Rural drama
Tuesday evening this week, while contemplating the stars and revolving a glass in my hand, my cell phone buzzed with an incoming message (from cell number 03065006674). With its spelling…
Why penalise association of persons?
The Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (hereinafter "the Ordinance") contained progressive rates for taxing both individuals and association of persons (AOPs) until the Finance Act 2010 that imposed a flat rate…
The Senate for sale?
A senator’s job is one of the best jobs for which a politician can aspire in Pakistan. It gives him or her an uninterrupted six-year term as member of the…
Pakistan-India ties: one major irritant
The visit by 45 Indian Chief Executive Officers to Lahore last week for a two day conference sets the stage for enhancing people to people contacts between the two countries.…
Lone rangers in the drone zone
For several months last year, I was at the receiving end of occasional emails that conformed to a particular pattern. They all began with a reasonably uncontroversial critique of the…
Why the PPP will
President Zardari has kept all the promises he intended to keep. Wheedling and bargaining, charming and cajoling - the last few months have seen vintage President Zardari in action, dipping…
Our anti
What is the right balance between healthy scepticism of Pakistani military and the ISI and between antagonism toward both? Asking this question now is important because the ambiguity is feeding…
Privatisation of HEC
After a long pause in the ongoing privatisation process due to the landmark decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to annul the divestment deal of the Pakistan Steel, the…
Odd fiscal priorities
Besides contempt proceedings against the Prime Minister (PM), 2012 may prove an historic year in yet another context: the government may announce the Federal Budget 2012-13 on May 25. Inklings…
Gilgit-Baltistan in limbo
Even after six decades, the people of GilgitBaltistan continue to suffer in constitutional limbo despite their unconditional accession to Pakistan. In spite of efforts to integrate with Pakistan, the people…
