The new Sharif era
Good, bad or ugly, the 2013 elections are over; and now testing times are ahead for the new incumbents. It is the third coming for Nawaz Sharif, a remarkable turn of…
A changed man?
Millions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s supporters woke up on election day to what legendary cricket commentator (late) Omer Qureshi would have described as “...it is a bright sunny day here and…
The politics of urbanisation
In relatively stable societies, economics shapes politics these are places where one can meaningfully say `it`s the economy, stupid`. Even seemingly bizarre foreign policies can be related to economics as…
How Nawaz Sharif can win the day after elections
The 2013 election was billed as the most important and most historic in Pakistan’s short and oft-interrupted experience of being a democracy. It is safe to say that the performance…
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 EU can help
The European Union is well placed to help Pakistan’s new government tackle a daunting domestic and foreign policy agenda. Attention is inevitably focused on Pakistan’s relations with the US, India…
Make them think
Despite the threats and terrorist attacks, Pakistan went ahead with parliamentary elections. This is a great victory for the country. The winners of these elections, like the PPP before them,…
Foreign policy challenges
THE new government emerging from yesterday`s elections will face difficult domestic problems. The external challenges it will confront are equally daunting. The most urgent foreign policy challenges could be summed…
All or nothing
Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have thrown this election wide open. Ask any commentator/analyst and you’ll get a different prediction. Some say he’ll sweep the elections, while others…
