Poll violence realities
Pakistanis are concerned about the maintenance of peace during the forthcoming general elections. Suffice it to say, ensuring peaceful elections will be a gigantic challenge for the law enforcement agencies.…
Cyprus bailout request another hurdle for eurozone
With empty state coffers, ailing banks and badly in need of a multi-billion-euro loan, the small island of Cyprus is like a drifting ship quickly running out of fuel. When…
The PLO’s dangerous rhetoric
Hailed as one of the best spokespersons for Palestine, veteran diplomat Afif Safieh impressed many during his four-city tour in Canada, earlier this year. Safieh – the author of The…
Trapped?
It must have been a moment of distress for General (r) Pervez Musharraf, when a shoe was hurled at him in the premises of the Sindh High Court. Never before…
Agenda for the nation 2013 and beyond-II
What is the real nature and extent of the domestic crisis? Let me try to highlight some of its major dimensions. First and foremost, it is a 'crisis of legitimacy'.…
Five long years
I have been writing on economic issues for almost four years. In each article, the growing weaknesses of Pakistan’s economy and policy inaction have been identified and suggestions made to…
View Point: Good news from Balochistan
Balochistan-related good news in a long, long time is the decision of Balochistan National Party-M (BNP-M) headed by Baloch nationalist leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, to participate in the upcoming elections.…
Our national shame
For the last five years a strange drama is being played out by the Election Commission of Pakistan to support the biggest crooks in the land. This relates to supporting…
A grand bargain?
After a long hiatus, Iran is again sitting across the table from the P5+1 (Germany) in Almaty for talks covering its nuclear programme plus related issues. Both sides have dampened…
Smart move on the eve of election
The internal Monetary Policy Committee of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was unanimous in its decision for keeping the discount rate unchanged and the Board conveniently approved that stance. The…
