Supporting Moratorium on Capital Punishment

Almost 30 of the 60 ‘Islamic’ countries have abolished or have moratoriums in place.

Iftikhar Chaudhry, the saga ensues!

Ever since Iftikhar Chaudhry has been out of office, not one date has been set for hearing of the mannoo bhayl case or the missing people case or the new murre project

Terrorism Accused: Is Legal Aid Justified?

The BJP National President, Mr. Rajnath Singh’s recent statement opposing the providing of legal aid to the suspected terrorists

Rape Survivor Families Struggle Against Odds

Even the high-profile case of Mukhtaran Mai, gang-raped by locally influential people in 2002, is still pending before the Supreme Court.

Alcohol and Teenagers: A Lethal Mixture

If one can Vote and join the Army and sent to Iraq when 18, why not being able to buy a beer in the USA?

Pakistan and the Death Penalty: Time to Call it Quits

Those who are awarded capital punishment are usually “the poorest of the poor.� Most of them are illiterate and have no resources or support.

Aitzaz’s Monumental Blunder

There is all quiet in Pakistan after the lawyers’ long march. The struggle of more than one year was wasted away in matter of hours.

Please De-stabilize the System

Who are we trying to save the system from anyway? Why are we STILL sugar-coating this?

The Lucifer Effect

The only things that can truly slow the decay of our society, is to make sure the rule of law is implemented ‘equally and across the board’ to everyone.

Myths Surrounding the Lawyer’s Movement

Election data made public is quite opposite to the generally promoted perception that February 18 saw an overwhelming mandate to restore the judiciary and remove Musharraf

National Reconciliation Order

The concept of Truth and Reconciliation of Nelson Mandela cannot be offered as a parallel of pardoning the outlaws.

The ‘shoey’ Side of Politics

People had not shut their ‘shocked’ mouths at the treatment meted out to Arbab Ghulam Rahim when they saw Sher Afgan being roughed up by the black coats.

How to End Politics of Hate and Intolerance

The man behind the politics of intolerance and hate, symbol of discord rather than harmony as president of State, is responsible for present state of affairs.

Small Spies Must be Hanged , While Bigger Ones Prosper

The law is basically for the poor man. In cases of espionage official secrets act of 1923 , no politician bothered to revise this arbitrary British law.

Indian Supreme Court says- ‘Live in is marriage’

A momentous turn that will create upheavals in Indian society from bottom to top.

Making a Mockery of Democracy

Waging democracy in the spirit of revenge is the worst form of democracy. This shows the type of democracy which Benazir Bhutto’s (BB) Peoples Party wanted to enforce in Pakistan.

To Boycott or not to Boycott !

Whether its Imran Khan or Nawaz Sharif or Benazir or someone else ... whoever promises to reinstate judiciary should be voted for to stop Pro Musharraf getting 2/3rd majority.

Dispensation of Justice is the Main Pillar of Democracy

The three constitutions, framed in Pakistan, proved to be just pieces of paper; their sanctity frequently violated by the men with guns, and by those who authored and approved these documents.

Secret Life of Gays in New Delhi

On all other days, Pegs N Pints is "normal" - strictly straight. But on Tuesday evenings as the clock struck ten, queers start trickling out of their closets.

Pakistani Judges - Read This Lawyer’s Oath

One fails to understand how the growing need to associate with Mr. Jinnah leaves Musharraf little association with the ideals that the man stood for.

Pressures Mount on Pervez Musharraf

"The judges by not taking oath, the lawyers and civil society by resisting have shown the way. The media is standing by them. This is one battle the General is sure to lose"

Its Time To Follow The 'Pied Piper'

Yesterday I learnt that our own Pakistani police have taken away ‘Imran Khan’, our hero the pride of nation, to put him behind bars.

Johnny On The Street

Should the lawyers be able to recapture the imagination of the nation and catalyze meaningful national resistance, the calculus shall change.

Do You Have a Substitute?

Emergency in Pakistan was the need of time as we had no other options. Do we have any substitute for General Musharraf? Is there any other person who can run the country?

Where's the news?

The so-called "movement against Musharraf" and the unfolding "democratic revolution" seems like a shrinking reality no bigger than a 26-inch TV screen.

Shattered by the Status Quo

The recent pro Musharraf decision has been rationalized on the grounds that we need him for keeping democracy on “track�.

