Opinion

Democracy will grow with public pressure, vigilance and by moving the Pakistani spirit to the public sphere.

The state of Pakistan will remain wobbly until, like a willing bride, it meets Osama bin Laden as its bridegroom.

Perhaps by the time the next International Women’s Day comes around, this will no longer be such a distant dream.

In 1996, a man told me that those afflicted by eye trouble went up into its ruined monks’ cells to pray to be cured.

We in Pakistan are made to believe that the army is the only remaining institution of the state.

Civil society must review its constitution to appeal to a wider base and incorporate masses on issues.

In a society like ours where gossip and rumours are aplenty; where people lie when it is easier to tell the truth.

The issue of disputed territories suggests that Obama’s ‘mission accomplished’ declaration was slightly premature.

The quick announcement, groundbreaking of Kalma Chowk underpass, the Rs2.3b project, is an example of poor governance.

If we can’t laugh at ourselves, if we believe we are only born to die, then something is seriously wrong.

The biggest identity crisis for Pakistan is between radical Islamism and a pluralistic vision of a Muslim state.

There is need to reform building by-laws and zoning regulations with a view to eliminating elite bias.

There is a medieval legend, a sword so powerful that whoever wielded it could defeat entire armies single-handedly.

They, the people, will not be reconciled to being mere pawns in a larger strategic contest.

According to Congressman Peter King, his country’s Muslims are just not doing enough.

Their agenda is Pakistan-centric and they exploited the vacuum created by the absence of the state’s writ.

A ‘homeopathic’ revolution, if you like, to prevent the one that threatens to spin out of control.

If we want change, let’s craft the tools to create it with books and learning.

The meaning of the day is broadened to include all kinds of political, economic and social rights for women.

Rehman Malik’s opponents still have some hope as he has promised that he will resign if a security lapse is proven.

The architects of the uprisings are neither Islamists nor secularists, but are the “post-Islamist generation”.

He is not the only one. But his departure will be explained away as a ‘naive gora’ fleeing in panic.

An MP’s duty is to the people and, as a consequence, to his or her party — not the other way around.

The Islamists have returned but with a similarly low profile.

The parting of ways between the Nawaz faction of the Muslim League and the PPP was not at all unexpected.

While taking a case through the legal system you will be faced with almost insurmountable barriers.

Inspired by the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, we have made considerable achievements.

Civil libert­arians suppos­ed to come in to show up the mirror to the politi­cal class as well as the rest of us.

The greater tragedy is that we carry out our inhuman crimes in the name of Islam.

The case can become a major foreign policy issue that can mar the relationship between Pakistan and the US.

We must look further than national economies and focus on specific challenges posed by cities as drivers of growth.

Will the honourable court reconsider its stance and let the principle of parliamentary supremacy rule?

These Hindus, partly to be accepted as true Hindus, participated in the anti-Muslim violence in Godhra in Gujarat.

The moderates, although quite loud, have refused to stand up to tyranny, and expect others to do it for them.

Restrictions on artists, students and journalists are ridiculous and give an image of a state with an iron curtain.

Another facet of the media’s power is that it can globalise an issue in no time

The cheerleaders of the Free World have had the tassels prematurely shaken from their pom-poms.

No, George, this is no country for young children, this is no country in which to bring up and school your son.

Xuanzang who came to our part of the world in 631 CE, was a remarkable man and a raconteur of the first order.

Regardless of who murdered Shahbaz Bhatti, we as a nation must accept collective responsibility.

The honourable senators must appreciate that the autonomy of SBP is as important as the independence of the judiciary.

If our politicians really care about sovereignty, they should get the drone attacks stopped.

Why name a cricket stadium after Qaddafi? Why not a missile? Gaddaf 1 (and so on), or something like that.

Ours is a nation of minorities: A patchwork of cultures, ethnicities, languages and sects.

If Pakistan hopes to progress into the semi-finals and finals, they need to do some serious soul-searching.

If you nurture a grudge for long enough, eventually it takes over and starts to nurture you.

What you see as strategic buffoonery by a group of men with more khaki than sense, I recognise as a strategic move.

Unfortunately, no one is immune to the ills that this country subjects its citizens to.

The international political community has seen dictators in the Middle East and Adrica as good guys on a roll.

The Raymond Davis case has confirmed the limitations of our ties to Washington.