Dear Readers, Since that fateful day on 9/11 when the USA came under terrorist attack, Pakistan has come to be regarded by many nations as the epicenter of terrorist activity committed in the name of Islam. While this is not entirely true, we have given space and opportunity to extremists and terrorists to prosper. Many…
Energy Crisis The following letter was sent to the then PM S.Y.R. Gillani which seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. Maybe the PM in the making Mian Nawaz Sharif might happen to read it and take the measures suggested to deliver what he and his younger brother have been promising to the nation: Col….
Terrorist Activities in Pakistan Suicide BombingsA policeman and two women were killed and 27 others injured as a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into Domail Police Station in Bannu city of same District at 5:00am on May 8. Officials said the bomber drove the car through the densely populated area before hitting the Police…
Twice Mian Nawaz Sharif was unjustifiably stopped from completing his stipulated term as PM, he has now taken oath of office again. Acquiring a “heavy mandate” in his 1997 comeback, Mian Sahib proceeded to do all the things he should not have, mostly getting rid of anybody who he thought stood in his way to…
While thankfully Imran Khan’s injury was not life threatening, it has immobilized him for the time being. One should be grateful that it was an accident rather than a security incident. However security guards were involved, therefore one must look at all the aspects of personal protection afresh, particularly when it involves the security and…
An imperfect electoral exercise copied from western models our democracy has very little relevance to the local environment or the “genius of the people”. The “first past the post system” does not ascertain the real majority, the “run-off” measure does. Negating “proportional representation” bedevils good governance. PML (N) obtained 14.9 million votes in 2013, 32%…
Kashmir issue is on the agenda of the UN. Entire world, including India, acknowledges it as a dispute. However, Kashmir cause has not been able to attract required level of continuous sympathy at the international level. Nevertheless, there have all along been sporadic breezes of freshness through isolated efforts of Kashmiri and Pakistani diaspora. One…
Despite fears of disruption and cancellation, General Elections in Pakistan has finally taken place as scheduled on 11 May 2013. Yes, there were sporadic violence, reports of vote tampering and attempts to disrupt the polls through use of force but in the given charged environment the domestic and international verdict initially was that these have…
Pakistan’s security objective places a heavy requirement on maintaining a consistent level of defense spending. The newly elected government will have a lot on its plate when dealing with the budgetary and the financial condition of the economy of the country. Presently the economy is on life-support even if all the indicators are turned around…
My married life of 63 years was replete with love, warmth, trust and grace. How can I forget, even for a moment, the years spent in my wife’s company; twinkling before my eyes like the soothing rays of the full moon. For all those she met, she was a flower of courtesy, free from narrow…
