Author Archives: Abbas Nasir
18th May, 2013
The rocky road ahead
A WEEK after a majority of the registered voters exercised their democratic right it is time for some reflection and to assess how the scenario will pan out.
A WEEK after a majority of the registered voters exercised their democratic right it is time for some reflection and to assess how the scenario will pan out.
13th May, 2013
About to turn the corner?
THE mandate couldn’t have been clearer. That doesn’t mean it is any less daunting than an ambiguous one would have been.
THE mandate couldn’t have been clearer. That doesn’t mean it is any less daunting than an ambiguous one would have been.
11th May, 2013
Not asking for the sky
SO the big day is here. The right thing to do is to go out and vote. Shelve scepticism for today at least. You’ll have five long years to rekindle it.
SO the big day is here. The right thing to do is to go out and vote. Shelve scepticism for today at least. You’ll have five long years to rekindle it.
4th May, 2013
Right needs wise counsel
“AL QAEDA hardly exists here,” he said, “and what are called the Taliban are [our] own tribal people. The more we kill them, the more militants we produce.”
“AL QAEDA hardly exists here,” he said, “and what are called the Taliban are [our] own tribal people. The more we kill them, the more militants we produce.”
27th April, 2013
Godless or plain sensible?
REGARDLESS of its success, for several years the army saw the defence of the country’s territorial integrity as its primary job and didn’t see itself as the guardian of its ‘ideology’.
REGARDLESS of its success, for several years the army saw the defence of the country’s territorial integrity as its primary job and didn’t see itself as the guardian of its ‘ideology’.
20th April, 2013
Let change be real
AS one watched Gen Pervez Musharraf being whisked away from an Islamabad court by his highly skilled close protection officers live on television, memories of another day were revived.
AS one watched Gen Pervez Musharraf being whisked away from an Islamabad court by his highly skilled close protection officers live on television, memories of another day were revived.
13th April, 2013
Worrying signs before polls
WHILE the major worry for those keen on seeing a level playing field remains the Taliban threat to disrupt the ANP, PPP and MQM election campaigns, an equally worrying situation exists in Balochistan.
WHILE the major worry for those keen on seeing a level playing field remains the Taliban threat to disrupt the ANP, PPP and MQM election campaigns, an equally worrying situation exists in Balochistan.
11th April, 2013
Benazir’s first victory
“Can we call you prime minister”? Ms Bhutto responded: “We can’t be that arrogant,” adding after a deliberate pause and a big smile, “yet”.
“Can we call you prime minister”? Ms Bhutto responded: “We can’t be that arrogant,” adding after a deliberate pause and a big smile, “yet”.
6th April, 2013
The need for openness
NOTHING, absolutely nothing, is beyond the pale of possibility in Pakistan. Heartbreak can come from the least expected of quarters.
NOTHING, absolutely nothing, is beyond the pale of possibility in Pakistan. Heartbreak can come from the least expected of quarters.
30th March, 2013
Politics for profit
A FRENZY of activity marked the final moments of the Sindh government’s tenure with signs of frayed nerves visible in the Chief Minister’s House and elsewhere. What did it indicate?
A FRENZY of activity marked the final moments of the Sindh government’s tenure with signs of frayed nerves visible in the Chief Minister’s House and elsewhere. What did it indicate?
23rd March, 2013
Children of a lesser god
WHEN parliamentarians were patting themselves on the back and the media was hailing a historic day, what was happening in the unfortunate city of Karachi?
WHEN parliamentarians were patting themselves on the back and the media was hailing a historic day, what was happening in the unfortunate city of Karachi?
16th March, 2013
Tough tasks ahead
WHEN the present parliament ends its term tonight, the tenure of the government will also be over and the focus will shift to the elections and then the challenges facing the new elected cabinet.
WHEN the present parliament ends its term tonight, the tenure of the government will also be over and the focus will shift to the elections and then the challenges facing the new elected cabinet.
9th March, 2013
An unenviable balance sheet
SOON it’ll be time if it isn’t already for the balance sheet of the present government’s “unprecedented”, five-year term in office to be prepared.
SOON it’ll be time if it isn’t already for the balance sheet of the present government’s “unprecedented”, five-year term in office to be prepared.
2nd March, 2013
Excise this cancer or else
RECENT events have been a reminder of what journalist Saleem Shahzad reported on May 27, 2011, even though he feared what was lurking round the corner for him.
RECENT events have been a reminder of what journalist Saleem Shahzad reported on May 27, 2011, even though he feared what was lurking round the corner for him.
23rd February, 2013
When a state is dysfunctional
WHO knows what a failed state is? Such definitions are for the academics and experts. But what one can easily ascertain is a state that is dysfunctional.
WHO knows what a failed state is? Such definitions are for the academics and experts. But what one can easily ascertain is a state that is dysfunctional.
16th February, 2013
Kashmir’s new age of dissent
WHETHER Afzal Guru’s execution was just is for the jurists and legal experts to debate and decide.
WHETHER Afzal Guru’s execution was just is for the jurists and legal experts to debate and decide.
9th February, 2013
Karachi tells a tale of shame
THE government may rightly take pride in its legislative record but its abject failure in controlling lawlessness in the country’s commercial capital may shame and haunt it for long.
THE government may rightly take pride in its legislative record but its abject failure in controlling lawlessness in the country’s commercial capital may shame and haunt it for long.
2nd February, 2013
Balochistan peace hurdles
IF Baloch nationalist leader Akhtar Mengal does return to take part in the next general election as announced, it’ll be a significant development and may help stabilise Balochistan.
IF Baloch nationalist leader Akhtar Mengal does return to take part in the next general election as announced, it’ll be a significant development and may help stabilise Balochistan.
19th January, 2013
Feeble but welcome signs
TWO protests of different kinds over an eight-day period helped shape the political landscape in the country in no uncertain terms. That was the past week.
TWO protests of different kinds over an eight-day period helped shape the political landscape in the country in no uncertain terms. That was the past week.
12th January, 2013
Wish all you want
THE two indigenous long marches of the past rekindle totally different memories. So, will the third have its distinguishing features? Do you care if it does?
THE two indigenous long marches of the past rekindle totally different memories. So, will the third have its distinguishing features? Do you care if it does?