National Reconciliation goes truly National

The National Association of Street and Petty Crimes, Karachi Chapter has announced that in the spirit of the newly presented proposal by Pervaiz Musharraf, all its members who have stolen mobiles, snatched cars and killed people over cash between the peri

The Ramadan Ordinance

In 1981, the Ramadan Ordinance was issued by President of Pakistan Zia ul Haq, whereby eating, drinking and smoking in public during fasting hours in the month of Ramadan was declared unlawful.

These Lawyers Seem Somewhat Above the Law

It is not about Naeem Bokhari; or anyone else we don’t like; it is about law, courts and the social order.

Days of Rage

“However flawed democracy here is, it is still the only answer,� she (Asma Jahangir) continued.

An Empowering Verdict!

Reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Pakistan is indeed a victory for the entire nation.

US Immigration Reform unfair to the legal high-skilled

A Merit-based system which has been proposed by the US Senate has been widely criticized for allegedly favoring skilled individuals. A review actually reveals it being skewed the other way!

Section 144: Ban on public gatherings

The section 144 has its roots in British constitution of 1938. British needed it to secure their imperialistic interests. The question is whose imperialistic needs it is serving now?

Pakistans Permanent Revolution

The tradition of judicial spinelessness continued in Pakistan facilitating three martial laws and the judicial murder of atleast one prime minister till last week when it was brought to a crashing halt by the actions of one brave justice, Chief Justice of

Karachi: The Descent Into Alienation

Surprisingly as many would think, the people of Karachi have not shown themselves to be suffering from mass paranoia, even after this newest series of suicide bombings in the past few years.

Where Are They?

In Pakistan, since the past few years, there have been a number of missing persons who have been picked up by “law enforcement agencies” and these people have had a clear record.

Understanding Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

Trying to understand Z. A. Bhutto is hard, and to understand that period of Pakistan’s history is harder still.

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

The Muslim Policeman who refused to guard the Israeli Embassy in London, the European Union trying to force the working time directive in the UK, a state in India to removing learning of English in schools and the decision by the Iranian Government to res

Sissy Fascists

“Now I get it! If this is how our pop stars are thinking, I find myself to be wasting my time asking them to use there art for social and political causes. Of course you will never use your star status to talk about the Hudood Ordinance, now would y

Abnormal Norms

With persistent awful conditions of our roads that are filled with bumps all year round, and now thanks to the recent monsoon rains, many pot holes as well, the risks of having an accident today are even greater; more so for motorcycle owners.

Remembering a great Pakistani: Sir Zafrullah Khan

His greatest contribution came when he drafted the famous Lahore Resolution, which till this day is the rallying point of Pakistan and Pakistani nationalism.

Bihar : Where Kangaroo Courts Rule

Caste panchayats in the heartland of our country often display a lack of consciousness and humaneness which belies the 21st century we live in.

It should be called Stupid Ordinance, not Hudood!

They are about to resolve another landmark issue for the people of Pakistan. Once the amendments are done to Hudood Ordinance, the entire Pakistani population will come out on the streets and do the victory-dance.

The Virgin Birth

Generally for the Muslims, the Immaculate Conception is considered sacrosanct, and to question it would be at the least irreverent if not downright blasphemous

Looking for a New Islamic Fiqh

Today Islam needs a new Fiqh to implement its Shariat. Not many Muslims appreciate the difference between these two very important and distinct terms

Of Lawyers and Corporate Scandals

It is accepted practice that one’s actions need not have even a distant connection with one’s words.

Remembering H.M. Seervai (1906-1996)

Those who are familiar with the legal profession know that his 4 volume work on Constitutional Law is the finest work on the subject.

The Last Moments of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

Mr. Bhutto’s back was almost touching the floor while he was being brought out of the cell. The lower part of his shirt got entangled in the warder’s shoes and I heard the sound of the shirt being torn.

Mukhtaran Mai vs. the Rest of Pakistan

There are examples in history where armies were dispatched to protect the honour of a single woman. There is however no example of a single woman dispatching herself to fight against an army of institutions that collectively represent an entire countr

Why Mukhtar Mai Matters

She has decided to take up the fight against “outdated and unIslamic customs and traditions” as she stated on International Woman’s Day this year. Mukhtar Mai is showing here that she is no victim, but a woman who has been forced to beco

A Journey Through Our Conscience

Up to eighty percent of the thousands of women incarcerated presently in Pakistani jails are facing charges related to the Hudood Ordinance, and most cases involve women being charged with adultery after they have allegedly been raped.

