Law and medicine
The coronavirus is a greater threat to national and global security than terrorism ever was. If we legislated, reinterpreted, and even twisted laws for antiterrorism, we must similarly explore the…
Need for new income tax law — I
When the government of General Pervez Musharraf decided to promulgate a new income tax law in 2000, we, amongst many others, opposed it strongly. Our main objection was that his…
Laws for liberty
What good is a liberal constitution if it cannot secure the most basic of all liberties: the liberty of person? Seventy-two years after the supposed overthrow of the colonial state,…
Making laws matter
Over the years, discussions about the ‘deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan’ have become commonplace. Whilst some blame law-enforcement agencies for failing to do their duty, others trace all…
Foreign firms wary as China launches investment law
Accustomed to unfulfilled promises from the Chinese government, foreign businesses are keeping a wary eye on a nascent law aimed at addressing their long-standing grievances about unfair treatment in the…
As US Congress delays on privacy, California law in focus
As US lawmakers head home without agreeing on consumer privacy legislation, a new California law is set to become the de facto national standard, potentially leaving consumers and businesses confused…
Discomfiture of law
RECENTLY, an honest and competent police officer, Dr Rizwan Ahmed, who had been posted only four months ago as SSP in district Shikarpur, was not only summarily relieved of his…
Flawed tax reforms agenda — II
In fiscal year 2018-19, total payment, as per budget documents, on account of debt servicing, was Rs 1,987 billion against the budgeted figure of Rs 1,620 billion. Allocation for the…
Law prevails over rules!
The concept of delegated or secondary legislation is not extraordinary. The parliaments from where emanate various statutes, cannot be expected to work out the detailed application of the general principles…
Harassment: laws unenforced
A few months ago I was walking from my house (in Islamabad) to the Markaz market (hardly a kilometer away) to get some groceries. It was still early afternoon and…
