BBC raids show India’s shrinking media freedom
At around 11 a.m. on Feb 14, some 20 Indian tax officials and police burst into the BBC’s offices in New Delhi, shouting at staff to step away from their…
BBC tax raids put India press freedom in spotlight
Just weeks after the BBC aired a documentary examining Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in deadly 2002 sectarian riots, tax inspectors descended on the broadcaster’s offices. Modi’s Hindu nationalist…
Dirty air, foreign aid, and climate funds
Burning of fossil fuel has had a significant role in exacerbating climate change crisis, the tipping point of which appears to be around four decades ago as the recent monumental…
Of mermaids singing each to each
In a contested Greek legend, Phryne was publicly disrobed during her trial for alleged impiety. The jurors were outraged by her condition and declared her innocent. In another Greek story,…
Raids and reports
The people of Pakistan eagerly awaited answers to critical questions in the Abbottabad Commission Report. Was Osama bin Laden residing in the Abbottabad compound? The commission declared that OBL had…
Hostile no-confidence motion
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led federal government ended on 10 April 2022 with the passing of a no-confidence motion by a majority of 174 members of the National Assembly. This majority was…
Budget 2013-14: No will to tax the rich
By just tinkering with tax rates here and there and imposing or enhancing regressive taxes - fixing revenue collection target at Rs 2598 billion for fiscal year 2013-14 - the…
Budget in elitist economy – II
For the last many years, even legal ways (sic) were provided through amnesties and immunities and favourable SROs (Statutory Regulator Orders) to help the rich and mighty to avoid tax-certainly…
Budget 2013-14: No will to tax the rich
By just tinkering with tax rates here and there and imposing or enhancing regressive taxes - fixing revenue collection target at Rs 2598 billion for fiscal year 2013-14 - the…
Predatory elites
Pakistan is ruled and controlled by predatory elites in whose hands power and wealth are concentrated. The ruling elites - comprising indomitable military-civil-judicial complex, unscrupulous politicians, mighty religious party leaders,…
