Author Archives: Razeshta Sethna
20th April, 2013
Will you vote next month?
Political observers note that the integrity of the voting exercise is better presented for this election leading to increased voter confidence.
Political observers note that the integrity of the voting exercise is better presented for this election leading to increased voter confidence.
18th April, 2013
Women vote: a male contest
Ten million unregistered women voters, according to FAFEN, is a glaring instance of gender disparity.
Ten million unregistered women voters, according to FAFEN, is a glaring instance of gender disparity.
21st March, 2013
All in the family
BILAWAL Bhutto Zardari was 19 when he was named the chairperson of Pakistan’s largest political party. Bilawal’s natural political progression — not uncommon for a…
BILAWAL Bhutto Zardari was 19 when he was named the chairperson of Pakistan’s largest political party. Bilawal’s natural political progression — not uncommon for a…
17th March, 2013
Book review: The Blind Man’s Garden
The Blind Man’s Garden explores the aftermath of conflict through the lives of ordinary people who become victims of an ugly war that uproots their happiness.
The Blind Man’s Garden explores the aftermath of conflict through the lives of ordinary people who become victims of an ugly war that uproots their happiness.
8th March, 2013
Invisible victims
GHULAM Dastagir, an FIA constable and father of six, was shot dead during a police operation in Karachi. He had gone to pray at a neighbourhood mosque. His family never saw him alive again.
GHULAM Dastagir, an FIA constable and father of six, was shot dead during a police operation in Karachi. He had gone to pray at a neighbourhood mosque. His family never saw him alive again.
14th January, 2013
Our sleeping avengers
THE news today may bring you to the edge of your seat, but apathy to the violence that endures may soon take over, given the general societal attitude.
THE news today may bring you to the edge of your seat, but apathy to the violence that endures may soon take over, given the general societal attitude.
6th January, 2013
Book review: Voices from Libya
Sandstorm is fast-paced, descriptive and held together by interviews with ordinary people, rebels, government officials, and young activists.
Sandstorm is fast-paced, descriptive and held together by interviews with ordinary people, rebels, government officials, and young activists.
13th November, 2012
Portraits from the frontline
THE wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have compelled female soldiers to silently change the military culture on the battlefield.
THE wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have compelled female soldiers to silently change the military culture on the battlefield.
30th August, 2012
Injustice from all quarters
THE case of a teenaged girl, allegedly gang-raped by police officials earlier this month in Mansehra, was not an isolated incident. There have been others where law-enforcing agencies were accused of having been involved
THE case of a teenaged girl, allegedly gang-raped by police officials earlier this month in Mansehra, was not an isolated incident. There have been others where law-enforcing agencies were accused of having been involved
9th July, 2012
Afghan women fight for future
AT Kabul University, female students mingle with male colleagues near beige-shaded faculty blocks; the perfume of roses wafting through the air. They take pride in their education, not wanting to live under a
AT Kabul University, female students mingle with male colleagues near beige-shaded faculty blocks; the perfume of roses wafting through the air. They take pride in their education, not wanting to live under a
13th June, 2012
Into the future: Afghanistan’s security post-2014
Mohammad Naseer at 29 is an Afghan veteran commander who began his career as a foot soldier with Ahmed Shah Masood’s Northern Alliance. At 18, he shook hands with Masood at an inspection line-up in the Panjshir Valley, north of Kabul
Mohammad Naseer at 29 is an Afghan veteran commander who began his career as a foot soldier with Ahmed Shah Masood’s Northern Alliance. At 18, he shook hands with Masood at an inspection line-up in the Panjshir Valley, north of Kabul
17th April, 2012
Before the Afghan drawdown
IN a series of brazen attacks in Afghanistan on Sunday, the Afghan Taliban attacked key Nato bases, embassies, parliament and government buildings in Kabul and three eastern provinces, stoking fears of stalemate in any peace negotiations.
IN a series of brazen attacks in Afghanistan on Sunday, the Afghan Taliban attacked key Nato bases, embassies, parliament and government buildings in Kabul and three eastern provinces, stoking fears of stalemate in any peace negotiations.
8th March, 2012
The long road ahead
MS A must be 40-something. Beaten, stripped and paraded naked, she was kidnapped from a village in Punjab’s Muzaffargarh district last weekend as punishment because her nephew married a woman of his choice from a
MS A must be 40-something. Beaten, stripped and paraded naked, she was kidnapped from a village in Punjab’s Muzaffargarh district last weekend as punishment because her nephew married a woman of his choice from a
5th February, 2012
Pro-women legislation
A THOMAS Reuters Foundation poll of gender specialists reported that Afghanistan in 2011 was the world’s most dangerous country in which to be a woman, due to poverty, poor healthcare and harmful cultural
A THOMAS Reuters Foundation poll of gender specialists reported that Afghanistan in 2011 was the world’s most dangerous country in which to be a woman, due to poverty, poor healthcare and harmful cultural
13th December, 2011
Hard lessons not learnt
THE last 10 years have witnessed the economic cost of wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan soar to around
THE last 10 years have witnessed the economic cost of wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan soar to around
4th December, 2011
Pakistani prisoners at Bagram wait for justice
MORE than 2,400 prisoners, including about 30 Pakistanis, have been in Afghanistan’s Bagram prison for the last decade, the US Joint Task Force 435, the military unit in charge of the jail, has revealed.
MORE than 2,400 prisoners, including about 30 Pakistanis, have been in Afghanistan’s Bagram prison for the last decade, the US Joint Task Force 435, the military unit in charge of the jail, has revealed.
17th November, 2011
Onwards to 2013
POLLS are supposed to be held in early 2013 but certain political parties for reasons known have hit the pre-campaign trail, capturing supporters in key constituencies
POLLS are supposed to be held in early 2013 but certain political parties for reasons known have hit the pre-campaign trail, capturing supporters in key constituencies
