Category: Columns

Whenever I reflect on the patterns of human life and history, I cannot help but notice that what we often call chaos is never truly meaningless. Chaos—apparent disorder, confusion, and unpredictability—has a rhythm, a hidden logic that unfolds quietly beneath the surface. Life, societies, and civilizations are rarely as orderly as they appear, and yet...

Three words explain that: history, agency, and a global vision. Pakistan is a product of a very strong ground-up movement of Indian Muslims to reclaim their dignity and a role in politics. That is why the freedom movement leaders’ speeches always had a global vision. Tehrik-i-Khilafat by the Johar brothers, Rehmat Ali’s conviction in the...

At a time when tensions between the United States and Iran threatened to escalate into a devastating regional war, Pakistan emerged as a crucial force for peace, demonstrating maturity, restraint, and strategic diplomacy. Rather than becoming entangled in conflict, Pakistan chose the path of dialogue, positioning itself as a mediator committed to stability—not only for...

In a world increasingly defined by conflict and polarization, moments of diplomacy stand out not just as political achievements, but as reminders of what is still possible when dialogue prevails over destruction. The recent ceasefire understanding between the United States and Iran is one such moment fragile temporary, yet deeply significant. At the center of...

At the Thirteenth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development in Bangkok, I was reminded of a hard truth: global policy spaces often talk about us, the Global South, without us. My presence there, representing Gravity Development Organization and the communities I work with in Pakistan, was not symbolic. It was political. Attending the Thirteenth Asia-Pacific Forum...

In a complex realm of affairs in socio-political landscape of Pakistani society, politics has always been about people & their voices, their struggles, and their hopes. Today, that space is slowly shifting into the digital world. As someone working in political communication with the leading political institutions across Pakistan, I see how Artificial Intelligence is...

Revolutions are often imagined as dramatic ruptures—sudden breaks from the past, sweeping away old systems and erecting new ones. Yet history repeatedly demonstrates that no revolution succeeds by completely alienating itself from the cultural, social, and religious fabric of the society it seeks to transform. A revolution that fails to resonate with the lived experiences,...

Narrative is not just speaking or writing; it is a hidden structure of power. Societies do not move only through force and authority, but through the stories and narratives people are made to believe. These narratives carefully crafted, repeated, and widely circulated—shape how people view themselves, their enemies, and the future. In this way, narrative...