Talimand Khan
Daily Times
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Past articles by Talimand:
Silence beyond September
Nawaz Sharif is back in prison after the expiry of six weeks bail on medical grounds, and yet the government seems to be in an impasse. This is a very unique time wherein the patrons of the current dispensation desperately need two bailout packages: financial as well as political. Unlike the past, the powers perhaps … → Read More
Demilitarise the judicial system
The 50 men whose death sentences were recently set aside by the Peshawar High Court would not have been alive had they been sentenced during the first two-year term of military courts when there was no right to appeal. After militarisation of politics and politicisation of judiciary, militarisation of judiciary was the missing piece to … → Read More
Afghanistan wading through blood
Afghanistan is one of those unfortunate states in the world that has continuously bled for about 200 years for no fault of its own. First with the advent of the colonial power in the form of the East India Company and later through a formalisation of the British Raj. The major reason is the important … → Read More
A strategically silent Nawaz
Silence has its own language but some silences, particularly in the political sphere, assumes its own connotations and its prolongation actually turns torturous for the opponents. Currently, silent Nawaz Sharif is no less than a dilemma and an enigma that has turned into anxiety for certain quarters. Seemingly in troubled waters, the uneasiness in the … → Read More
SP Tahir’s abduction and murder
For the last one and a half decades there is an enforced new normal in the land of the pure. If you or your loved one has gone missing, a euphemism for abduction or forceful disappearance, only silence can protect you from further devastation. Raising voice or making noise may not only cause physical or … → Read More
Saraiki or South Punjab province?
There are melodies in languages but it is a rarity that a language is melodious. Do visit a Saraiki Jhoak if you want to feel the softness of language and humbleness of culture. For elevation of soul, Ghulam Fareed’s mystical poetry will nurture the need for love and tranquillity. Hailing from the rugged Northwest visiting … → Read More
Time to Ruminate
After a long imposed ordeal of 9 years, Asia Bibi was saved from the gallows by a three member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan through its landmark verdict of overturning her death sentence. Asia Bibi, a Christian and a mother of four, hailing from an impoverished background, was accused of blasphemy during an … → Read More
PTM’s roars continue
Trampling all odds, Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement(PTM) is consistently proving its resilience, relevance and ingenuity despite facing relentless onslaught, hurdles and threats. The PTM’s public gathering in Bannu on October 28, 2018 was an unprecedented feat accomplished by its young leaders and workers. The rally was one of the largest and hugely attended events in the … → Read More
Royal chopping of dissent
The lurid details of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder emerging in the press, put to shame all the previous terminologies and metaphors of savagery, mostly attributed to the so called dark ages and medieval era. Savagery, barbarism, tyranny and tyrants are not mere attributes of a specific era but are part of a mind-set which still exists, … → Read More
Constitution ‘held in abeyance’ due to judicial activism: Nawaz
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif Tuesday said that constitution has been virtually ‘held in abeyance’ due to the ongoing ‘judicial activism’ in the country. “Constitution stands suspended on account of judicial activism, leading to crippling of the executive as none of the government organs is working,” he told a seminar titled … → Read More
Perception is reality
What you perceive is reality and reality cannot be denied. What the Pakhtun perceive is reality for them and instead of denying reality it should be taken into consideration. Pakhtun’s relationship with the state and the federation is passing through a critical phase and requires a statesman like attention not a militarised response. After a … → Read More
Orwellian era
The valley of Swat once described as a sanctum of peace and tranquillity has turned into a garrison for people whose integrity is compromised frequently, if not on a daily basis, by the security personnel. “Who are you? Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Show your identity!” How does one feel if … → Read More
Burying mortality to germinate immortality
Fighting against whom did not matter but fighting for what and how was the basic ethos of the indomitable Asma Jahangir’s philosophy and strategy of struggle. Perhaps, she internalised the strategy of do not look at the height of the peak which you want to scale, but just keep climbing. Just imagine, an 18-year-old girl … → Read More
Post #PashtunLongMarch
The #PashtunLongMarch started from D I Khan on January 26, 2018 by the Pakhtun youth which culminated into ten days long sit in in front of Islamabad press club. The march and sit in were ignited by the murder of young Naqeeb Mahsud in a fake police encounter in Karachi. The sit in was called … → Read More
If fallen on deaf ears
When nobody listens to your cries and cares about your pains and pangs, the natural corollary is either one should become louder or be silent and contemplate own way out. The Pakhtun protesting in Islamabad are facing the same dilemma. The nearly week-long Pakhtun sit in from different areas of the country in Islamabad are … → Read More
Muddy waters and blind fish
One of the predominant theories about the origin of the state, outweighing the Force and Divine theories is, the‘Social Contract Theory. It fundamentalises the origin of the state and provides legitimacy to its monopoly of using force for the protection of life, property and honour of individuals. The Social Contract theorises that, ‘individuals have consented, … → Read More
The Balochistan episode
The recent blatant political machinations in an unscrupulous manner not only exposed the vulnerability of the democratic order and the heavy handed tactics of the powers to be, it also proved that Balochistan is not only a strategic but a political backyard where controlled political explosion can be carried out any time. Not learning from … → Read More
Parliament should formulate all policies: Achakzai
SWAT: The constitution is not only a shred of the paper a social contract between the federation and federating units and citizens and the state. Under the constitution, an elected parliament should have monopoly over formulating policies of the federation, said Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman, said on Sunday. He was … → Read More
‘Individuals’ can’t minus me: Nawaz
QUETTA: Continuing with his criticism of the Supreme Court-sanctioned Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the Panamagate case, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that no one could “minus” a person who had been “plus” by the public. He was addressing a mammoth public gathering along with Mahmood Khan Achakzai, which had been … → Read More
Prophecy of fallacies
After seven decades, we could not decide which system of governance is suitable and workable for a country claimed to be created on the basis of an ideology. Currently, once again, the target is the parliamentary system held responsible for all the wrongs under the sun. However, no system can work when its detractors and … → Read More