Though the usual feudal modus operandi for obtaining votes, particularly in the rural areas, is through outright coercion and/or intimidation, it also depends upon who counts the vote, and even more importantly, who gets to collate it. With rigging/tampering with ballot and ballot boxes fairly widespread in 2008 and 2013, the Election Commission of Pakistan…
Even a cursory analysis of the three Nawaz Sharif sackings as PM reveals one constant sordid fact, his incurring penchant to listen to a bunch of “unelectable advisors” who constantly feed his already inflated ego about his supposed omni-potency. The 1993 sacking did him wonders, turning an Establishment “puppet on the throne” into a politician…
The balance of payment crisis has been aggravated by major currency devaluations taking place over the past few months, the Rupee plunging 15% since December last. Surprisingly the currency has appreciated by 4% .e. Rs. 7.00 since Imran Khan’s elections on July 25. The State Bank having had to raise interest rates, the current-account gap…
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) came into existence on 16 Nov 1999. Simultaneously the Special Investigation Wings (SIWs) was created from within the ISI to assist NAB in collecting relevant information about their accused persons. FIA and ACE directors of all four provinces were placed under direct command with investigation officers and allied staff for…
With the Pacific Ocean dominated by the US and Japan while the Indian Ocean by the US (conceivably along with its new ally India), China has to turn to its centuries old land routes. As far back as the 11th century, Genghis Khan was exhorting his generals not to depend upon the seas but upon…
When former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced July 25 as the Election Day 2018, the mystery was why (1) he gave only 60 days instead of the 90 days that he could and (2) why he did not pay heed to the extremely hot weather of June and July which would not only make campaigning…
The allegations of mishandling investors’ funds against Abraaj, a firm that has grown to become one of the most trusted private equity names and one of the developing world’s most influential investors, shocked investors and financial institutions triggering distress signals. Hue and cry raised complaints by some investors having ulterior motivation that the Dubai-based Abraaj…
Dear Readers, Warnings of a looming disaster by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) indicate that Pakistan will face absolute water scarcity by 2025. It is astonishing and deplorable that despite knowing the grim situation in the water sector no govt has been able to…
In an increasingly globalised world, we are geographically very beneficially at the crossroads separating South Asia with Central Asia and the Middle East, this must be converted to our geo-political advantage. The new nation state of Pakistan felt quite vulnerable because of Indian hostility on its eastern borders and by Afghanistan’s obstinate refusal on the…
Dear Readers, With elections barely two months away, a Caretaker govt was installed on June 1, its purpose is to create a conducive environment for genuine elections and to ensure the neutrality of the govt to facilitate a smooth transfer of power from one elected govt to another. As a non-partisan administration, the caretaker’s primary…
