Author Archives: A.G Noorani
18th May, 2013
An assembly silenced
KASHMIR’S chief minister, Omar Abdullah, successfully foiled repeated attempts in Kashmir’s legislative assembly to discuss Afzal Guru’s case. In this, as on much else, he obediently followed his father’s line.
KASHMIR’S chief minister, Omar Abdullah, successfully foiled repeated attempts in Kashmir’s legislative assembly to discuss Afzal Guru’s case. In this, as on much else, he obediently followed his father’s line.
4th May, 2013
The law and editors
THE law lags behind public opinion and public opinion lags behind social necessities. The soundness of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ warning is felt acutely in the law concerning the press.
THE law lags behind public opinion and public opinion lags behind social necessities. The soundness of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ warning is felt acutely in the law concerning the press.
27th April, 2013
Party vs government
IN India the established principles of the parliamentary system governing the relationship between the ruling party and its government in power have been subjected to great stress.
IN India the established principles of the parliamentary system governing the relationship between the ruling party and its government in power have been subjected to great stress.
20th April, 2013
A common goal
ON a recent visit to Pakistan, a controversy surrounding the renaming of a roundabout in Lahore after Bhagat Singh caught my attention, not least because the freedom fighter was the subject of a book I had authored.
ON a recent visit to Pakistan, a controversy surrounding the renaming of a roundabout in Lahore after Bhagat Singh caught my attention, not least because the freedom fighter was the subject of a book I had authored.
13th April, 2013
Suppressed reports
GOVERNMENTS set up inquiries to allay public disquiet; whether over a financial scandal, a case of ministerial corruption or a military disaster.
GOVERNMENTS set up inquiries to allay public disquiet; whether over a financial scandal, a case of ministerial corruption or a military disaster.
6th April, 2013
Caretakers’ mandate
THE concept of a caretaker government to run the country during the elections is now firmly rooted in the constitutional practice of the parliamentary system.
THE concept of a caretaker government to run the country during the elections is now firmly rooted in the constitutional practice of the parliamentary system.
30th March, 2013
Reality and rhetoric
“A SOPHISTICATED rhetorician inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity.” Disraeli’s famous description of his opponent Gladstone, on July 27, 1878, has been justly applied to leaders who imagine that
“A SOPHISTICATED rhetorician inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity.” Disraeli’s famous description of his opponent Gladstone, on July 27, 1878, has been justly applied to leaders who imagine that
23rd March, 2013
State property concerns
“CAN governments’ dealings with the assets and properties vested in it [government property] give rise to a claim that such dealings violate fundamental rights?
“CAN governments’ dealings with the assets and properties vested in it [government property] give rise to a claim that such dealings violate fundamental rights?
9th March, 2013
A federal council
IN Pakistan and in India the trend towards increase of power by the federation has been reversed. It is now unmistakably towards greater power for the federating provinces or states. This is a result of political changes
IN Pakistan and in India the trend towards increase of power by the federation has been reversed. It is now unmistakably towards greater power for the federating provinces or states. This is a result of political changes
2nd March, 2013
Russia’s rise
OBSESSED as it is by “the rise of China”, the United States has been rather indifferent to the steady deterioration of its relations with Russia.
OBSESSED as it is by “the rise of China”, the United States has been rather indifferent to the steady deterioration of its relations with Russia.
23rd February, 2013
A reprehensible act
THE sheer folly of executing Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail in Delhi on Feb 9 was well described by an ambitious former intelligence chief: “It has the potential to take the valley several years back.” He said, “I was not
THE sheer folly of executing Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail in Delhi on Feb 9 was well described by an ambitious former intelligence chief: “It has the potential to take the valley several years back.” He said, “I was not
16th February, 2013
Siachen: glacial speed
THE Siachen dispute has exacted a toll. A study by Dr Ghulam Rasul of the Pakistan Meteorological Department entitled Climate Data and Modelling Analysis of the Indus Ecoregion warns that the Siachen
THE Siachen dispute has exacted a toll. A study by Dr Ghulam Rasul of the Pakistan Meteorological Department entitled Climate Data and Modelling Analysis of the Indus Ecoregion warns that the Siachen
9th February, 2013
Ministers are trustees
THE law has developed unforeseen strength to correct a wayward state and punish its minions, the ministers. The law on both is distinct and separate, albeit related.
THE law has developed unforeseen strength to correct a wayward state and punish its minions, the ministers. The law on both is distinct and separate, albeit related.
2nd February, 2013
Spurned and respected
UNLIKE Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, there is not one political leader who can claim to be “the sole spokesman of the Kashmiris” today. Syed Ali Shah Geelani realised that when, a few years ago at the height of
UNLIKE Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, there is not one political leader who can claim to be “the sole spokesman of the Kashmiris” today. Syed Ali Shah Geelani realised that when, a few years ago at the height of
19th January, 2013
Mirwaiz in Pakistan
THE Pakistani government invited the leaders of both factions of the Hurriyat in Indian Kashmir to visit because it wanted to know the nuances of the political situation there and also to reaffirm its locus standi in
THE Pakistani government invited the leaders of both factions of the Hurriyat in Indian Kashmir to visit because it wanted to know the nuances of the political situation there and also to reaffirm its locus standi in
12th January, 2013
Controversial powers
AN obscenity not repelled at the very moment of its occurrence gains willing acceptance if it is allowed to persist for long. Three democracies in South Asia — Pakistan, India and Bangladesh — are the only ones in the
AN obscenity not repelled at the very moment of its occurrence gains willing acceptance if it is allowed to persist for long. Three democracies in South Asia — Pakistan, India and Bangladesh — are the only ones in the
5th January, 2013
Politicians’ influence
THE brutal gang-rape and torture of “Nirbhaya”, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in New Delhi on Dec 16 led to spontaneous countrywide demonstrations of a kind never seen before. The young woman died in a
THE brutal gang-rape and torture of “Nirbhaya”, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in New Delhi on Dec 16 led to spontaneous countrywide demonstrations of a kind never seen before. The young woman died in a
29th December, 2012
Narendra Modi and India
RESULTS of the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat were long awaited because Chief Minister Narendra Modi had acquired considerable notoriety over the last decade. He had presided over the pogrom of
RESULTS of the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat were long awaited because Chief Minister Narendra Modi had acquired considerable notoriety over the last decade. He had presided over the pogrom of
22nd December, 2012
Bribes for foreigners
“EACH of you, in doing what you did, helped secure an important contract which benefited, financially, society as a whole; but the ends never justify the means,” an English judge remarked in January 1978.
“EACH of you, in doing what you did, helped secure an important contract which benefited, financially, society as a whole; but the ends never justify the means,” an English judge remarked in January 1978.
15th December, 2012
Norms of press freedom
“A RESPONSIBLE press is an undoubtedly desirable goal; but press responsibility is not mandated by the constitution, and like many other virtues, it cannot be legislated,” Chief Justice Warren Burger of the US
“A RESPONSIBLE press is an undoubtedly desirable goal; but press responsibility is not mandated by the constitution, and like many other virtues, it cannot be legislated,” Chief Justice Warren Burger of the US
