Floods and the price of commodities
The floods are upon us again and the rural areas have again taken a hit as the production system has been adversely affected. What is to be done in the…
Historic full term
Asif Ali Zardari finally completed his term as the President. While expressing his pride over being the first president to complete his term with "honour and respect" and over his…
A martyr to the cause of Reason
The assassination of Indian anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune is an ugly black mark on society. The forces of fanatical intolerance, superstition, irrationality and social reaction which killed Dabholkar…
It must be said
Pakistan and India celebrated their 66th independence anniversary this past Wednesday and Thursday respectively. As usual, the few in both countries who do not believe that the partitioning of the…
Killing for utopia
It has now become a cliché to say: “One man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter”. But like most clichés, it contains an element of truth. In this space last week,…
Justice for the ‘disappeared’
The attorney general of Pakistan recently informed the Supreme Court that over 500 persons reported to be ‘missing’ were in the custody of security agencies. This revelation comes after security…
Permanent victimhood
Politically speaking, Malala’s gravest error was to survive the attack by the Taliban gunmen who shot her in the head on her way back from school in 2012. Had she…
Italy red-faced over deportation of Kazakh dissident family
The Italian government has been embarrassed by allegations that police illegally arrested and hastily deported to Kazakhstan the wife of an opposition leader and critic of the oil-rich regime, along…
Arab spring – Muslim autumn
The word 'spring' immediately brings to mind new growth, green trees, flowering plants, lush green lawns and pleasant breeze. Even the birds break out in song. Psychologically, you are on…
Arab spring – Muslim autumn
The word 'spring' immediately brings to mind new growth, green trees, flowering plants, lush green lawns and pleasant breeze. Even the birds break out in song. Psychologically, you are on…
