The IMF’s visit
The IMF mission that was in Islamabad ostensibly to discuss the contours of the next programme has gone back to Washington. This scribe has been struggling to understand why they…
Halchal in the ranks
For all the fuss he created in his life ‘Maulvi Halchal’ bowed out rather quietly. A TV channel ran a bit about his passing away recently, just enough to send…
Weak democratic process
It is a season of defections and of new alliances as the political parties gear up for the coming elections. Horse-trading is the name of the game and political loyalties…
Challenge of new provinces
The debate on creating new provinces in Pakistan is gaining momentum with the proposal approved by the parliamentary commission to create a new province — ‘Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab’. But the…
Growing strength or brewing disaster?
Pakistan has posted a current account surplus amounting $250 million during the first half (July-December) of the current fiscal year (2012-13) as against a deficit of $2.4 billion in the…
What really killed them
Bhuladia’ is not the name of a factory. It is a sickness of the ruling class. Somewhat different from Alzheimer’s disease, it is more selective in choosing what must be…
Our Greek tragedy
In 399 BC, Socrates stood before a jury of 500 Athenians his peers accused of “refusing to recognise the gods recognised by the state” and “corrupting the youth.” The penalty…
Let’s keep our powder dry
“If they want peace” said Napoleon Bonaparte to the Russian Czar Alexander, “they should avoid the pinpricks that precede canon balls”. He may as well have been addressing Pakistan and…
Ties with India
Preoccupation with domestic issues over the past few weeks should not have prevented Pakistan`s policymakers and informed sections of society from taking note of the dangerous events along the Line…
Consensus on terrorism
The tone for a much-needed multi-party conference has finally been set. The leadership of the Awami National Party (ANP) has started contacting the leadership of other political parties. The plan…
