The towers of silence
These are the sacrosanct principles of justice without which rule of law cannot prevail. But on June 24 when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced from the floor of the National…
Municipal self-governance
In Pakistan, the poor are subjected to heavy and cruel taxation to finance the luxuries of militro-judicial-civil complex and politicians - who enjoy free or concessional perquisites, benefits, including expensive…
Cry, Lyari, cry
For the past several years now, Lyari has existed as a living tragedy and a festering wound of Karachi – the country’s commercial and financial capital. It is a place…
Treason trial
On June 3, in my column entitled ‘Know your worth, General’, I had suggested that the prime minister follow the instructions given by the Supreme Court and advise the attorney…
Our ‘historical’ obsession
Pakistan seems to have become fertile ground for creating history. In March this year, for the first time in the country’s history, popularly elected national and provincial legislatures completed their…
Criminals in politics
After every general election the press publishes statistics of persons facing grave criminal charges who were elected to parliament and to the state assemblies. In one state, nearly half of…
The finest diplomat and the passionate rebel
"I've lived my life. I have so much to be grateful for and I have no regrets," said Abbas Haider Zaidi a few weeks back when my family and I…
The railways as a metaphor
A Fortnight or so ago, the New York Times ran a long front-page piece on Pakistan Railways (PR) by its Pakistan bureau chief, Declan Walsh. Declan, a good friend and…
Tax proposals – II
Initial developmental efforts are generally marked by inflationary tendencies in an economy. Inflation, if uncontrolled, may thwart all development plans and bring misery to the poor. A reasonable degree of…
Tax proposals – II
Initial developmental efforts are generally marked by inflationary tendencies in an economy. Inflation, if uncontrolled, may thwart all development plans and bring misery to the poor. A reasonable degree of…
