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To forgive is divine – Mir Jamilur Rahman
In 60 years of Pakistan’s life four army chiefs have staged successful coups occupying the country for different spans ranging from three to 11 years. The first coup-maker, Ayub Khan, left the high chair in the face of rising agitation and Yahya Khan’s ambitions. The second coup-maker, Yahya [...]
Lessons in disaster – Anjum Niaz
The writer is a freelance journalist with over twenty years of experience in national and international reporting
Will Obama and Zardari face failure should there be a clash between COIN and COTE? The naysayer – from military intelligence spooks down to doctoral candidates and research fellows in prestigious Washington think-tanks; from [...]
Self-propelled revival effort – Masood Sharif Khan Khattak
Rather than each passing day bringing some relief to a starved nation all essential aspects of Pakistani national life remain in a retrogressive motion with no end to the sufferings of the teeming millions in sight. It is time that Pakistan truly started believing in itself and began [...]
It’s ultimately the citizens – Roedad Khan
In Pakistan, as in all federations, the Supreme Court plays a crucial role. It is the sole and unique tribunal of the nation. The peace, prosperity, and very existence of the federation rest continually in the hands of Supreme Court judges. Without them, the constitution would be a dead [...]
A visit to America – Zafar Hilaly
Just as everyone was wondering what exactly Mr Zardari had achieved during his six-day sojourn in America, Farhatullah Babar came to our rescue and told us, in a long press release, “the six tangible achievements” of the visit. Unfortunately, he quickly lost his claim to our attention when he [...]
Kerry-Lugar Bill: the fruition of 62 years – Mosharraf Zaidi
$1.5 billion a year does not measure up well against the per capita assistance that Uncle Sam has provided for countries like Jordan, Georgia, Egypt and Israel. Nevertheless, America’s friendship with Pakistan is entering a new and exciting phase. The Kerry-Lugar Bill signals a dramatic shift [...]
Equinox and paradox —William B Milam
It is important to recognise that the US remains a cohesive and vibrant society at the micro level, very unlikely to unravel. That could imply that, sooner or later, the macro level, with strong visionary leadership, will begin to knit up also
Fall seems to have come again this [...]
Accounting for Gaza —Mary Robinson
For the sake of human rights and peace in the region, my hope is that the international community will bear witness to these circumstances, consider Judge Goldstone’s report in its entirety and press for accountability for the most serious crimes
This week the United Nations Human Rights Council will debate the [...]
Tax troubles —Dr Manzur Ejaz
With taxable classes not paying, indirect taxes have been used to skim people who are least capable of paying anything to the government. Even then, the gap remains wide and ruling elites travel the world to beg, borrow, steal or blackmail
Imagine: Fairfax County of Virginia, the second richest county in [...]
Reflections on the media —Munir Attaullah
For optimum results, we need to make rational assessments in the present, not ruefully lament much later having been misled by attractive slogans, hypothetical promises, and alluring equivocation
And be these juggling fiends no more believ’d,
That palter with us in a double sense;
Win us with honest trifles, to betray us
In [...]