Dear Readers, The third- largest body of water containing vital sea lanes, the Indian Ocean feeds some of Asia’s largest economies and is strategically among the most important in the world. It carries more than 80 percent of the world’s seaborne trade in oil transits through its choke points but it is not just about…
Describing the May 12 Summit of 40 Heads of State and Govt alongwith important business leaders as “the biggest demonstration of the political will to address corruption”, British PM David Cameron said “I’ve really sensed today there is far more political will – not just from words but from actions – that will make a…
A recent “Pew Research Center” (PEW) survey finds the American people divided and uncertain, having mixed views about how assertive a role the U.S. should play internationally. With sharp differences about the greatest threats to the U.S. and the measures to deal with them, the 2016 US Presidential Elections may well decide the future US…
Two terms with the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s prestigious Global Agenda Council (GAC) on “Countering Terrorism” and given the nexus between corruption, organised crime and terrorism made it apparent that without interdicting or eradicating the source of funding of terrorism, this evil could never be rooted out. With my change over to GAC for “Anti-Corruption…
One must admire Mian Nawaz Sharif (MNS) about how unlike Shahbaz Sharif he managed through the years to keep his immediate family out of political sight, and thus out of public mind. Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was very effective campaigning for MNS’ freedom during his incarceration by Musharraf, once MNS was into political exile she went…
Any U.S. presidential election comes with its own surprises but the 2016 presidential race is not only drawing attention and quite a bit of controversy in the United States – it is being watched very closely all over the world. The candidates and the issues being discussed by them will have far reaching effects, not…
Trying to portray business as usual, the rich and the powerful identified in the PANAMA LEAKS are scrambling for cover across the world. The history of “Commissions” in Pakistan does not inspire confidence. Their findings have always been kept under tight wraps until being leaked (Abbottabad and Hamoodur Rahman Commission Reports). The secrecy of the Munir…
Instead of taking the high road, using the opportunity to deal pragmatically with the “Panama Leaks” explaining how and why his family’s offshore companies and accounts thereof had come into existence, PM Mian Nawaz Sharif (MNS) seriously disappointed the nation by choosing to go the “fog of politics” route. Instead of exercising good sense he…
Dear Readers, Last year the “Swiss Leaks”, a veritable “Who’s who” of over 100000 clients globally holding 30000 accounts with HSBC in Geneva revealed massive tax avoidance. Now we have the Panama Papers, a massive leak of 11.5 million files from the database of a single offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca wherein Is shown how…
Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani was so upset at Musharraf leaving the country, he asked Parliament to amend the Constitution and undo Article 6 pertaining to treason “since it had not only failed to protect the Constitution but parliament and democracy as well”. Treason is defined as either “the betrayal of one’s own country by waging…
