Dialogue with the devil
Maulana Abdul Aziz, the chief cleric of the Lal Masjid in Islamabad, has never hesitated in projecting himself as a religious scholar. He was catapulted to fame in July 2007…
Thoughts of a soldier
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif behaves as though he has been granted some sort of a mysterious beatific vision. He believes that he is destined to transform the country into a…
Change in guard
As his closest professional confidante, the choice of chief of the general staff (CGS) is usually a strong indicator of the army chief’s preference for a successor. Passing him over…
Not all is wrong in Pakistan
Not all is wrong in Pakistan. Of course, this does not mean that all is right. Or even that most is right. Clearly, it is not. All it means is…
The next COAS
The race is on. The two slots to be filed are: the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and the chief of army staff (COAS). Here’s the…
Thoughts of a mere bystander
My article, ‘The Hamlet in Nawaz Sharif,’ carried by this paper on October 20 has provoked stern reaction. In Pakistan two columnists, Irfan Husain and Masood Hasan, both prolific writers,…
Clarity versus confusion
Let’s give the local Taliban militants their due. Let’s admit, and muster courage to applaud, their clarity of mind, singleness of purpose and strength of conviction. The manner in which…
Getting to know this circus
I really thought we weren’t getting it, not grasping the reality of this circus. I am glad to report I was wrong. Hilarious takes on what this government is about…
The chief’s matrix
It’s almost official. By October or November, Pakistan’s military at large, and then its army in particular, are going to have new commanders. First, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee…
Eyeless in Gaza
The prime minister’s visit to the foreign office, despite the media hype, was a non-event. Front-page newspaper photographs and television footage showed him sitting grim-faced at the head of a…
