Usama Khilji

Legalising Big Brother

The proposed amendment will erode democratic civic space and roll back rights. Updated 12 Dec, 2024 08:48am

Lessons from Bangladesh

The power of a frustrated and informed young polity cannot be underestimated, and their struggle and idealism must not go to waste. Updated 16 Aug, 2024 10:28am

Censorship with impunity

It is important for the PTA to understand the laws and court orders that pertain to its jurisdiction. Updated 25 Mar, 2024 10:30am

Divide and rule

The ongoing blocking of X signifies an institutional breakdown in Pakistan. Updated 11 Mar, 2024 09:56am

The govt must ensure there are no internet disruptions on polling day

The uncertainty around the state of the internet itself — notwithstanding whether any disruptions take place or not — taints the process of voting and democracy. Published 08 Feb, 2024 07:07am

Why the PTA must come clean about the ‘upgrade’ causing internet disruptions

It is of utmost importance that restrictions on internet access are not taken lightly by the caretaker government, as there is an intrinsic link between democratic participation and internet access. Published 23 Jan, 2024 09:18am

The price of courage

It should not take courage to stand with the downtrodden. Nor should it take courage to call for the implementation of the law, the Constitution, and the protection of the rights it guarantees. Published 27 Aug, 2023 12:50pm

Silencing Pakistan

The amendment bill will cement Peca as Pakistan’s premier censorship law. Updated 28 Jul, 2023 08:56am

Breakdown of democracy

Will politicians ever speak the truth again if power is snatched away from them after being given to them? Updated 17 Jun, 2023 10:44am

Bulldozed in the capital

Under what moral authority can the CDA bulldoze the homes of working-class people? Published 06 May, 2023 06:57am

Pemra’s censorship

Citizens do not simply forget about an incident or subject when it is censored on TV. Updated 25 Mar, 2023 08:22am

Vicious cycle

There is no need to put people in jail merely for speaking their minds regarding state institutions. Updated 18 Feb, 2023 09:46am

Killing knowledge

There must be no legal avenue to block entire platforms like Wikipedia. Published 05 Feb, 2023 05:35am

Time to correct mistakes

In the light of the events of 2022, it is important for the rulers to commit to major improvements. Updated 31 Dec, 2022 09:04am

Supporting Iranians

The rights Iranians are fighting for are the same ones in our Constitution. Published 07 Dec, 2022 07:56am

Negotiating joy and dignity

The dignity of subjects in films that are under attack must be respected. Published 25 Nov, 2022 08:01am

Rolling back democracy

The cabinet’s nod to a controversial amendment to the FIA schedule sets an appalling example of political leaders not learning... Updated 19 Nov, 2022 09:04am

Leaking democracy

The law prohibits the kind of surveillance of government and opposition leaders that we are witnessing... Updated 15 Oct, 2022 08:12am

Failing our minorities

The issue of forced conversions of minority girl children has serious ramifications. Published 15 Sep, 2022 08:11am

Why the PTA’s move to register VPNs should concern us all

The issue with the PTA’s vision of the internet in Pakistan is that it only views it from a security and business lens, completely ignoring citizens' basic rights. Published 12 Sep, 2022 05:20pm