PPPP and Punjab
President Zardari has moved into Bahria Town's reportedly one billion rupee palace constructed specially for him on Friday. He was accompanied by his son and co-chairman of the party Bilawal…
The hoopla on 62 and 63
Articles 62 and 63 of Pakistan’s constitution is the new proverbial hydra of Pakistan’s multifaceted internal challenges. Introduced into the constitution by the now much-reviled Ziaul Haq, the articles call…
Branding developmentalism?
The recent Pildat-Gallup poll showed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf's Acceptability Gap - measured by the difference between voting intention and hostility - is positive in all eight (out of the total…
Everything’s almost free in Spain’s parallel barter economy
It can be argued that extra-judicial interventions first by Ghulam Mohammad as Governor General in 1951 and later by military regimes and disregard of the Constitution - facilitated by either…
Latin America goes quiet without Chavez, Castro, Lula
With the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Latin America has lost the last of its high-profile charismatic leaders of recent years, and it remains to be seen whether it…
Has Admiral Fasih now changed?
It was back in the days when the lawyers' movement for the rule of law was at its zenith. On the 9th of March, 2007, a word of 'No' uttered…
Corruption case rocks foundations of Spain’s monarchy
After nearly four decades in power, Spain's King Juan Carlos is being drawn into a corruption scandal rocking the foundations of the monarchy. An investigating judge Saturday questioned Inaki Urdangarin,…
In search of hope
Is the ideological scrutiny of our future lawmakers largely a reflection on the existing religiosity in Pakistani society or an indication of the inefficacy and lack of capacity permeating most…
Rent-seeking and governance
There is no denying the penetration of rent-seeking in the country. It is reflected in multiple forms and manifestations. The elite ie landlords, industrialists, top civil and military bureaucracy are…
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'.…
