For a people-friendly visa regime
A death in the family led to my first encounter with a Pakistani national. This was before a fence came to be erected along the border between the two countries.…
Grasping the nettle
Familar trends have tied Pakistan’s economy into a low-growth continuum. To engineer a change, the government will have to first show its policy hand and then progressively demonstrate the capacity…
Sheer ignorance of law?
Ignorantia juris non excusat or ignorantia legis neminem excusat (Latin for "ignorance of the law does not excuse" or "ignorance of the law excuses no one") is a legal principle…
Can manly Advani match weakling Manmohan?
The BJP says Manmohan Singh is weak and no match for their strongman Advani.Is that true? Let us examine their qualifications. Born in 1932, Manmohan Singh graduated in economics from…
Corruption galore!
There is general agreement that corruption in Pakistan is endemic. Even the most diehard PPP loyalists accept it, though they are at pains to point out two relevant arguments. First,…
Film
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has done Pakistan proud and given its stubborn film buffs a glimmer of hope. Now that the excitement over winning an Oscar is receding it should be possible…
Women, language and literacy
In the Torwali community of Kohistan in upper Swat, a unique and innovative literacy programme is currently being implemented by a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi, with financial…
De-Musharrafising the NRO, Musharrafising the PPP
These next 120 days or so are going to be a real treat. The fun has already begun, in fact. The defenders of democracy are now the defenders of the…
Haven’t we seen this movie before?
Veteran Washington Post correspondent Bob Woodward’s latest book, Obama’s Wars, has, among other things, helped to confirm suspicions of a high level of dysfunction in Washington vis-
WikiLeaks tests our media
IN Pakistan, the WikiLeaks drama confirms conclusively — if confirmation was needed — that the media has opted for its information and entertainment roles in a big way while abandoning…