Sui Incident: A PR Disaster

Officers operating in this institutional milieu can go to any length - sometimes on the orders of their chiefs, sometimes responding to their own lust.

A Rapist-Friendly System

The verdict is out. Five of the six men received a non-guilty verdict and for one the death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment.

Black Sheep of Layari

The following story is about the drug dealers and negative elements of Lyari, original theme of which is provided by a native Baloch dweller of Lyari. This is an outcome, based on the narrations of eyewitnesses.

Flouting International Laws-What is Dubyas Rationale?

There were two articles in the news today. “Charles Graner sentenced to 10 years for the abuse of the Abu Ghraib prisoners.” The second was “A Bosnian Serb, Savo Todovic, deputy commander of the Faco concentration camp in the 1990s wher

The “D” Word

I sometimes joked that had we had blackened eyes and bruised bodies as proofs of torture it would have been easy to sell our “D” idea. But unfortunately mental and emotional scars cannot be brought forward as evidence for dissolution of marria

’NO’ to Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses

Supreme Court had banned serving of meals at hotels, clubs and marriage halls for marriage ceremonies. The Court, in its order, specified that ‘no meals or edibles other than hot and cold drinks could be served to guests.’

The Hazardous Mix: A Peculiar Act and the Perilous Energy

India's Atomic Energy Act 1962 - its intent and the reality

Jirga injustice

From an informal body meant to settle small claims, the ‘jirga’ in Pakistan has been allowed to emerge as a powerful extra-judicial force protecting the interests of the powerful.

The Dream of a Crime-Free Society

He seemed agonized. I asked him what was wrong. He had called his folks in Karachi and learnt about a robbery next door to where they live.

The Price of Love

Hameed may not find it so easy to dispose of his daughter, who has refused to accept her fate lying down; before being locked up, she managed to contact some human rights activists.

International Law: Applicability and Real Politik in the Middle East

For the first time since 1948, an Israeli prime minister or government elect has publicly stated what the Palestinians have been crying out for years

The Mullah and the Munir Report

Never again did any judicial officer in Pakistan speak his or her mind so clearly and so eloquently.

Why not a well thought out constitution?

The current consitution can be amended to fit our needs

A Weapon to Wipe Out the Arts

The proposed Public Performances Act will be nothing more than a tool of censorship.

Criminals -- or Victims of an Unjust System?

If the President really wants to help women in prison, he would do well to repeal the Hudood Ordinances. This would have a far greater impact than limited remissions and pardons.

Pakistan’s Hudood Laws: Extremely Misused

Two decades of a lack of public debate has contributed to the continuing misconceptions about these laws. People often assume that they are Islamic, and therefore justified.

Honour Killing: Understanding The Legal Background

Hadood Ordinance has provided this ill-practice, a legal cover. Now, the male members sit together, chalk out the plan and kill the women without the fear of any legal consequence.

On Self Reference and the Law

This article is about itself ... does it or does it not assert that 'the systems (some would say paradigms) in which society and law operate are constantly evolving; and with each shift (some would say revolution), society is placed outside its previous p

Banning Fashion Shows

To fully grasp the ramifications of the ban, one needs to understand the various dimensions of the front on which the Prime Minister has sought fit to engage battle

Two Phases of Indian Secularism

The second phase of Indian secularism started at Somnath (Gujarat) in a Toyota pick-up converted to look like a medieval Rath (chariot)

LFO, Security Council and then Bijli Gaee...

One of the best things about living away from home is living away from home...

A New Constitution for Pakistan

Pakistan needs a workable and flexible document which is practical and can be sustained over a longer period of time.

The Phantom of the Opera

One people, one law! Why not?

New LFO Ultra

Whilst extending my heartfelt gratitude to His Highness (HH) General Pervez Musharraf for delivering the genuine democracy to this unfortunate nation of ours, I wholeheartedly condemn those traitors who refuse to tender unqualified submission to him.

