If wishes were horses … (asifsaeedmemon.net, April 29, 2011)
In his column in Dawn, Akbar Zaidi argues against the need for further IMF loans for Pakistan. …
And where does Mr. Zaidi think this clear thinking will come from? One source he highlights is the current finance minister, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. Soon after, however, he explains the political dimension of economic policymaking in Pakistan and the unwillingness of elected parliamentarians to heed the finance minister’s call for fiscal reform and make the hard decisions
Radical Islam and business in cahoots, apparently (asifsaeedmemon.net, March 21, 2011)
I have always found Nadeem Farooq Paracha’s (known in Pakistan and elsewhere as NFP) writing interesting; both in his earlier incarnation as music critic and his current one as social and political commentator (on his Smoker’s Corner blog for Dawn ). I don’t always agree with what he has to say. Nonetheless, I enjoy reading him. He is, almost always, witty (in a caustic way) and there is a lot to be said for the existence of at least one contrarian among Pakistan’s burgeoning multitude of English language commentators.
He does, however, occasionally go a little too far in his desire to impose a Marxist meta-narrative on Pakistan’s short history.
18th amendment inches closer to finish line (asifsaeedmemon.net, April 4, 2010)
The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) finally adopted the Constitution (Eighteenth) Amendment Bill, 2010 on March 31. After months of meetings, missed deadlines and some last minute histrionics the bill was adopted unanimously. Parliament is expected to take up the bill in the coming week.
Operation to what end? (asifsaeedmemon.net, May 29, 2009)
The Pakistan Army’s operation against the Taliban in Malakand division continues, as briefed daily to the press by the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR). It appears also that the war theater is expanding into South Waziristan Agency, while the Army tries to maintain its tenuous hold over the Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
A dangerous precedent (asifsaeedmemon.net, May 15, 2009)
A three-member panel of the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the government on May 13, to cut petroleum and oil prices within a week. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry asked, “who else will give benefit to the people if not (their) democratically elected government?” He went on to say: “Either the government should take some decision or the court will pass an appropriate order”, while acknowledging that “we do not want to create problems for the government as we realise its difficulties in prevailing circumstances. Besides, it is also not our job to indulge in such activity.”
Pakistan and an Obama administration (asifsaeedmemon.net, November 10, 2008)
It is finally over! The nearly two year long schlep – variously exciting and tedious – across the length and breadth of America is done. As wished by many around the world, Senator Obama (D-Illinois) stands at the gates of the White House and – barring any untoward incidents – shall be ushered in as the forty fourth president of these United States on January 21, 2009.
It’s been a bad year (asifsaeedmemon.net, November 3, 2008)
It has been a year since the then President, General (R.) Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency. By most people’s estimates it has been a bad year: Mr. Musharraf’s proclamation triggered a judicial crisis; former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assasinated; the security of Pakistani citizens has worsened drastically as suicide attacks have become commonplace; the threat to the writ of state in the North West remains and the country faces economic collapse.
The impeachable Mr. Musharraf (asifsaeedmemon.net, August 7, 2008)
“We have good news for democracy.” Thus spake Zardari, as he announced the ruling coalition’s decision to impeach President Musharraf. Let the games begin.
Four questions emerge immediately: