Crisis of mainstream media
SOMEONE who entered the world of print and bore witness to the era of the electronic medium in Pakistan is a strange creature. Few of the ‘printies’ adapt easily to…
Local government: a reality check
LOCAL government is being talked about as one of the possible ‘solutions’ to the heightened political and economic turbulence in the country. LG is attractive in theory, promising better service…
Breach of privacy
IN 1628, jurist Edward Coke observed “Every man’s house is his castle”. Later, William Pitt elaborated on this principle: “The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all…
Listening to the rumblings?
A PEOPLE’S movement is underway in Israel against its ultra right-wing government. Prime Minister Netanyahu is trying to subvert the judiciary’s neutrality, with a selfish aim to kill the criminal…
Diluting electoral credibility
IT is distressing to see the federal government legislating by presidential decree to the total exclusion of any consultative process both within and outside parliament. The number of ordinances promulgated…
Kept in the dark
IF one goes by the poll dates fixed by the president of Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor for election to the provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP, about 74…
Petty, pointless moves
EACH political party that wins an election in democracies is entitled to usher in its manifesto pledges and bring in technocrats who can supervise delivery of its programme in key…
Age of impunity
THE political disorder is witnessing a shift in the balance of power from liberal democracies to autocratic regimes. As the rule of law weakens and decisions are made in violation…
Hiccups won’t derail system
“‘IF suicide was not forbidden (haram) I’d go into parliament with explosives and blow it up,’ roared a charged Shehryar Afridi, a leading light of the governing PTI and the…
A trusted space
AT a recent anti-corruption conference, I briefly chatted with a Bolivian gentleman who is both an activist fighting corruption and convener of a network of librarians. My first instinct was…
