Ironies that escape us
Musharraf’s trials and tribulations are of little concern to most of us. Indeed his name now evokes a sense of boredom…what, him again? He had a great time of it…
Behind the veil
When Saima, my late mother’s maid, first joined our staff, she used to wear the full burqa. But after a bit, when she saw that neither my mother, nor her…
Islamists under fire
How time flies! Ramazan is nearly gone and Eid is here before one could really celebrate the blessed month. This has been another Ramazan spent away from home and loved…
Which planet does Pakistan inhabit?
Massacre in Cairo, blood in the streets, hundreds dead. But you would suspect nothing of this from TV channels here. Rains, yes, and coverage of that necessary. But endless talk-shows…
The PM’s three wishes
Mian Nawaz Sharif, prime minister for an unprecedented third term, has three areas of special interest on the domestic front: energy, infrastructure and dealing with the problem of terrorism. He…
An elitist Pakistan
The sufferings of Pakistani poor and less privileged classes will not end unless elitist structures are dismantled and the society is restructured on the principles of equity, fairness and justice…
View Point: The coup in Egypt
We in Pakistan are all too familiar with what has happened in Egypt: military ousting an elected government and putting its leader in prison. It looks a bit different though.…
Finance Act 2013: Apathy of Parliament
The adoption of Finance Bill 2013 on 27 June 2013, with a number of amendments proposed on 24 June 2013, was a disgrace for the National Assembly. There was no…
Whither the state?
“We believe in dialogue but it should not be frivolous. Asking us to lay down arms is a joke”, said TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud in December 2012. He further stated…
The deep state
JUDGES, prosecutors, investigators, witnesses, lawyers: no one is safe in a criminal justice system pitted against militants and their patrons in the deep state of Pakistan. The judges` detention case…
