack’ in all Karachi building disasters are not touched.
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A road much travelled
GT Road is a metaphor for the complex Pak-India relation, intertwined histories 1,500 mile long, nearly 500 year old.
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Prospects for the endgame
Unexpected deterioration in Pakistan-US relations could become another complicating factor in US Pakistan cooperation.
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Local government reform in Pakistan: some issues
Peopel feel that the 2001 Act gives greater powers to the police and promotes corruption and coercion.
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New provinces will break Pakistan
For those who want a Balkanised Pakistan, a Seraiki province is not enough in Punjab.
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Pakistan’s water crisis
Scientific and empirical evidence show water scarcity could put critical stress on economy and society of Pakistan.
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More subas? — II
Whether we like it or not, people are comfortable when they are among those who speak the same language, ethnic stock.
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Why go public?
It’s never easy to publicly admit that something might have gone wrong. But we should not be afraid to take a stand.
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Are the UK riots a political statement?
Even with their criminality, the rioters made a political statement that the government does not wish to recognise.
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Exploding Karachi
Research suggests that rapid urban growth is associated with weakened social cohesions and increased risk of violence.

















