Justice for Half a Man

Islamic law and jurisprudence have also come under international scrutiny since it presents a historically proven and viable alternative to the existing English Common Law and Napoleonic Code. One of the main issues that have come under the spotlight is t

The Razor’s Edge

The United States seems to be losing the proverbial battle for the “hearts and minds” of the Afghans. The biggest problem was that the United States was not prepared for the post-war situation and had no plans to tackle the problems

On the Miltary Farms, Okara

The Government’s inaction in the face of the reported brutalities carried out by the Military authorities and Pakistan Rangers in forcing the tenants of the Military Farms, Okara to execute the new “cash rent” system is criminal.

Of Early Marriages

My just-turned-twenty friend tries to maintain a balance between the robust baby in her right arm, and her large, stuffed hold all in the other. She tells me he’s being naughty today; he isn’t this bad tempered usually.

Many Questions, No Answers

Solutions do not rest in either Democracy or in the Shariah. The answers are in Education and Social Equality. Only this will invalidate the Bush Doctrine and Extremist Fatwas.

Haseena and Jannat (on earth)

even her grim demeanor cannot hide the fact that she is very attractive

Do it like the Dutchies Do

In this country you need a doctor’s prescription to buy tablets of paracetamol with codeine. However if you walk into any coffee shop in Amsterdam you can easily legally buy Marijuana!!!!

The Scandal of Fake and Madrassa Degrees

a federal minister whose only real qualification is an O-level certificate

The Follies of the Natives

A circus called Pakistan

On the Picket Line in Islamabad

It is Islamabad’s best-known secret. The picket lines at KFC and Pizza Hut are well into their second month and there has not been a word about it in the local press

On the Assertion of Rights

Why Pakistan’s institutions are ass backwards

Air Cdre Rizwanullah Khan Shaheed Memorial Trust

how will we make sure that the contribution to this world happens anyway, in the name of the dearly departed

Saddam Hussein Lives!

The Future of America’s Occupation is Failure

Survival of the Fittest

If Pakistan is next then what are the options?

Doctors or the Disease

Analysis of the khaki-clad messiahs of Pakistan

The Great Game for Central Asian Oil

The Imperialist Ring from Yugoslavia to Afghanistan

Kashmir: Time for a Radical Approach?

The Kashmiris are not even a foot note and Ram Babu and Allah Rakha the perennial losers.

Calculate This

Muslims in India: Communalism vs. Backwardness-Minority Syndrome

Today, it is imperative that the Muslim community fights the ogre of communalism

One Day in The Life of a (legal) Alien

They’ll soon start doing this for everybody, you know

The Yellow Coup

Are we all living in a yellow submarine?

Almost Dead

maybe 'art of living' classes are good things afterall

The Urdu Press in New York

We never thought we would flee America

Towards Greater Tolerance

Anti-Pakistanism and neo-Indian Nationalism

Is It A War On Islam?

What, then, should be the strategy for all those who believe in a just world and are appalled by America's war on the weak?

The Peshawar Rhapsody

the most exciting city of Pakistan for its ancient ambience and romantic history of the proud pathan tribesmen who repulsed all attackers

Standing Up to a Bully

America has all along, despite Iraq’s acceptance, said it is highly sceptical of Saddam Hussain’s assurances or promises

A Work In Progress

Jinnah put Pakistan in such a location that the future state would always be involved in the geo-politics of world

Documentarians Hope to Enlighten Americans about Prophet

the program provides a more balanced explanation of Muhammad's prophetic message of justice and mercy

Musings Of A Suspected Terrorist

I admit I have hated America...but there is another side to this story.

Imran Khan Needs Money

Wake up and smell the coffee, Imran

Little Big Men

Fanatic five-year-olds with Firearms

The Kashmir Committee: Ram in U.S

Ram Jethmalani, to further the agenda of KC, recently made a trip to US

The Unmaking Of Gujrat

The key players in these elections and therefore Indian polity seem like characters in a drama of the absurd.

The Diary of a Pretty Young Thing

I smiled charmingly at the visa officer

If Army acts like a Political Party Why not a Forward Bloc in it?

what is a bigger and more deplorable sin: to be a prostitute or to be a pimp?

Games Generals Play

the General deserves to be applauded for forcing a semblance of democracy to the working of political parties

An All-Inclusive Rejoinder to All the Chronic Complainers

there are few nations on the face of earth blessed with such an omnipotent uniformed force

Hypocrisy Big

Is America an Empire? Is the Pope Catholic?

Jihad – The Misperceptions

It would be unfair to mistrust the dedication and valour of the jihadis

Islamic Utopia?

