Stagnation of political sphere
A FEW weeks ago, my father, who often catches up on news programmes he has missed via YouTube, began to watch one such show. Almost 15 minutes into the programme…
Performing a political wonder
Although delayed once before, the all-parties conference (APC) called by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has now been deferred indefinitely. The conference was to discuss and develop a consensus on ways…
System reset
THE terror attack in Karachi last week was a terrifying throwback to Pakistan’s lost decade as a result of domestic militancy. The tragic loss of lives, the mounting fear of…
Let technology save the tax system
An anaemic tax-to-GDP ratio is a reality that is reiterated time and again. Similarly, a distorted taxation structure that is regressive, and heavily penalizes the most vulnerable segments of society…
Political planet
IN 2019, the journal Science Advances published a study about the state of the world’s glaciers. This study found that glaciers in the Himalayan mountain range were melting much faster…
Political market
THIS story is about a country where the elites completely control politics and the economy. The elites are disproportionately overrepresented in parliament as money literally buys votes. The elites also…
Hiccups won’t derail system
“‘IF suicide was not forbidden (haram) I’d go into parliament with explosives and blow it up,’ roared a charged Shehryar Afridi, a leading light of the governing PTI and the…
Policy, reform & political change
PUBLIC policies struggle to survive, and reform agendas get stalled in times of political change. At best, uncertainty surrounds them; at worst, they are scrapped by political opponents when they…
About political homeopathy
THE idea that the left alone can defeat the right has become unconvincing. On the contrary, it’s often the left that is forced to don the robe of the right…
Shock to the system
SHOCKED millions glued to their TV screens saw a three-hour Bollywood-type political thriller unfold before their eyes on the evening of April 9. An intense day-long struggle in the National…
