Having raised the hopes of the country by apprehending a large number of target killers and subsequently going after those in the bureaucracy whose corruption and connections to organised crime fuels terrorism, the Rangers in Sindh have become prey to politics, a victim of their own success. One had hoped otherwise but this was to…
The National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (NABO) under Section 5 describes a “public office holder’ as an individual holding, or have held, an office or post in the service of Pakistan or in connection with the affairs of the Federation, or of a Province, or of a local council constituted under any Federal or Provincial law,…
Pakistan’s crowning glory this year (no, it’s not international cricket coming back to the country after a prolonged hiatus) is a little acknowledged achievement: winning the UNs endorsement for extension of Pakistan’s continental shelf up to 350 miles from the coastline (or baseline, to be more precise). This adds over 50,000 Sq kms of continental…
In the last few months a number of decisions have been taken by the Government of Pakistan which have entrenched that country even further into China’s geostrategic orbit. And although China and Pakistan have had a long and fruitful relationship for well over 50 years, it was the launch, during a visit to Pakistan by…
Last year’s economic performance was marginal; most of the macro-economic targets were missed, some widely others narrowly. Unless requisite structural reforms are implemented, this trend is likely to continue. The budget envisages 5.5% GDP growth target for the next financial year, which seems to be substantially higher than 4.24% that the country could achieve during…
Most recently, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko visited Pakistan and inked many meaningful agreements and MOUs. This was the first ever visit of any Belarusian President to Pakistan which showed its multidimensional importance. During his stay he met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain and discussed matters of mutual interests. Both sides agreed…
“Without governance and development in democracy, National Security will face more daunting problems and herculean challenges.”Dr. Ahmed Adam Okene. Talk at College of Arts and Sciences, Malaysia 1 Oct 2011 AbstractNational security is the vital part of the policy to ensure existence of Pakistan. This is primarily because the threat that Pakistan has historically experienced…
With India’s Foreign Minister Ms. Sushma Swaraj declaring the Corridor “unacceptable”, Mian Nawaz Sharif finally decided enough was enough, he did not mince words at the APC convened in Quetta by Balochistan’s CM Dr. Abdul Malik after the Mastung massacre as to the motivation behind the concerted campaign. Accompanied by the Army Chief, the Pakistani…
Chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, the Apex Committee was recently told by the DG Rangers Maj Gen Bilal Akbar, that out of the nearly Rs.230 billion collected illegally from hapless Karachi-ites annually on one pretext or other, a fair amount of it was being used to fund terrorism. This extraordinary generation…
Brimming with excitement bordering on the histrionics that one normally associates with political rallies, trusted Mian Nawaz Sharif kinsman, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, presented what he insists is a “poor-friendly” Federal budget in the National Assembly (NA) on June 5. Detractors do not share the palpable enthusiasm of our “man for all seasons”, they…