Reconciling Islam and Modernity

Lessons from Constitutional History

But we never seem to learn from history

Sobho: the struggle continues

I still believe in the revolution, in a society that provides justice for all

The Election Burp

Don’t stand around wondering what to do, trying to please everybody—take a stick and throw it.

Myopic, Malevolent, Megalomaniac

Musharraf knows that PPP (P) and PML (N) would not like to join hands with MMA because it displeases USA

Unraveling Pakistan: Taming The Shrew-Mare

Pakistan’s Army has become a wild mare. It has to be broken into. It has to be re-taught to walk, run, trot

The Politics of Rape

Why the Meerwala Jatoi panchayat thought they would get away with it

Who is Responsible for Nepal’s Corruption, Poverty and Failed Development?

Story of a middle class family of Nepal

What I Saw In Okara

An investigation into the Okara land dispute

Were We Too Hijacked by 9/11?

Al-Qaida had to be bombed, to let the Taliban be was not an option.

The Day Of All Days

Pakistan will re-take its first fledging steps towards democracy

India’s Potential Lose-Lose-Lose Scenario

India may actually be helping Pakistan in the long run, not harming it, with its current war hysteria

The Hindu Right

Advani’s yathra in an air-conditioned Toyota left a trail of blood in its wake

The Right To Bigotry

as long as government and courts and police and diplomats and moralists approve of it

Of Evil Zionists and the Great Satan

The impotent fury of the Muslim world

Confessions of a BJP Supporter

Why was the philosophy of the Sangh Parivar attractive to so many urban middle class Hindus?

The Last Crusade

Sharon’s visit finally removed the façade from the Israeli diplomacy

The Pattern of Violence

if the man at the helm sees the larger picture

Cry, the Beloved Country

There is much that the murdering mobs in Gujarat have robbed from me

Riots

Here are people afraid of their own

Empty Vessels And All That Jazz

do you think he is up to task to rid us of feudals next?

A Reason For Change

What is really interesting about Marianne Pearl’s interview with CNN is not what she said

The Passion of The Pacifist

An interview with Asgharali Engineer

Muslims and The West After 11th September

America has exacted blood revenge for the Twin Towers

An International Failure

do the Pakistanis know who they are themselves

The Clash Of Un-Civilizations And Osama-ism

It is misleading to think and give an impression that these issues will just disappear if Osama is captured or killed today.

A New Role

utilize this moment to educate the American public

The Price

the Taliban are gone, crowds line the streets to greet victorious soldiers of the Northern Alliance. What are they saying..

We, The Fake

where you feel ugly and poor if you have no flesh on display

A Decision to Regret

the Afghans have always resisted a government imposed from abroad

Afghanistan Reflections

big mistakes were made

Caught In Between

Pakistan is on the defensive almost constantly

Open Letter to O. B. Laden

Bin Laden! Yes, I am talking to you. Person to person.

Random Thoughts From a Far Away Land

On the Eve of Pakistan’s Independence day ... these thoughts occupy a migrants mind

Why I am leaving

There is just so much wrong with Pakistan today that we, the educated youth, find life here unacceptably difficult

The Countdown Begins

... the contours of Pakistan’s emerging political scenario point to the first signs of an uneasy coexistence between the military regime and the political forces ...

Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry, SJ

An interview with a war hero ...

The Quest for Power

It took General Zia 14 months after the July 1977 coup to assume the Presidency, while General Musharraf waited 20 months to do the same

The Meaning of Pakistan

Metaphysical Politics of Pakistan

This Visit To Pakistan

one notices some interesting adaptations in the life styles of upper classes

What Constitutes Blasphemy?

Frontier Post offices attacked and destroyed by angry mobs ...

Headache and Heartburn

I did not want to witness the hell breaking loose as the young Pakistanis started dancing

Yet Another South Asian Story

The rapist was convicted for seven years... the victim to solitary confinement for life

Bigotry, Racism and American Media

all of us have vividly seen that Israeli security forces consistently breached all international human rights standards

The Autonomy is for India

greater autonomy for states is the only way

Al-Quds Divided: The Politics of Hatred

The Arab-Israeli conflict is multi-dimensional

Hidden Hindus

What is it like?

Protest in New York!

Stop killing Christians in Pakistan ...

