Media watch: Pakistan, land of despair
Media addresses some of the many challenges plaguing Pakistan including terrorism, hunger and unprofessional politics.
Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.
Awaiting help
There have been few surveys to determine the fate of the thousands of terror victims across the country. We hear elaborate promises of monetary aid – for what it is worth – after each attack. But even that is not granted. It is certain that many who have lost breadwinners are living in a state of genuine misery. The plight of those disabled and unable to work remains little known. We need to direct far greater attention towards such victims. (thenews.com.pk)
Our democracy needs surgery
The motherland keeps watching her poor sons being devoured by starvation. She also keeps watching her affluent sons who can feed her starving sons, but they don’t feed them. How miserable the mother must be! She must be lamenting: “My rich sons are killing my poor sons. I disown the killers.” Our politicians can feed the starving masses. But instead of feeding them, they are fighting each other – Dr AH Khayal (nation.com.pk)
Payback time
There is no questioning the fact that our elite, be they businessmen, landowners or agriculturists, are known to avoid paying anywhere near the figure estimated. In some cases, the tax paid is such a paltry sum that it is laughable given the overt lifestyle visible to the general public. I mean certainly drive a Porsche, perhaps even six of the best vehicles but make certain that the tax paid is at least a relevant percentage of the cost of vehicle – Imran Hussain (pakistantoday.com.pk)
Rhetoric of good governance
The discourse on good governance explicitly ignores the question of how we should understand power relations with a view to changing them. Rather, it presents itself as a moral paradigm, simply distinguishing between the good, the bad and the evil. It not only has limited conceptual or analytical value but it is, at best, a policy/propagandist tool in the hands of the historically powerful to undermine democratic forms and struggles – Mushtaq Gaadi (dawn.com)
Awaiting help
There have been few surveys to determine the fate of the thousands of terror victims across the country. We hear elaborate promises of monetary aid – for what it is worth – after each attack. But even that is not granted. It is certain that many who have lost breadwinners are living in a state of genuine misery. The plight of those disabled and unable to work remains little known. We need to direct far greater attention towards such victims. (thenews.com.pk)
Our democracy needs surgery
The motherland keeps watching her poor sons being devoured by starvation. She also keeps watching her affluent sons who can feed her starving sons, but they don’t feed them. How miserable the mother must be! She must be lamenting: “My rich sons are killing my poor sons. I disown the killers.” Our politicians can feed the starving masses. But instead of feeding them, they are fighting each other – Dr AH Khayal (nation.com.pk)
Payback time
There is no questioning the fact that our elite, be they businessmen, landowners or agriculturists, are known to avoid paying anywhere near the figure estimated. In some cases, the tax paid is such a paltry sum that it is laughable given the overt lifestyle visible to the general public. I mean certainly drive a Porsche, perhaps even six of the best vehicles but make certain that the tax paid is at least a relevant percentage of the cost of vehicle – Imran Hussain (pakistantoday.com.pk)
Rhetoric of good governance
The discourse on good governance explicitly ignores the question of how we should understand power relations with a view to changing them. Rather, it presents itself as a moral paradigm, simply distinguishing between the good, the bad and the evil. It not only has limited conceptual or analytical value but it is, at best, a policy/propagandist tool in the hands of the historically powerful to undermine democratic forms and struggles – Mushtaq Gaadi (dawn.com)