An icon of the left: Part – I
Those who believe in progressive ideas are leaving us in quick succession. Rahat Saeed – one of the founders of the Irtiqa literary journal and a prominent mobilizer and trade…
Beyond the 26th Amendment
The 26th Amendment to the Constitution has sparked a range of reactions, receiving both criticism and acclaim. Critics argue that the amendment compromises the judiciary’s independence. The Secretary-General of the…
C Africa urges lifting of embargo on diamond exports
The Central African Republic (CAR) sought Tuesday to convince the regulatory body for global diamond trading to lift all restrictions against it, ending an export embargo in place for more…
Political turmoil & reset for unity
As one of nine nuclear-armed states of the world, Pakistan plays a significant role in regional geopolitics. However, consistently plagued by political instability, it has been facing multiple challenges on…
A hollow victory
After much huffing and puffing during the last few days if not weeks, the government has finally managed to get the 26th Amendment to the Constitution passed by both houses…
Moment of truth
“ALL authoritarian regimes encounter resistance to their rule in one form or another, and all respond with a mixture of repression and co-optation,” wrote Francis Fukuyama in his 2014 magnum…
Renewing democracy
FOLLOWING Liaquat Ali Khan’s assassination in 1951, Pakistan witnessed a carousel of prime ministers, with six leaders in seven years, each serving an average term of 14 months. The wobbly…
The Bangladesh story
BANGLADESH is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Once called a “basket case” by Henry Kissinger, it is now considered as a role model. Bangladesh’s national income has multiplied 50 times, per…
A fitting metaphor for Gaza
MADELEINE Albright once appeared for an interview for CBS 60 Minutes with Lesley Stahl. She was asked about the tragic effect of US sanctions on Iraqi children. “We have heard…
National purpose
A COUNTRY aspiring to rise within the comity of nations needs a clear national purpose, pursued by visionary leadership, predicated on a long-term plan, and overseen by rigorous accountability mechanisms.…
