Author Archives: I.A Rehman
3 days ago
More sweet than sour
EVEN after making allowances for the controversy over irregularities in polling at a number of places, the May 11 election marks a step forward in the Pakistanis’ quest for a democratic order.
EVEN after making allowances for the controversy over irregularities in polling at a number of places, the May 11 election marks a step forward in the Pakistanis’ quest for a democratic order.
9th May, 2013
Ominous signs
THE day after tomorrow the people of Pakistan are likely to learn once again, among other things, the futility of efforts to establish a democratic order without efficient, democratic party apparatuses.
THE day after tomorrow the people of Pakistan are likely to learn once again, among other things, the futility of efforts to establish a democratic order without efficient, democratic party apparatuses.
2nd May, 2013
Democracy under attack
QUITE a few observers have declared that the 2013 elections have already been subverted. Worse, the ostriches in command have buried their little heads in the sand.
QUITE a few observers have declared that the 2013 elections have already been subverted. Worse, the ostriches in command have buried their little heads in the sand.
25th April, 2013
Spare Islam and Iqbal
GEN Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s warning against separating Islam from Pakistan’s polity or politics should not surprise anyone because Islam has been used as a battle cry by almost all Muslim warriors across the globe
GEN Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s warning against separating Islam from Pakistan’s polity or politics should not surprise anyone because Islam has been used as a battle cry by almost all Muslim warriors across the globe
18th April, 2013
Aggressive discrimination
IN the mad race for power that has affected participants and spectators alike nobody seems to be bothered about the havoc being wrought by intolerance-driven violence.
IN the mad race for power that has affected participants and spectators alike nobody seems to be bothered about the havoc being wrought by intolerance-driven violence.
11th April, 2013
Individual vs the system
THE emphasis a new generation of puritans is placing on the personal qualities of candidates for elective offices has revived the debate on what matters more in politics — the individual or the system?
THE emphasis a new generation of puritans is placing on the personal qualities of candidates for elective offices has revived the debate on what matters more in politics — the individual or the system?
4th April, 2013
US curriculum aid?
THE enterprise for which some Pakistani officials and religious scholars are reported to have joined hands with US experts, namely, production of a model curriculum for madressahs, is unlikely to go unchallenged.
THE enterprise for which some Pakistani officials and religious scholars are reported to have joined hands with US experts, namely, production of a model curriculum for madressahs, is unlikely to go unchallenged.
28th March, 2013
Politics minus culture
THE extended exercise to select a caretaker prime minister has shown that the price Pakistan is paying for its lack of a culture of democratic politics is much greater than is generally realised.
THE extended exercise to select a caretaker prime minister has shown that the price Pakistan is paying for its lack of a culture of democratic politics is much greater than is generally realised.
21st March, 2013
Mengal’s warning
SARDAR Akhtar Mengal’s declaration that the forthcoming election will not settle matters in strife-torn Balochistan must be taken seriously by all those who have any say in the affairs of the state.
SARDAR Akhtar Mengal’s declaration that the forthcoming election will not settle matters in strife-torn Balochistan must be taken seriously by all those who have any say in the affairs of the state.
14th March, 2013
The fatal disorder
“If Pakistan is to develop as a democratic and progressive state, sectarian activities must be put down with firmness; otherwise Pakistan will become a mediaeval and reactionary state.
“If Pakistan is to develop as a democratic and progressive state, sectarian activities must be put down with firmness; otherwise Pakistan will become a mediaeval and reactionary state.
7th March, 2013
Extremists’ threat to polls
DOUBTS about the 2013 general election being held at all are likely to be entertained till the ballots are actually cast, but a more worrisome question is as to what kind of election it is going to be.
DOUBTS about the 2013 general election being held at all are likely to be entertained till the ballots are actually cast, but a more worrisome question is as to what kind of election it is going to be.
28th February, 2013
Life and literature
FOR five days in the month that ends today a fairly large number of Pakistanis had the opportunity of looking at themselves through the glasses of quite a few worthy chroniclers of the human condition.
FOR five days in the month that ends today a fairly large number of Pakistanis had the opportunity of looking at themselves through the glasses of quite a few worthy chroniclers of the human condition.
21st February, 2013
Costly appeasement
THE past week has left the Pakistanis grappling with two serious issues: they cannot protect the Hazara Shias of Quetta, nor can they resist the armed extremists. The result of the failure to resolve these issues cannot be
THE past week has left the Pakistanis grappling with two serious issues: they cannot protect the Hazara Shias of Quetta, nor can they resist the armed extremists. The result of the failure to resolve these issues cannot be
14th February, 2013
Sectarian threat to polls
THE brutal killing of a leading lawyer in Peshawar last Friday, apparently for his belief, should awaken everyone who wields any authority in Pakistan to the dangerous consequences of the continued failure to address the root causes
THE brutal killing of a leading lawyer in Peshawar last Friday, apparently for his belief, should awaken everyone who wields any authority in Pakistan to the dangerous consequences of the continued failure to address the root causes
7th February, 2013
No wrong turn now
IT is time the pernicious idea of giving a few years’ contract to some caretakers to clean up Pakistan’s rotten-egg politics and put the affairs of the state in order was buried as deep as possible.
IT is time the pernicious idea of giving a few years’ contract to some caretakers to clean up Pakistan’s rotten-egg politics and put the affairs of the state in order was buried as deep as possible.
31st January, 2013
Mischief is afoot
THE ungainly and unnecessary controversies over arrangements for the general election and the arguments being advanced by the various actors bode ill for Pakistan’s fitful experiment with democratic governance.
THE ungainly and unnecessary controversies over arrangements for the general election and the arguments being advanced by the various actors bode ill for Pakistan’s fitful experiment with democratic governance.
24th January, 2013
Ties with India
PREOCCUPATION with domestic issues over the past few weeks should not have prevented Pakistan’s policymakers and informed sections of society from taking note of the dangerous events along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
PREOCCUPATION with domestic issues over the past few weeks should not have prevented Pakistan’s policymakers and informed sections of society from taking note of the dangerous events along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
17th January, 2013
In a blind alley
THE state of Pakistan has been pushed into a blind alley and it is at the same time under attack from hardliners of more than one brand. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds for the people although it is unlikely
THE state of Pakistan has been pushed into a blind alley and it is at the same time under attack from hardliners of more than one brand. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds for the people although it is unlikely
10th January, 2013
The democrats’ duty
WHILE the decision by quite a few parties to take a common stand against those who are obviously out to scuttle the boat of democracy is something to be welcomed, it is time the advocates of the electoral system also put their own houses in order.
WHILE the decision by quite a few parties to take a common stand against those who are obviously out to scuttle the boat of democracy is something to be welcomed, it is time the advocates of the electoral system also put their own houses in order.
3rd January, 2013
The real challenge
THE most critical challenge Pakistan faces in 2013 is the test of the 65-year-old Pakistani nation’s capacity to ensure a credible general election and a normal transfer of authority to the parties/coalitions commanding
THE most critical challenge Pakistan faces in 2013 is the test of the 65-year-old Pakistani nation’s capacity to ensure a credible general election and a normal transfer of authority to the parties/coalitions commanding
