Politics of alliances
Debasing democracy in the name of democracy Elections due to be announced in less than two months, mahazes (fronts) and alliances of different hues and colours are being formed or reactivated. Some of them…
So, no (judicial) martial law
But what about political engineering? Despite elections being round the corner, thick clouds of uncertainty engulf the entire political spectrum. There are quite a few doubting Thomases and naysayers who believe they…
Dire straits
A bailout in the offing? The second unannounced devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee in the last four months is clearly symptomatic of an economy in dire straits. Unsurprisingly economic pundits are predicting…
Democracy or “ true democracy?”
Countdown to general elections Despite past the first goalpost the democratic system remains fragile. Theoretically only two months away from the holding of general elections, a pervasive sense of uncertainty pervades. It…
The victim syndrome
Time to outgrow it ‘We are the victim of terrorism rather than its perpetrator, ‘has been the consistent mantra of our officialdom in the face of being accused of just the opposite.…
Sharif’s double whammy
More to come By debarring Nawaz Sharif from heading his own party, the judges of the apex court have thrown another spanner in the works. In a rather unusual manner – unprecedented…
Sharif’s recent upsurge
A pyrrhic victory? Despite being a disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seems to be ready to throw down the gauntlet. Buttressed by mammoth public meetings in recent weeks and decisive wins in…
Sharif’s continual recalcitrance
In the face of an assertive judiciary The PML-N’s (now ex) senator Nehal Hashmi is the first party stalwart to be convicted by the apex court under the contempt of court law.…
Washington’s harsh language
And Pakistan’s options The diplomatic spat over the first drone attack of the year apparently on a refugee camp in Kurram agency epitomizes a sharp downturn in Pak-US relations. Ties between Washington…
Who is cursed?
The parliament or the politicians? Now it is the turn of the parliament for the PTI’s (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) ire. Taking a cue from their leader Imran Khan’s fiery speech at the maverick…
The outrage in Kasur
A wake up call The national outrage over the gruesome rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, Zainab Amin, in Kasur earlier in the week has not died down. The perpetrator of…
At the receiving end of Trump
Need for cool introspection Our security and foreign policy mandarins were in for a rude shock on New Year’s Day. Finally, the mercurial and acerbic US president through a signature early morning…
The year of living dangerously
Another NRO in the offing? Whether the year 2017 was ‘annus horribilis’ for Pakistan is a moot point. But certainly, for the disqualified for life ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif it was a…
US threats, And its appended consequences
The Pakistani foreign office spokesperson has correctly pointed out the consistent failures of the Afghan government to meet internal challenges Using threats and intimidation as an instrument for pursuing its strategic and…
Democracy under fire?
Or a self-fulfilling prophecy A miasma of foreboding has engulfed the nation just like the current winter fog. A noxious air of uncertainty fueled by squabbling politicians pervades our body politics. It…
The politics of expediency
And the demise of COD The so-called Charter of Democracy (COD) signed with much fanfare in London in 2006 by two exiled politicians, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, met its natural death…
‘Double Whammy’
Extremism, bigotry and terrorism What is happening in Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Pakistan is almost surreal. The past few weeks have seen religious zealots ruling the roost on the streets of Islamabad…