Not a new entity
The battle for the youth vote, especially in Punjab, continues to rage in the run-up to the general elections. Each week, news outlets publish articles warning that youth ballots could…
A self-defeating advice
Former premier Nawaz Sharif has asked the government to hold "serious, meaningful and result-oriented" talks with the Al-Qaeda-inspired local Taliban militants to bring peace in the country. A review of…
Pakistan`s political cliff
`CHAOS Theory` is a course taught at many prestigious universities to analyse and predict developments during crises. Pakistan`s short but turbulent political history provides excellent empirical data for such study.…
Wanted: a magic wand
Ambition is a perfectly legitimate gene within the political DNA. Without ambition it would be almost impossible for anyone except a saint to suffer the dross, ennui and heartless envy…
The real threat to democracy
It is time to celebrate. The current democratic order, which appeared to be wobbling and on the brink in the wake of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march and four-day protest…
Writing a new script
In terms of pure political theatre, Tahirul Qadri’s Blue Area ‘revolution’ has been compelling viewing. Many of us were chaos junkies even before cable TV; round-the-clock coverage means that charlatans…
Spotlight: Police chasing criminals in ‘handicap’ race!: Will TQ abort the march with a face-saving bargain?
With each passing day the Allama appears to be getting more belligerent in his statements, assertions and demands. The latest example of this is his statement Wednesday last that "people…
Beginning of the end
Thousands of Shia protesters braved sub-zero temperature for nearly three days as they staged a sit-in in Quetta, refusing to bury 87 victims of the January 10 twin bombings at…
The Monti option
Pakistan will hold its next parliamentary and presidential elections this year. Many Pakistanis see this first ever completion of its term by an elected civilian government as cause for celebration.…
The mood of the moment
Pakistan’s mainstream political leadership appears edgy these days. All of a sudden many politicians seem to have had a revelation that a conspiracy is being hatched to derail the country’s…
