The CII ruling is wrong
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has issued a ruling to the effect that a restriction placed on the unfettered Islamic right of a husband to take a second (or…
Life after death
For months, the developing drought in Tharparkar, centred around the town of Mithi, has continued. In three months, at least 128 children have died. And during this time, no one…
The Afghan folly we seem all set to repeat
Let’s not get too worked up about the Taliban talks’ tamasha. Nothing will come of it, take a poor sinner’s word on this. This drama can only succeed if General…
Do we need the Rangers?
Every state requires a border control force, normally a para military force. In Pakistan, the border control forces include: the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab and Sindh), Frontier Corps (Balochistan and KP)…
It is the Shariah of the courts, Your Honour
A question is being raised today in many quarters as to which Shariah, or whose Shariah, is to be implemented in Pakistan. There are so many sects, it is claimed,…
Lands beyond the law
Muzaffargarh and Khuzdar, separated as they are by more than 600 kilometres, do not immediately appear to have much in common. And yet both cities made headlines recently for grave violations…
The crisis of leadership
Last year, many Pakistanis were celebrating the country’s first democratic transition from one elected government to another with a lot of hope and optimism. Today, many are wondering whether our…
East and west: a dialogue
DK: Islam teaches that man was created by Allah for a definite purpose – to realise their inner potential and to fashion themselves along the pattern of is moral vision.…
Of popular mandates
In all likelihood, 2013 is the only year in Pakistan's 67-year history wherein the closing date for filing tax returns was extended from (the usual September 30) up to December…
State on trial
Musharraf’s long-delayed trial for his 2007 coup finally began before a Special Court on December 24. Six hearings have been held in the one month that has passed since then,…
