Middle class politics
Since 2007, a growing middle class and its engagement with the political sphere has been the subject of much discussion in Pakistan. The impetus came firstly from the lawyers’ movement…
Ruling Pakistan
Will Musharraf be allowed to leave? Are there cracks developing within the PML-N on the matter? How does all of this augur for the relationship between Nawaz Sharif and the…
The robbing class
At a meeting with businessmen and industrialists on November 28, the prime minister announced with great fanfare what was billed as an economic revival package for the country. In the…
Class and state
Hamza Alavi passed away 10 years ago this week. I was privileged to be involved in a gathering held in his memory some days ago at the university where I…
Weak states and war
War is the most abominable act committed by a state and the most undesirable action to resolve interstate conflicts. Modern theories of international relations revolve around diplomatic means to resolve…
Blood and oil
THERE was nothing new in the US intelligence assessment about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi released last week. Anyone with even a few active grey cells had realised the identity of the…
Rent-a-state
THE World Economic Forum, the annual high-profile summit of the world’s high and mighty in Davos, Switzerland, concludes this weekend after serial back-slapping, shedding of crocodile tears for the ‘less…
Exposing the rich
The recent pandemic has exposed the real face of the world’s rich who have trebled their wealth amidst the onslaught of death in various parts of the world. As the…
Brothers at war
ALL too often, when relatives fight, it’s over money and property, not about people. And while religious and political grievances might be tossed around, it’s mostly as an afterthought. So…
Signs of the Times
WHEN medical workers in Myanmar marched out to protest against the coup they raised their hands in a salute with three fingers outstretched; their thumb and pinkie touching. This three-finger…
