When only death is not a sham
Enough is never enough, humanity is not a consideration, and human life has no value for the military and civilian rulers of our unfortunate nation. Hundreds are killed each month…
A partial reckoning
Abdul Quader Mollah certainly did himself no favours when, earlier this month, he flashed a smile and a V-sign as he emerged from a hearing of the International Crimes Tribunal…
The Supreme Court debate
The emergence of a powerful Supreme Court of Pakistan has given rise to a continuing critical debate about the Supreme Court’s functioning and its various judgments. Questions have arisen: is…
Endemic corruption
Pakistan is going through an immensely difficult era. Is it because of democracy? Is it because of the legacy that Musharraf left behind? Whatever the diagnosis the fact is that…
Doctors on strike
A cat and mouse game is raging on between young doctors and the government of Punjab. There is a set pattern being followed by both sides, based on earlier skirmishes…
Less politics, more art
These days preparations for the Karachi Literature Festival are underway, a happy time for those of us who want to turn our minds from politics and towards the arts. Yet…
Palestine and US humbug
Maybe I’m a bit biased, having served in a UN peacekeeping mission and thus making and maintaining contact with some urbane and highly intelligent people in the UN headquarters in…
Indians demand better for women as rape victim mourned
"I hope a change is going to come. I think something will happen," said Aswathy Senan, a young student in New Delhi as she stood with hundreds of protesters Saturday,…
A test for parents
In building society, parents have a special duty. They are to nurture their children in such a way so that they become responsible and committed to serving humanity. The Quran…
Four years here
Milan Kundera once said that he is a hedonist trapped in an intensely political world. Perhaps that is true for any artist, writer or aesthete. Humanity to a large extent…
