The Imran doctrine
The envisioned T20 match in Islamabad has turned to be a long test match of nerves with too much frustration as well as arrogance on both sides. Both sides seem…
Resilience and hope
“If you have tears, prepare to shed them now,” Marc Antony exhorted fellow Romans over the death of his friend. We do not need any exhortation to shed tears for…
Not the turning point we needed
My friend was grief-stricken when we spoke, "We are now used to seeing death, but this was savagery we have not seen before”. The 21st century in particular and the…
The imperialism of language
Learning English will make you rich, and learning Arabic will make you holy. No one ever says these things out loud in Pakistan, but their premises under gird many decisions.…
Power-induced intoxication
On August 9, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif finally agreed to the year-long Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demand for recounting of votes in 10 constituencies and invited Imran Khan to reach a…
Integrity management in tax administration
Similar to the socio-political culture of most public sector institutions in Pakistan, FBR is also in the 'integrity crises'. Given that the widespread publicity on this issue drives public opinion,…
The challenge of being human
A challenge it has always been to be human in this country. And the task is continually becoming more difficult in the face of religious extremism, militancy and intolerance at…
Five causes of the crisis
Never have the unfortunate people of Pakistan been so full of apprehension about their future on Independence Day as they are today. What gives their anxiety sharper focus is the…
Helping oneself
Last week was World Humanitarian Day. It came as a simple reminder that the world is not a welcoming place any longer for a large number of people in countries…
The abyss stares back
IT’S almost enough to make one pick up a guitar and serenade Aabpara, Dylan-like, singing ‘How many times must a road blow up, before you find another track?’ This time,…
