How do I fool thee?
The assault on the innocent and unsuspecting people of Pakistan continues in ever ingenious and innovative ways. The new drama series, ‘clash of institutions’, is just another weapon in this…
Health reform in the air?
The 18th Amendment meant that the health sector has been returned to its original constitutional home in the provinces. This was a bold step undoing the centralised service delivery that,…
Moving beyond the transition decade
There is a vibrant domestic economy in Afghanistan. It has rapid growth, ample access to capital, reliable entry to the market, sophisticated mechanisms for international financial transactions, and established security…
Fixing the internal threat
For more than six decades, the Pakistani state has witnessed several phases where its writ has been challenged by various factors within and outside the country. The latest, seemingly toughest,…
Equality at the margins
Security and terrorism related challenges have occupied available public spaces disproportionately in Pakistan; these otherwise could be used to highlight the structural causes of social, political and economic inequality affecting…
Iraqis in resort town face return to Anbar unrest
When fighting erupted in Iraq's Anbar province in December, Abu Mohammed fled with his family to a virtually empty summer resort far to the north to take advantage of its…
Consumer rights
Globally, the concept of citizen-consumer has gained considerable foothold in debates on accountability and governance. But in Pakistan, where neither the culture of civic citizenship nor consumer consciousness is entrenched,…
Reconnecting Afghanistan
The exercise of universal franchise in the war conditions prevailing in Afghanistan has been a tremendous landmark not only for the Afghans themselves but for countries like Pakistan on the…
Hunger and death in Tharparkar
The death of children in Tharparkar came into national consciousness when the number exceeded 150. And the count kept going up. Tragic as it is, this is only the tip…
Is this our idea of a fortress of Islam?
Islam in today’s world should not be about obscure points of doctrine, fiqh and Shariah. Mujtahids and reformers have been at the reconstruction of religious thought in Islam for the…
