Limits of coercion
IT is widely believed that Pakistan’s geostrategic location has been a great asset for the country. But it has also been an enormous challenge. In fact, the tyranny of geography…
Global gangsters
REMEMBER the letter written by six judges of the Islamabad High Court alleging interference by intelligence agencies and state actors? The list of complaints included allegations of illegal surveillance of…
Limits of coercion
IT is widely believed that Pakistan’s geostrategic location has been a great asset for the country. But it has also been an enormous challenge. In fact, the tyranny of geography…
Chinese advice
PAKISTAN’S law-enforcement agencies have completed the investigation of the Dasu terrorist attack carried out against Chinese nationals in March, in record time. This is, indeed, a remarkable achievement, but it does not…
Law that rules
NOT too long ago, it was reported that the Pakistan Customs Group’s association had moved a resolution seeking proof of the government’s allegations of corruption and inefficiency against certain tax…
Fighting monopolisation
THE letter written by six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) detailing interference in judicial work by intelligence agencies is an important and brave intervention. By linking it to…
Insurgency and social change
THE recent killing of seven barbershop workers from Punjab in Gwadar is another indicator that the insurgency in Balochistan is evolving and intensifying demographic changes, which will impact the sociopolitical…
Setting priorities
AS the new government settles down, it is confronted with a broad spectrum of challenges that demand immediate attention and strategic action. Internally, political instability, economic fragility, and growing security…
Hybrid pitfalls for PML-N
HYBRID set-ups have internal power struggle built into them. Like me, if you find some of the statements confusing — signalling differences of opinion within the top tiers of the…
Clashing realities
HOW to restrain a powerful, overweening and tyrannical state is the key challenge we face today. The institutions of restraint on executive excesses are the rule of law and democratic…
