Pakistan's Westernized founding fathers and their successors loved to have a drink and sat on the periodic demands of a ban on alcohol until the 1970s when the prohibition—at least on paper—was imposed
Tag: Nawaz Sharif
Partly Rooted In Varna, How Biradari System Remains Relevant in Pakistan
The biradari system is among the crucial factors in Pakistan's elections particularly in rural areas of the Punjab province, which sends 55% of lawmakers to the National Assembly
Exploring India-Pakistan Cultural Affinity Beyond Divided Punjab
The cultural affinity between India and Pakistan is often framed in terms of cross-border Punjabis but there is much more to it with divided mercantile communities such as Gujaratis being a case in point
Two To Tango: Breakthrough In India-Pakistan Ties Is Unlikely
Bharatiya Janata Party's projection as the only bulwark against the belligerent neighbour Pakistan and its alleged allies within has paid rich political dividends to India's ruling party, making any breakthrough in hostile ties between the two countries increasingly difficult
How Broken Polity Contributed To Pakistan’s Economic Crisis
Pakistan's ruling elite is notorious for its inability to see beyond its noses and much of the country's woes is a result of this
How Association With Corrosive Power Mutated Idea Of Sufism
The idea of 'Sufism', which in its present form has little to do with saints and their teachings, has long mutated with the association of those helming shrines purely by virtue of heredity with corrosive power, patronage, and vanity By Sameer Arshad Khatlani When Mardan Shah, better known as Pir Pagara, died in 2012 in … Continue reading How Association With Corrosive Power Mutated Idea Of Sufism
Why India Sulked Over Secular Constitution Of Nepal
Many Nepalese conceded the constitution may be imperfect but is federal, republican, and secular and can be amended to accommodate the concerns of disgruntled ethnic groups but there was more to India’s disapproval
Curious Case Of Prohibition In Pakistan: High Or Dry
Prohibition in Pakistan has been relaxed over the years with provincial governments granting more permits to individuals and hotels to sell alcohol amid a debate on the benefits of the liquor ban
How Urdu-Speaking Muhajir Domination Shaped Pakistan
Urdu-Speaking Muhajirs accounted for 3.5 percent of united Pakistan’s population in the 1960s but they occupied 21 percent of the positions in the civil services that helped them shape the country in its infancy including through the adoption of their mother tongue as the national language
Matter Of Life, Death: Right Man As Pakistan Army Chief
One Prime Minister ended up losing his life and another almost spent the rest of it behind bars despite thinking they covered all the bases for having the right man for Pakistan's top job: Army chief