(By Quratulain Khalid) The recent sentencing of Sheikh Hasina Wajed to death by a Dhaka tribunal on November 17, 2025, marks a poetic yet overdue reckoning. This verdict, handed down in absentia for her role in the brutal 2024 crackdown that claimed over 800 lives, exposes the fragility of her so-called “iron-clad” rule and the…
(By Khalid Masood) I. Introduction On the morning of November 14, 2025, Patna’s counting centers turned into theatres of disbelief. As the NDA’s tally surged past 200 seats, shell-shocked RJD workers gathered outside the strong rooms shouting “EVM chor hain!” In Muzaffarpur, an elderly woman—her calloused hands clutching a State Bank passbook—summed up the election…
(By Ayesha Mahnoor) The State of Pakistani Politics Today In Pakistan, a nation founded on the ideals of Islamic justice and self-determination, politics has become synonymous with betrayal, corruption, and self-enrichment. According to the common perception, the current phase of political activity is in the hands of people who are so self-serving and devoid of…
(By Quratulain Khalid) In Pakistan, where cultural emphasis on medicine and engineering has long defined “success,” a seismic shift is underway. Parents across the region, from bustling Karachi to the serene valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, still envision their children’s futures through the lens of white coats and hard hats. Yet, as the world hurtles toward…
(By Mohsin Tanveer) Introduction The integrity of a legislative body is paramount to a functioning democracy, yet in countries like Pakistan, the indirect election process for the upper house—the Senate—has been consistently plagued by allegations of vote-buying and “horse-trading.” This practice, where wealthy individuals allegedly purchase their seats by paying huge sums to electors (Members…
(By Ayesha Mahnoor) I. Introduction Afghanistan, a landlocked country situated at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, has long relied on its neighbors for trade. Pakistan, in particular, has historically been a key trading partner. However, recent political tensions, economic grievances, and security concerns have prompted the Afghan government to announce a decision to stop all trade…
(By Khalid Masood) In the rugged terrains of South Waziristan, near the volatile Afghan border, a nightmare from Pakistan’s past nearly repeated itself on the night of November 10, 2025. What began as a brazen assault on Cadet College Wana—a premier institution grooming the nation’s future military leaders—unfolded into a tense, hours-long siege that tested…
(By Khalid Masood) Introduction The question of disarming Hamas stands at the heart of one of the most enduring and volatile conflicts of the modern world. Since the group’s formation in the late 1980s, Hamas has evolved from a religious-political movement into a multifaceted force that governs, resists, and survives. Every major military escalation in…
(By Ayesha Mahnoor) The principles of separation of powers and checks and balances are fundamental to modern democracy. Originating in the work of Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws (1748) and enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, they grant distinct authorities to the legislature, executive and judiciary so no single institution becomes absolute. In a…
(By Quratulain Khalid) I. Introduction On November 5, 2025, New York City made history as 34-year-old Zohran Kwame Mamdani surged to victory in the mayoral race, securing over 50% of the vote against formidable challengers. Democratic socialist Mamdani, a Queens state assemblyman since 2021, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an independent with 40%+)…
