Since the inception of Pakistan, Islamic modernists such as Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan have had their ideas selectively reinterpreted by the state.
Published17 Nov, 202409:15am
Manichaean dualism, an ancient belief in the eternal struggle between good and evil, shapes many modern populist narratives.
Updated10 Nov, 202411:05am
The anarchic and emotional brand of politics that the PTI has been engaging in is an attempt at barnstorming the mainstream political arena from the outside.
Published03 Nov, 202409:11am
In the age of fake news and its proliferation on social media, very serious societal issues can become trivialised by the unwarranted anger of "useful idiots", who end up harming the cause more than helping it.
Published27 Oct, 202409:21am
While police forces across the globe are now better equipped to manage and contain riots without causing casualties, they claim to have become more vulnerable themselves and are still largely perceived as ‘aggressors’ in such encounters.
Published20 Oct, 202408:39am
Incidents of violence and killings in the name of religion in Sindh are the remnants of a state-sponsored project that is no longer in play.
Updated06 Oct, 202410:22am
Some are accusing Pakistan’s judiciary of becoming overtly politicised and ‘intolerant’ towards parliament, while others are alleging the ruling coalition is undermining the judiciary’s independence.
Published29 Sep, 202408:05am
The stupidity of many politicians, billionaire entrepreneurs and social media activists today stems from a conceptual failure to understand and read certain circumstances.
Updated22 Sep, 202409:50am
National narratives are not necessarily shaped by victors but more so by those in power and those who have amassed a large following.
Updated08 Sep, 202411:26am
The mid-to-late 20th century archetype of the "angry young man" that dominated popular media has now been replaced by a culture where everyone is in constant outrage.
Updated01 Sep, 202401:10pm
Ever since his ouster, Imran Khan has desperately tried to foster a narrative built on fear-mongering, with respect to the future of Pakistan.
Updated25 Aug, 202410:00am
Although far-right groups in the UK have initiated hostile attacks against Muslims for decades, could the recent "race riots" prove to be a tipping point for both the rioters and Muslims in Britain?
Updated18 Aug, 202409:55am
Throughout history, demagogues and political opportunists have used mirror arguments to project their own desires or plans on to their opponents.
Updated11 Aug, 202412:03pm
While Pakistan’s Constitution was formulated with the intention of shaping a collective identity by mediating between varied ethnic groups, it now faces existential challenges as some judges seek revolutionary roles.
Updated04 Aug, 202401:07pm
Polarisation, rather than being a healthy challenge to political and cultural homogenisation, now only fuels anger and extremism between opposing groups.
Published28 Jul, 202408:59am
Self-styled “liberals" and “progressives" in Pakistan have, for decades, inadvertently advanced causes and agendas that have run contrary to their ideals.
Published21 Jul, 202407:59am
Consumer brands often try to capitalise on the prevailing zeitgeist to try and remain relevant in the minds of their target audience.
Updated14 Jul, 202410:40am
Bartel’s concept of ‘liberal confusion’, if put in the context of PTI’s liberal and moderate supporters, can mean their absurdist justification of the party’s illiberal stances.
Updated07 Jul, 202411:05am
