Unmanned Combat Aerial vehicles more commonly known by their innocent sounding nomenclature “drones” have ultimately come under the UN scrutiny. For the first time, the UN General Assembly has pronounced itself on the ever-increasing use of armed drones in the pursuit of ‘war on terror’. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has unanimously passed a…
The Qatar’s Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDP&S) forecasted that growth of real gross domestic product (GDP) during the current fiscal year would grow by 5.3 percent. Different Qatar’s official figures suggest that over the past six years, its economy grew over five times in size during 2002 to 2008, at an average annual…
What a travesty that the prime beneficiary of Ms. Benazir Bhutto’s murder should shed crocodile tears on her death anniversary and call former President Pervez Musharraf a “Billa” (tomcat). While one could disagree with Pervez Musharraf on any number of counts (including the NRO that permitted Zardari another go at Pakistan’s treasure chest), Musharraf is…
To trace the origins of insecurity in Pakistan we must study both the natural and contrived deficiencies in our social, political and economic sectors. Ethnic and religious strife have not only morphed but become further complicated by ruthless terrorist activity. Unfortunately partisan and parochial viewpoints from both sides of the spectrum tend to be counter-productive…
No Army in the world can stand by and tolerate continuing bad or criminal governance or both. The application of the doctrine of necessity does become necessary sometimes in unambiguous circumstances of “clear and present danger” to the existence of the State, it goes wrong when those that apply it forget that their role is…
Terrorist Activities in Pakistan Suicide BombingsFour persons, including a Sub-Inspector (SI), were killed while 13 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a sectarian attack outside an Imambargah (Shia place of commemoration) in Gracy Line area near airport in Rawalpindi District on December 17, reported The News. At least five soldiers…
After weeks of intense speculation in the media, two senior army officers were appointed as Chief of’ Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee on the recommendation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Nov 27. Career infantry officer Lt Gen Raheel Sharif was appointed as the new COAS of the Pakistan Army and…
Sectarian violence has caught the nation by its throat. This coupled with proliferation of lethal weapons, poor investigative skills, marginal forensic capacities and coerced lower judiciary makes a sure recipe for a quagmire from which nation may not be able to come out unscathed, and for quite some time. Professional incompetence that brought situation to…
China’s Communist Party (CPC) leaders in 18th Central Committee “Third Plenum” announced diversified revolutionary reforms titled “Decision on Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reforms”. It covers 16 areas and 60 individual items. It is the new China national character which creates new chapter in its socio-economic prosperity. It reflects China’s national determination to remove all…
“Moreover, I came to realize that the idea of an Islamic state was completely historically fabricated. There is no authentic sharia basis for that claim [of Islamic state]”. By Syafii Maarif Chairman, Muhammadiyah movement 1998-2005. AbstractSeveral faith-based Muslim organizations in the world have been transforming into more progressive socio-religious movements. What are the factors that…
