Power and US policy
The Egyptian crisis and wider turmoil in the Middle East has intensified the debate in America and beyond about how Washington should respond to the turbulent turn of events in…
Imperfect democracy
Holding parliamentary elections in about 60 days from a standing start, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) says that ‘local bodies’ polls cannot be held soon for various reasons. Informed…
Miles to go before he leaves
“The chief justice is phenomenal. Wait and see what he does. I didn’t participate for political gain” — Imran Khan in an interview after the restoration of CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry.…
Justice or hubris?
Part - II The writer is a lawyer and has previously worked as a researcher at the Supreme Court “Is there another country in the world,” asks Babar Sattar, “where the…
Militant greetings
In case there were any doubts as to how the Afghan Taliban’s strategy is going to play out over next year’s in Afghanistan, through the US withdrawal and into the…
A lethal nexus
It is time to note the voice of anguish and desperation of senior police commanders. “The more serious problem in Pakistan is that the terrorists and insurgents are getting aligned…
How to handle a crisis
It was a cold day in February 1994. Three Afghans armed with pistols and hand grenades had hijacked a school bus from Peshawar. They took 74 schoolchildren and staff hostage…
Past present: Independence for whom?
Every year we celebrate Independence Day with fervour and official ceremonies including military parade and state banquet. Titles and awards are bestowed upon military and civilian persons for their meritorious…
Requiem for the living
When Zardari replaced Musharraf, it was a double whammy for the 180 million Pakistanis. Instead of leading the country, the two were better suited for starring in a new TV…
The twelfth man
Mamnoon Hussain has been elected amid controversy as the twelfth president of Pakistan. Nine of his predecessors were either power-addicted generals or devious politicians who did incalculable harm to the…