Negotiating Human Rights

arrested in Pakistan for saving the life of a battered woman

Would Devolution Empower “We the People”?

Musharraf’s devolution plan is likely to empower the people of Pakistan. But, how?

Reflections Of Shame

These questions will haunt me till the day I die

1971 in 2000

... this singular event is consigned to the dustbin of history.

Lahore Notes, March 2000

I took the famous Bus to Lahore

Indians and Pakistanis Must Start Anew

The richest resource on the earth can only be human resources

Family Laws in Bangladesh

family law codes are inconsistent with the Constituion on three counts

Just another cry in the dark

In our 53 years of turbulent history the country has seen nothing but thieves and self righteous leaders

Open Letter to General Musharraf

Field Marshal Ayub Khan was forced out of power after extensive rioting . . .

Mecca or Mohenjodaro?

A living religion is more eloquent than a dead civilization

Pakistan in the Year 3000

Apes and Dumbos dont have much of a future on planet Earth

Resolving the Hijack Crisis

The timing of the IC-814 hijack crisis portends several things

Hegemony of the Ruling Elite in Pakistan

We have a chequered past in our experiments with democracy

The Case for De jure Legalization

A Rs.1000 excise tax on an imported bottle of Scotch could easily net additional daily revenues

In Defence of Benevolent Dictators

More democracy ? More of the same ? No thanks

Scandalising the Pakistani Courts

Ardeshir Cowasjee has been hauled into court again on contempt charges ...

Compilation of Opinions on the Military Takeover in Pakistan

Peoples opinions and reactions

Our Man From Delhi

saade dilli daa mundaa hai jee

Text of Speech by Gen. Pervez Musharraf

The choice before us on Oct 12th was between saving the body - that is the nation, at the cost of a limb - which is the Constitution, or saving the limb and losing the whole body

Pakistan Alert: Revolution in the Making?

Perhaps, this will be the beginning of the World War III

Why An Interim Civilian Government will Fail

Putting up a front government will achieve simply nothing

A State of Confusion

Will Pakistan benefit from a change of government?

Connected to: Harsh Kapoor

SPIDER talks to Cyber Warrior Harsh Kapoor about his stance on the recent blocking of the Dawn Internet Edition in India

Of Boylove and Boylovers

We (even in the oh-so-liberal West) live in a more conformist society that we are led to believe

Kargil and the Myth of Losing the Media War

Consider for a moment that you are NOT a Pakistani

Save India

A martial law administration has to take over the country

Loyal to Pakistan? Why?

But what does Pakistan really stand for?

India’s Failure of Imagination

No one in India, it seems, has a clue what people across the border in Pakistan are thinking

Water of Life

What has happened to all the drinking water in India?

The Decline and Fall of Pakistan

Pakistan on the crossroads of a dilemma

The Dark Tower

The editor of Pakistani most outspoken English weekly was arrested in a most undemocratic manner for going abroad and saying what we all say in our living rooms

Lies of the Western ‘Science of Islam’

Mass killing in the name of the state is legitimate and justified; sporadic acts of violence in the name of religion (read: Islam) are illicit and immoral

Nawaz Sharif Plays Lady Macbeth

Pakistan government is an accomplice in domestic violence and the death of Samia Sarwar.

Balkan Tragedy: A Re-enactment of the 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh

The escalating human tragedy in Kosovo gives me a sense of deja vu

WW III? An Analysis of Yugoslavia

The media has been lying to the world about the crisis in Kosova

Talaaq 3 Times She Said

Marriage is a strange habit

Evolution of South Asia

Information revolution and the future of the sub-continent

Getting Ready for ‘Bus Diplomacy’

Vajpayee and Sharif get creative. First bombs then bus rides.

Lillie

An essay on child labor

Agenda for Pakistani Press

The press has no credibility

Is Impeachment Realistic

Scandal and sex are easier to start than explain. Just ask the President.

The Weakest Link

An individual in a crowd is a grain of sand...

Caution: Criminal Aliens you may be removed!

You thought you were safe in the U.S.

Builders’ Mafia

Travails of Karachi’s people and skyline.

The Gentleman Must Go

Crisis in the shadows of power: Is Pakistan entering an institutional crisis acknowledging Nawaz Sharif’s imperial designs?

