Bellicose democracy
A FEW recent developments provide some examples of how the deep state systematically encroaches upon the citizens’ constitutional freedoms and fundamental rights. The government, through an SRO, recently allowed personnel…
A pseudo-democracy
Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) provide country rankings based on essential dimensions of governance. WGI rates the success of any government on (i) the process leading to its election and formation;…
How democracy was derailed — Part – III
As we saw in the previous article in this series (April 28), between the Tamizuddin judgment and the advice rendered under Special Reference No 1, the federal court led by…
Democracy vs economy
As Pakistan’s two and a half mainstream political parties [one half of a party remains excluded from politics] aspire for power in Islamabad, their failure to focus on the economy…
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…
A look at democracy
Part - I The National Institute of Pakistan Studies (NIPS) at the Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad is a rare centre of debate and discussion where one can speak freely. When Prof…
What ails democracy?
World Democracy Day fell on September 15 and was celebrated here in Pakistan as well as the world over. Though not very public or at the grassroots levels, events related…
The facade of Indian democracy
Seventy-five years ago, India gained freedom and declared itself a secular state. The constitution of the world’s largest democracy provides for “freedom of conscience and the right of all individuals…
Defending democracy
Former US President Trump has termed the US to be akin to a “broken, third world country,” which has become “corrupt, at a level not seen before.” He made this…
Myanmar testament to vulnerability of democracy
The military junta that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) by a coup on February 1, 2021 on the eve of the NLD’s return…
