This week we celebrated the nation’s independence day so that brought us to thinking about where the nation was, how far it has to go and who holds the power in charting the course for the future. We talk about the politicians all the time but what about the voters? Though not monolithic, we generally know where Democrats and Republicans stand on the issues, but what about the Independents? … [Read more]
Pakistan’s Political Scene and the Image of Country’s Judiciary
With the approach of the year 2013 the battle for protecting the country’s democratically elected leadership in Pakistan is also gaining heat. The country’s powerful judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court of Pakistan, appears to have literally taken to indicting the President of the country, Asif Ali Zardari. The recent disqualification of the country’s prime minister is a major move in this case.… [Read more]
Dying Man Not an Emergency for Doctors in Hangu
Apathy kills more recklessly than anything, and this happened in Hangu, Pakistan, last week, where doctors at the town’s government hospital didn’t pay any heed to the request of a critically ill patient for medical aid. Now the bereaved family wants those responsible for the death to be charged with murder.
Local newspapers reported the incident on June 21, informing that the patient, Torrub Ali, 55, was taken to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital of Hangu for medical examination and treatment.… [Read more]
June 24, 2012 – Weekly Wrap Up
Here on a Sunday, after watching the political pundits and “experts” do their partisan pontification, I’m thinking this: What were they thinking? Seriously…WHAT were they thinking?
Whenever the television is on, it’s inevitable that some news segment, (unreal) reality show or special report will air that makes that particular question the only logical thing to ask — but, in our world, “WTF?”… [Read more]
Mob Frenzy Destroys the Innocent
What horrors mob mentality entails was witnessed once again yesterday, this time near Quetta, Balochistan—which currently remains among Pakistan’s most insecure territories. Media reports informed that a police station in Kachlak area was raided by a furious mob of locals who were demanding that the police hand over to them a man arrested for allegedly committing desecration of Islam’s holy book, the Koran.… [Read more]
Hannity’s Blame-Obama-First Foreign Policy
In most cases I try avoid watching the talking heads of cable news, especially Fox News and let alone any Fox News pundit’s take on foreign policy. But every now and again I have the misfortune of hearing one of these jabbering sycophants’ asinine take on the world of international politics.
Most recently, while at the gym, my eyes had the not so illustrious pleasure of reading the incoherent foreign policy-related ramblings of Sean Hannity.… [Read more]
Polio Vaccination in Third World – Savior or Killer?
For decades, polio vaccination in poor and underdeveloped countries has been presented as a message of hope for millions of children across the world who otherwise would risk contracting the paralyzing disease. However, there always have been concerns about the safety of this vaccine and cases of children paralyzed by this same vaccine have been reported off and on from various parts of the world.… [Read more]
Who’s a ‘Martyr’?
“A martyr is a man who dies in fight against infidels,” I read the opening line of a grade-2 lesson about a Pakistani military hero from the 1965 war between India and Pakistan. “Infidels”? I read the line again to make sure I didn’t get it wrong. And maybe I did, for the word in that line was none else than “infidel”.… [Read more]
The Historical Presidential Address of Pakistan’s President Zaradri
Saturday March 17, 2012, was a historical day for Pakistan as Pakistan’s democratically elected President Asif Ali Zardari delivered his fifth Presidential address to the joint-sitting of the parliament. With cheering from his allies and supporters and cries of protest from his political opponents, Mr. Zardari became the first President in Pakistan’s history to see the day of his fifth Presidential address, as all previous democratically elected Presidents were sent packing by the country’s powerful and politically active anti-democratic forces before seeing the start of their final parliamentary year.… [Read more]
Higher Education in Pakistan – the Flip Side of the Coin
Over the past decade, the government in Pakistan has spent prodigiously on higher education but to little practical avail. With the increasing debt mark, internal and external, the government has still got radical cuts to make in useless expenditure in this sector.
Interest in postgraduate education skyrocketed with the establishment of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan during the rule of the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf.… [Read more]