A ‘purpose-oriented’ inquest, was it?
Based on the evidence placed before it, the Judicial Commission (JC) comprising three honourable judges of the Supreme Court (SC), including the Chief Justice, concluded that the 2013 general elections…
The appointments conundrum
Part - I It is not often that the Supreme Court of Pakistan explicitly overturns its earlier judgements within a span of two years. In Ghulam Rasool v The Federation,…
Into the political thicket
Among the many problems that afflict us, two are particularly vexatious. One, whether it is individuals or institutions, we seem less interested in doing our own job and more interested…
Dismantling the elitist model
THERE are two ways of drawing lessons from the PTI and PAT dharnas and protests. The government may feel it has been so bruised and weakened that it has no…
Budget proposals 2015-16 – VIII Essential tax reforms
"If we want lower taxes for growth, then spending must be curtailed so that governments won't need so much money. The next time you hear a politician promise another tax…
Trust and accountability
What makes some nations great and some nations fail? Britain occupies a small island off the coast of Europe and yet, for many centuries, it was the single most powerful…
The 2014 Tax Reforms Commission
Taxes are levied by public representatives to find resources for public good. For recovery of taxes, detailed systems of laws, rules and regulations are laid. Statutes are framed by representatives…
Is there no end to this circus?
So this much is clear even to the congenitally unaware that but for the killing of schoolchildren in Peshawar what we call the national leadership would have remained unmoved. Hitherto,…
Survey results require PM’s attention
The public gave a negative rating to federal government's efforts to alleviate poverty and improve energy production and management (negative 51 percent) and a positive rating to strengthening national security…
Threat to constitutional order?
In an unfortunate ruling, which went unheeded, the Lahore High Court (LHC) restrained the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) from launching their marches. One wishes the…
