Statesmanship or gamesmanship?
More than 150 people lost their lives in the run-up to the elections; and on election day itself, scores were injured. Despite all fear and intimidation, the people – by…
Master strategy
A SORT of unprecedented political pragmatism has followed the 2013 election. As in other areas, improvement in the country`s security situation is also being projected by many who are optimistic…
Those who did not vote
The recently concluded elections to the central and provincial assemblies have aroused serious debate about the `fairness` of the election process particularly on polling day. Charges of poll rigging are…
The mirage of democracy
Use your brain before May 11 – this meme, one of many that are doing the rounds on the Pakistani blogosphere in the run-up to the general elections, comes as…
Ideology of Pakistan
There have been several articles dealing either directly or indirectly with the Ideology of Pakistan. I was surprised to read an editorial in Business Recorder stating that; "General Sher Ali…
The left-right muddle
We stand, yet again, at a division – this time between the left and the right. Unable to match the momentum in the election campaigns of the PML-N and the…
The identity question
At a time when secular-thinking liberal Pakistanis are under attack from the Taliban, reading Azadi’s Daughter by Seema Mustafa (no relative) proved to be a thought-provoking exercise for me. Sub-titled…
Apt handling of national security – II
Our armed forces and intelligence agencies have become more hardened today than they were ever before in the conduct of Low Intensity Conflict (LIC). However, over the past decade, the…
Election Outlook-VIII: Balochistan: blessed but blighted
"They've been committing a broad-daylight robbery on our resource," an agitating Nawab Akbar Bugti told this writer at his Dera Bugti residence with a growing sense of frustration and despondency…
Merkel’s austerity drive faces rising challenge
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing a challenge to her tough line on fiscal austerity as unemployment continues to rise across the eurozone and the region faces up to the…
