Why Are the 2023 General Elections Important for Pakistan?
Muhammad Shaheer Mahmood shares why the upcoming 2023 general elections carry unprecedented importance for Pakistan.
The elections would not only bring stability to the country’s political set-up but also a fully occupied National Assembly.
The Pathan Unarmed
Mukulika Banerjee’s “The Pathan Unarmed” is an enlightening book that dives into the captivating history of Pashtuns’ nonviolent resistance.
It gives an in-depth history of the Khudai Khidmatgaar movement, which was started and steered by Abdul Ghaffar Khan, commonly known as Bacha Khan.
His non-violent movement became a sincere instrument for the transformation of Pathans from a group with polemic and defiant nature to a non-violent one.
Tug of War Between Central Governments and Supreme Courts in Pakistan and India
Muhammad Shaheer Mahmood discusses the uncanny similarities in both the constitutional, and political discourse in India and Pakistan.
Despite their longstanding hostility, both countries find themselves entangled in a web of mistrust between their respective centers and the Supreme Courts.
These intriguing coincidences send us down a fascinating path fraught with power struggles, legislative interventions, and the slow erosion of institutional trust.
Turkey’s 2023 Elections: What You Need to Know
A complex state that has seen power juggle between its political and military institutes, Türkiye has seen years of struggle to get to its current political shape.
In 2018, Türkiye saw its transition from a parliamentary to a presidential system after the constitutional referendum in 2017. The initiative was planned by Tayyip Erdoğan of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who remains a powerful political figure and has been President since 2014.
While both the presidential and parliamentary elections were held on 14th May, Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu will contest a run-off vote on 28th May to decide the winner of the 2023 presidential elections.
What Does a Stable Afghanistan Mean for China?
Despite being an underdeveloped country, Afghanistan seems to have gained China’s attention. China desires a stable Afghanistan so that it can safeguard its national and cross-border security.
Moreover, China needs to have stability in its landlocked neighbor so that it can further its economic expansion.
Muhammad Shaheer Mahmood sheds light on the importance of stability in Afghanistan for China and China’s attempts to make sure that it enjoys a stable neighborhood.
Why is Bakhmut Important in the Russia-Ukraine War?
Ayesha Javaid discusses why Bakhmut is important for both Russia and Ukraine, and what would happen if it were to fall.
For Ukraine, the city is a symbol of its struggle and resistance against the Russian forces. On the other hand, Russia seeks Bakhmut to gain control over the entire eastern Donbas territory and ultimately the liberation of the “Donetsk People’s Republic”.
As she describes the recent developments in the ongoing war for Bakhmut, she concludes that in the coming weeks, the city might completely slip through Russia’s fingers.
A National Circus: The Game of Power and the Neglected Masses
“Why are people fighting on TV?”, an innocent child asked his mom, after watching the clash between the police and the protesters last week on TV.
This question prompted Zuha Tiwana, the mother of that child, to pen down the consequences that the national-level circus has had on the public’s welfare.
The Propaganda War Between India and Pakistan Post-Pulwama
After the Pulwama attack in India, tensions between both Pakistan and India rose rapidly. The escalation eventually culminated in an aerial dogfight where an Indian MiG-21 was downed by Pakistan and its pilot, Abhinandan, captured.
To save face, India began a propaganda campaign claiming that a Pakistani F-16 was downed by India. This led to a massive war of words between both countries characterized by lies, jingoism, hyperbole, and nationalism.
While both countries’ media were to be blamed for the preceding, the Indian media was more culpable for displaying such negative traits. Eventually, this propaganda war was settled by international news agencies and organizations that corrected many false Indian claims, especially the one relating to the alleged downed Pakistani F-16.
The final nail in the coffin was when a US inventory check asserted that no Pakistani F-16s were missing and therefore Pakistan came out as the victor in the dogfight as well as the propaganda war.
The Role of Hydropolitics in Pakistan’s Water Crisis
Ayesha Javaid discusses how Pakistan has been embroiled in politics over water resources since its independence – at both local and international levels.
Pakistan and India initially had disagreements over the Indus Basin, which was finally settled by the Indus Water Treaty in 1960. However, with India now demanding modifications in the 62-year-old treaty, serious water-based conflicts between the two countries are a likely possibility.
Pakistan also faces water troubles within, as provincial governments have failed to reach an agreement over the much-needed construction (& even usage) of dams.
Violent Protests in Pakistan: A Hollow Endeavour?
As Pakistanis, we’re accustomed to placing the blame on others and seeking remedies through sit-ins and protests that characteristically morph into violent and fruitless endeavours.
This time, however, it won’t just stop with arrests and economic contractions as the economy is closely inching towards a catastrophic collapse.
Pakistan’s Need for Civic Education
The paper emphasizes the importance of civic education for a truly democratic state. It is certainly Pakistan’s best bet for promoting active political participation, increasing civic engagement in political activities, and encouraging healthy voting behaviors, while improving the constitutional literacy of the populace.
This paper also tackles ways to improve civic education and engagement in Pakistan by analyzing the German model of civic education.
The Washington Declaration: Revisiting the US-South Korean Security Commitment
The Washington Declaration is the name given to the very recent revised commitment between South Korea and the US on the 27th of April, 2023.
The declaration seeks to reinforce the US-South Korean alliance for the security interests of both in the region.
The US’s antagonism towards Chinese influence and South Korea’s uneasiness with North Korea’s nuclear expansion and missile capabilities have forced both of them to establish a Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) to strengthen deterrence against North Korea.
Faith in Imran Khan
The nation’s in a frenzy, but the political elite could care less about the economic woes of the public.
In the absence of good governance by the current political leadership, Imran Khan and his party are continually raising the hopes of a better tomorrow.
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.
Who is Rahul Gandhi?
Rahul Gandhi, an MP until just recently and the descendant of Jawaharlal Nehru, has been sentenced to two years in prison for a four-year-old defamation case.
This sentence has been spurred by the popularity of Rahul Gandhi’s Congress Party and the success of the Unite India March against the BJP government.
What Does 2023 Hold for Pakistan?
In just the last two months, significant political harm has been done to the government, to major institutions and their reputations, as well as to the general elite. This is a direct result of the issues posed by inflation and the additional drastic deterioration of consumer capabilities.
Hina Anwar believes that the comparative economic advantage of Pakistan’s rivals (e.g. India) will further pull the country into political and economic crises.
Such crises are likely to manifest in the short term, as a fresh wave of terrorist attacks by the TTP, Daesh, and the separatists in Balochistan.
The PML-Q Breakup: Family Feud or Brilliant Politics?
PML-Q has recently been in the limelight due to the conflicts happening within the party. In a shocking turn of events, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi have parted ways, with Elahi now pledging loyalty to PTI.
Aleena Imran discusses how the tight-knit cousins have pledged their loyalty to different political figures throughout history – just to protect their own interests.
She also notes how this televised feud could be a part of their political strategy, so that the ‘Chaudhrys win’ – no matter which party is in power.