Disappointment and Allegations: Assessing the 2024 Elections in Pakistan
The 2024 elections in Pakistan were marred by disappointment and frustration, reflecting the country’s fractured democracy. The newly elected coalition government has been followed by allegations of electoral rigging, tarnishing Pakistan’s legitimacy internationally. In the midst of this, Aneeza Atif presents her view on what the future holds for Pakistan.
Need for Political Wit in Pakistan
Owing to the statements of political leaders and the inefficiency of institutions, Muhammad Hamza Tanvir argues that the people of Pakistan have lost trust in the state. Political polarization within Pakistan has reached its apex since May 9th – one that’s reminiscent of the Arab Springs in the Middle East. This political instability has proven itself detrimental to the economy and society of Pakistan. The author emphasizes the dire need for all of the stakeholders to exercise political wisdom and rebuild confidence in institutions, instead of breaking it down, to overcome the political crisis.
The Anatomy of Poverty Traps: Pakistan’s Quest for Economic Liberation
Since its independence, Pakistan has been stuck in an endless loop of poverty, experiencing the same economic and political challenges on repeat. Hajra Zahid addresses the pivotal question of what makes this loop unbreakable.
By applying Paul Collier’s description of four development traps to the case study of Pakistan, she exemplifies the role of internal conflicts, natural resources, border hostilities, and bad governance in keeping the state entrenched in poverty.
For a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities at play, she identifies several other traps that have been glossed over and suggests how to break the curse.
Israel’s Judicial Reforms: What You Need to Know
Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election as Israel’s Prime Minister for the sixth time was followed by proposed judicial reforms that have sparked widespread protests across the country.
The concerns revolve around the independence and integrity of the Israeli judiciary being curtailed.
The controversy surrounding the reforms highlights the tensions between different visions of democracy in Israel, and the challenges of balancing competing interests in a polarized political climate.
Neutrality in Politics is a Sin
Citing different historical examples like the French Revolution and the creation of the US, Bilal Ahmed argues why taking an interest in politics is necessary for the people of a state, especially its youth.
He claims that general neglect shown by the citizens can lead to bad governance and the deterioration of democracy, as is the case in Pakistan.
Energy Crisis in South Africa: Eskom & Blackouts
An ongoing energy crisis in South Africa is characterized by widespread nationwide blackouts of electricity.
These rolling blackouts have been attributed to the inadequate generation capacity by Eskom, the government-owned national power provider of South Africa.
A nationwide “state of disaster” was declared last month in the wake of daily power outages lasting up to 10 hours.
Blood and Silk: Power and Conflict in Modern Southeast Asia
In “Blood and Silk: Power and Conflict in Modern Southeast Asia”, Michael R. J. Vatikiotis focuses on the violent conflicts that have plagued Southeast Asia ever since it gained independence from colonial empires.
Internal conflicts, political polarization, corruption, and economic disparity have halted the region’s progress. In fact, in 2015, Cambodia ranked 150 out of 168 on the corruption index, Thailand sat at 76, Vietnam at 112, and Indonesia at 88.
The True Face of Crime in the United States
Many people around the globe look at America as a beacon of hope and success, yet upon a more detailed perusal of the nation, it is found to be a cesspool of high crime rates and a faulty justice system. These criminal acts include robberies/larceny, armed violence, fraud, assault, sex crimes, and homicides.
Pakistan’s Governance Implosion Syndrome
Mir Adnaz Aziz finds there to be discordance between the people of Pakistan and the ruling elite.
Citizens are now beginning to realize that the government has never really served them. In fact, the public has been on the receiving end of the injudicious and hasty decisions of the politicians.
Karachi, the City That Was
Mir Adnan Aziz points to the cause of Karachi’s decline: corruption of the ruling parties and mafias. These corrupt practices have battered and ravaged the city that had the potential and resilience.
He views prudent leadership and accountability as the main determinants of Karachi’s revival. Image credits: Mustafa Hussain/The New York Times
Examining PTI’s Prohibited Funding Fiasco
Last month, the Election Commission of Pakistan declared PTI guilty of receiving millions from 351 foreign companies, concealing 13 accounts, and receiving $35,651 from 34 foreign national citizens. Faran Feroze probes into PTI’s ‘prohibited funding’ case, uncovering both legal and political implications.
Democracy or Monarchy — What Will It Be For Pakistan?
With the political system in disarray, the author, Shanze Khalid, claims that Pakistan actually resembles a monarchy. She supports her assertion by giving references to Pakistan’s convoluted relationship with dynastic politics and corruption.
A Review of the National Judicial Policy (2009) in Pakistan
To bring a semblance of structure and convenience within the judicial sphere of Pakistan, the National Judicial Policy 2009 was framed. The authors, Alyan Waheed, Palwasha Khan, Shaheer Ahmed, and Syed Hassam Ali, discuss the policy’s underpinnings and address its failures and drawbacks.
Animal Farm by George Orwell (Book Review)
George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” is a symbolic representation of the pre and post-revolution Soviet Union. Through the characters of the book, Orwell has aptly captured the corruption, propaganda, and power politics that exist in human society. He depicts how even after the Russian Revolution, the cycle of exploitation continued – only the actors had changed.
President Biden’s Summit for Democracy 2021: A Big Question Mark?
President Biden of the US will host a two-day Summit for Democracy this week to cast an eye over the current status of democracy in the world. Much like the author, many feel this summit to be an affront to the US’s ‘undemocratic’ rivals, China and Russia — two nations that were struck off the invite list.
Lebanon’s Catastrophic Economic Crisis (2021)
Lebanon’s harrowing economic crisis is primarily triggered by corruption and countless debts. To contextualise the gravity of the crisis, one must understand that the country’s debt is equivalent to 150% of its output.
Marred by extended civil wars and sectarian conflicts, Lebanon witnessed the worst recession. Due to this, It wasn’t long before there were major upheavals in the political structure of Lebanon.
To free itself from this predicament, the author, Palwasha Khan, recommends the reformation of Lebanon’s institutions as well as the promotion of private investments.
Pandora Papers in Pakistan: A Boost to Polarized Politics
The writer, Muhammad Hamza Tanvir, explains the possible impact of the Pandora papers on the politics of Pakistan in the future. This article intends to explain what an offshore company is and under what circumstances could the holder of the offshore company be held accountable. It also throws a brief highlight on the famous people, from inside and outside the country, who are accused of having offshore companies.