ISLAMABAD: An as-yet ‘incomplete’ National Assembly — short of reserved seats claimed by the PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance — will hold its inaugural sitting today (Thursday) after President Arif Alvi relented from his earlier stance and assented to a summary seeking the summoning of the maiden sitting of the lower house. Earlier, the NA...
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February 28, 2024February 28, 2024Columns
Sharif dynasty’s new face
SHE had long been groomed as heir apparent to the country’s most prominent political dynasty and her election as Punjab’s chief minister this week marked her crowning. Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, now holds one of the most powerful political positions in the country. With uncle Shehbaz Sharif assured of...
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February 28, 2024February 28, 2024Columns
Good examples
IN Pakistan, we do things family style, and politics is a part of family. Elections are contested family style — brothers, uncles, sons and daughters all running from different constituencies. The most eminent families have entire political parties available at their disposal, and heading them means a decent shot at the best, highest and most...
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February 27, 2024February 27, 2024World
Biden expects ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict by ‘next Monday’
United States President Joe Biden expressed his belief that a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could begin by next Monday in a spontaneous statement he made during a visit to New York, The Guardian reported. In response to reporters inquiring about when he expected a ceasefire could start, Biden said: “My national security adviser tells me...
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February 27, 2024February 27, 2024Pakistan
New Punjab CM to face huge challenges in service delivery
LAHORE: The newly-elected first female Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will face huge challenges as her predecessors left a very high level of service delivery and presence in public. During the last 13-month tenure, Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has appeared as the fastest chief minister in terms of working. He broke the records of...
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February 27, 2024February 27, 2024Blogs
Language Under Constitution
Introduction The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, also known as the 1973 constitution, was drafted by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government. It was ratified on August 14, 1973 and was the first Constitution to be framed by elected representatives in Pakistan (Bajora, 2010). It comprises 280 articles and five schedules, and has undergone twenty-three...
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February 27, 2024February 27, 2024Columns
Flawed climate policy
NOTWITHSTANDING Pakistan’s marginal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and the country’s greater vulnerability to climate change-driven natural disasters, policymakers seem preoccupied with climate mitigation, ie, GHG emission reduction. COP28 refreshed the resolve of countries to achieve the Nationally Determined Contributions; however, the NDC’s focus in Pakistan is on climate mitigation. For example, the NDC...
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February 27, 2024February 27, 2024Columns
Faultiness, old and new
THE election is over, government formation underway and the uncertainty of who will govern is coming to an end. But unlike a short Hollywood film, our crisis is not about to end. In fact, this is a long Bollywood film where one dramatic moment comes midway (interval), allowing for a smoke, a trip to the...
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February 27, 2024February 27, 2024Columns
Revised budget
BUDGET 2023-24 that was passed by parliament yesterday after the introduction of large fiscal-tightening measures to sweeten it for the IMF might resuscitate the bailout deal with the Fund, stalled since last November. As Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said in his closing budget speech, the IMF’s concerns regarding the original budgeted deficit of 6.5pc of...
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February 27, 2024February 27, 2024Columns
Can Modi score without electronic voting machines?
THE question would seem odd, given the chorus of drumbeats from the media, mostly Indian but also some foreign, proclaiming victory for the Indian prime minister in the coming April-May elections. Do revisit the claims anyway, preferably with an open mind. Two lessons from India’s electoral history beg a fresh discussion about the prospects for...