Gated disasters
AS palace intrigue around the person of Shahbaz Gill takes centre stage, the combination of gruelling economic hardship and monsoon rains continue to suck the life out of millions of working people across the…
Bring me news of fresh disasters
Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar, under fire along with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) federal government over the Murree tragedy, has formed a five-member committee to ‘investigate’ the causes and…
Bring me news of fresh disasters
At precisely the conjuncture when Pakistan is in the process of attempting to recreate a new avatar for itself as a ‘peacemaker’ in Afghanistan, the startling incident of the Afghan…
Disasters of 2020
The disasters of 2020 were not shocking enough to jolt the world’s most powerful nations out of their traditional preoccupation with enhancing their armed might, for once again they raised…
Civil-military ties
THE people of Pakistan have a strong democratic temperament. Throughout the year, the country’s many elections are robustly contested in bar associations, chambers of commerce, professional associations, unions, civil society…
Disasters and delivery
The earthquake of October 26 inflicted heavy damages in terms of men and material. Government estimates put the number of dead at 268. Over 9,000 houses and commercial units were…
Military and society
Forgive the caption. What follows hardly justifies the full expanse of what it encompasses. It is too broad – almost a science, incapable of being enclosed in the limited space…
Civil-military relations and democracy – II
It is only too obvious that in a parliamentary democracy, where governments can change after elections, such trained specialists should be totally neutral and apolitical. Otherwise, every new government will…
Economic disasters in Pakistan
This might come as a surprise but it is worth exploring. How much has Pakistan spent on Board of Investment and how much foreign direct investment have they brought to…
Restoring the glory of long-abused ancient Babylon
At ancient Babylon's Ishtar Gate, Iraqi workers labour with a heavy saw, hammers, a chisel and crowbar to break up and remove a concrete slab that is hastening the structure's…
