Aasim Sajjad Akhtar Many readers will recognise that the title of this column is borrowed from an online marketplace that is increasingly popular in Pakistan. This refrain is emblematic of the ideas that dominate our society and world, ideas that most of us endorse uncritically on a daily basis. My question is: what’s the difference between the slogan ‘Bech de!’ …
Professional bodies of teachers, students, workers, doctors and political activists reject IMF’s bailout prescriptions, cut in PSDP Herald Report Academics, students, workers, young doctors and progressive activists have rejected the proposed plan of privatisation of key sectors of education, health and cut in education budget. The recent decisions of privatizing health sectors and cut in budget for Higher Education Commission …
By Noor Akbar Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Shafqat Mahmood after taking the oath of office and on a number of occasions had vowed to introduce a uniform syllabus under a new education policy during the tenure of the incumbent government. This was published by mainstream media including Dawn. PTI had been making such statements long before …
Herald Report A number of academics from public and private educational institutes of the city have set up a forum for protection of academic freedom and articulate progressive interventions based on scholarly research. This was announced during a discussion on the crises of Pakistani universities and mapping a progressive future at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) office in …
Saad Sayeed ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that he would not hesitate to make more changes to his cabinet if required a day after a major reshuffle that saw the appointment of a new finance minister and nine other ministerial switches. The cabinet shakeup, which comes eight months after Khan took office, included the replacement of …
FAYYAZ Chohan, the improbably titled — now former — Punjab minister for information and culture, has once again demonstrated his boundless capacity for uncouthness and bigotry. A video of him has emerged on social media that shows him making vile, derogatory remarks against Hindus in his trademark combative style. The occasion was an event in Lahore on Feb 24, and …
Chief Justice Athar minallah directs PTA to submit a response within two weeks HAH Report ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has put the telecom watchdog on notice on a petition filed by the Awami Workers’ Party (AWP) against blockage of its official website. Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday admitted the petition for regular hearing after initial arguments and issued …
HAH Report Political systems across the world have undergone a wave of populism, and are hard pressed to balance majoritarian political demands against fundamental human rights. Nowhere is this contest more visible than on social media where the worst tendencies of online political participation are demonstrated in policy debates on human rights, development and peace. This discussion was taken up …
By Osama Siddique First, both choices are rather toxic — fans, often abusive, show blind, cult-like devotion to ‘demigod’ Imran Khan; and critics, often scornful, reserve instinctive, pathological malice for every syllable that he utters. Collectively, they deeply polarise conversations about him and jeopardise any fair and balanced assessment of his personality and politics. I shall steer well clear of …
ISLAMABAD: As the government investigates gas price hike controversy amid criticism from domestic consumers, a serious shortage has hit the country with delay in the berthing of Q-flex cargo of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), affecting almost all sectors of economy. “The situation is very serious. Gas supply to power plants, fertiliser plants, general industry and CNG sectors has already been …