The lack of Women’s Rights in Pakistan

Tracing the roots of oppression

Talking of Talks

...the Prime Ministers have had a telephone talk

Pakistan Cinema 1947-1997: A Review

Gazdar gives a first rate literary analysis of Maula Jat against the backdrop of Zia’s Martial Law

What Is Your Caste?

Caste is South Asia’s apartheid

From Zharkent to Laguna Pueblo

We are still suffering from the radiation effects of tests done by China and Russia

Human Rights Groups Slam Sharif

Women are often the first victims of such moves

Giving Way to Intolerance

During the last many years, religious intolerance and sectarian fanaticism have created a war-like situation in Pakistan

The Man Who Stooped to Conquer

And he did it all with a smile

Reconfiguration of the South Asian Polities

Mr. Sharif wants to transform himself into Amir-ul-Momineen....a title used by the Taliban chief.

Cry my Beloved Country

Thoughts on the nature of democracy in Pakistan.

Dow and NASDAQ set new records

A bull market that bears watching.

Sanctions - the carrot follows the stick.

A crack in the door - sanctions may be lifted soon.

Nuclear South Asia: An Explanation to America

The US and the rest of the world needs to help in the resolution of this issue because if we don’t address it now we will all hear about it later.

Between the Devil and the Deep Sea

Why can’t the pipes or cables be laid first and roads carpeted later?

The Quranic Concept of Love

A Quranic perspective on love, choosing one’s life partner, and intimate relations amongst the sexes.

A Day with an Orthodox Rabbi

Hebrew for God willing also sounds like insha’allah.

Blasphemy

One helpless Bishop with a gun in his hand...

Statesmanship Needed

Mr. Bhutto’’s decision to go nuclear would prove pivotal quarter of a century later

Recollections of my Grandfather

They deserve their complete rest, after a simple, kind, and honourable life

Cash for Vote

An Expatriate Bill.

The Intellectual Imperative

As a people and a nation, Pakistan’s need for intellectual direction has never been greater. So where are the intellectuals?

The Plight of Rural Women in Pakistan

Years of submission and sacrifice by the poorer women of the communities has conditioned them to accept their fate, to not raise their voice lest they be abused more...

Raj and I

A complete sense of certainty prevails in our country. There is nothing to panic about.

Dodging the Law of Extradition

A look at extradition treaties in the context of the Aimal Kansi case.

Imperatives For Economic Development Of Pakistan

So how can we hammer out a consensus around the proposition that we have to rapidly raise the standard of living of the people in Pakistan?

Christians of Pakistan

The constitution defines Pakistan as an Islamic nation and guarantees freedom to all other religion. Are we doing justice in implementing this all important social tolerance act?

Can People be Forced to Accept Islam? A Qur’anic Perspective

Does man have the freedom to believe or disbelieve the message of Allah? Who are the people who force others to their way of thinking? Answers to these and other questions, from a Qur’anic perspective.

The Ehtesaab Gold Medal

He got the offender out of the lock up, collected all seized evidence of the offence, and walked out of the police station triumphantly, but not before finishing his cup of tea...

UN Sanctions Against Iraq: 10 Myths

Economic sanctions against industrialized countries, which include a ban on foreign trade, can be more lethal than limited military attacks.

ATA: A Terrifying Act

There are numerous silly, but harmless laws, as well as a few really dangerous ones. One such well-intentioned but seriously flawed law, is the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Calling a Spade a Spade

Thus a new historical precedent was established where 53% of the population were denounced as traitors

Copyright: A Source of Revenue Generation

A discussion on the advantages of protecting intellectual property rights in Pakistan.

Chowkwalas Interview Pak. Law Minister

Chowk readers conduct a cyber interview with Law Minister Khalid Anwer

The Harsh Truth

The first topic of conversation is always Pakistan. Karachi mein kya ho raha hay? The discourse begins ...

Time For Contempt

In today’s Pakistan, the word Contempt is what the Government of Pakistan thinks of the people of Pakistan.

SC to PM: Do You Plead Guilty?

Is the fall of the nine-month old government of Nawaz Sharif eminent ?

Sana Khwaan-e-Taqdees-e-Mashriq Kahan Hein?

Sana Khwaan-e-Taqdees-e-Mashriq Kahan Hein?

Constitutional Chess Game Nearing Climax

If Supreme Court invokes Article 63(g) of constitution, it is empowered to disqualify the prime minister from being a member of the parliament.