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Saving democracy

When the dark era of Gen Ziaul Haq ended abruptly in 1988, it rekindled the hopes of millions that Pakistan would be on the right track. Most people thought that…

Struggle for democracy

Pakistan is striving for economic, political, and constitutional stability. Democratic principles, constitutional institutions, rule of law and patriotism are under assault from within. A nation of 250 million was held…

The future of democracy

It is not surprising that a significantly high number of political commentators and analysts and ordinary people in the country are more despondent today than they perhaps were at any…

Judicial imperialism: Threat to democracy

When honourable judges, while claiming to enforce the constitution, render verdicts that cannot plausibly be related to the constitution the result is judicial imperialism posing a serious threat to the…

State of democracy

A major global pronouncement on the annual global state of democracy is out. The verdict: democracy is in doldrums globally and 2022 was a disappointing year for democracy. There is…

A different democracy

The present alarming situation of the country, which stands at the brink of a financial default, is a reflection of the failure of successive governments to transition from a low…

Democracy in 2022

As the world gears up to celebrate another trip around the sun, there is this innate human urge to review what we experienced in the year concluded. In Pakistan, this…

Democracy hasn’t worked either

A lot of young people high on revolution as they march towards Islamabad on Imran Khan’s bandwagon don’t seem to realise that as far as their lot is concerned it…

An attack on democracy

A possible long march by the PTI appears to be yet another desperate attempt by the former prime minister to destabilize the country. A cursory look at the past 25…

Democracy and dissent

Democracy can be a tricky term to explain in a political structure like the one that endures in Pakistan. Defining it can be as facile and effortless as Abraham Lincoln…