Reforming madressahs
Pakistan’s terrorism quagmire is multipronged. It involves violent non-state actors operating under religious outfits. It has crime and terror syndicates and finally sectarian outfits that are serving as a breeding…
Modi’s double-engine sarkar
WHEN Prime Minister Narendra Modi barrels around India to support allies running for state government elections his war cry is: ‘ab ki bar double engine ki sarkar’ (this time a…
Viewpoint: Why fund the Haqqania seminary?
PTI leader Imran Khan is under well-deserved criticism for his KPK government's allocation of Rs 300 million for Maulana Samiul Haq's seminary, Darul Aloom Haqqania at Akhora Khattak, which is…
Viewpoint: Why fund the Haqqania seminary?
PTI leader Imran Khan is under well-deserved criticism for his KPK government's allocation of Rs 300 million for Maulana Samiul Haq's seminary, Darul Aloom Haqqania at Akhora Khattak, which is…
View point: Putting the squeeze on seminaries
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had a productive meeting on Monday with representatives of the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris Pakistan (ITMP) to decide future course of action for the seminaries. Thus far these people…
Terrorism in the name of religion
It has not taken much time for the tenuous unity that emerged after the Peshawar school carnage to crumble. Once again, there is an attempt by members of the religious…
Why the numbers matter
NO one knows the exact number of madressahs in Pakistan — not the government, not the madressah leadership, and not independent agencies. Each entity offers its estimates, claiming theirs to…
Insurgency and social change
THE recent killing of seven barbershop workers from Punjab in Gwadar is another indicator that the insurgency in Balochistan is evolving and intensifying demographic changes, which will impact the sociopolitical…
Roots of the Taliban
PAKISTAN’S initial support for the Afghan Taliban regime proved short-lived — a surprising turn of events for many observers. After actively lobbying for international recognition for the Taliban administration, Pakistan…
Religion & politics
WHENEVER there is a mention of religion in Pakistani politics, it is regarded as nothing more than a tool to exploit the public’s religious sentiment for personal political gains. While…
