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Rafia Zakaria, ‘The approaching verdict’
Dawn, 29 May 2024
“However, at the end of the day, a felon is a felon, and a felon is what Donald Trump will be if the jury of 12 New Yorkers decides that the prosecution has met its burden of proof and shown beyond reasonable doubt that the former president did, in fact, order his attorney to pay hush money to Daniels and then lied about it on his business records. The prosecution’s main witnesses, Stormy Daniels herself and the attorney Michael Cohen, performed well on the witness stand. While the defence was able to poke some holes into the credibility of attorney Michael Cohen, it is unclear if this helped, because the fact that a shady character like Cohen would be Trump’s attorney boosts the perception that Trump was doing shady things. Similarly, Daniels was able to hold her own on the stand despite protracted efforts by Trump’s attorneys to highlight her work in the sex industry as the basis for her lack of credibility.”
Abdul Rafay Siddiqui, ‘It’s a seth’s world’
The News International, 29 May 2024
“The employee is at the mercy of the ‘seth’ – the supreme leader who not only controls the working hours of the employee but may also control the personal time of the employee. WhatsApp messages, phone calls and emails after working hours have been normalized and considered accepted practice to fulfil company goals and objectives. Every matter has become urgent. We may recall from our childhood that when our parents came home from work, they would spend time with their children, watch television, have dinner and help with our homework. However, today’s children will grow up watching their parents work on laptops, even after their parents have arrived home. This is not a healthy work-life balance.”
Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, ‘Do we need a Charter for Change?’
The News International, 29 May 2024
“First things first, let’s recognize that Pakistan is not lacking in policies. On the contrary, there is an abundance of policies and counter-policies across various sectors, each designed with specific objectives in mind. However, the implementation of these policies often occurs within isolated departmental boundaries, leading to missed opportunities for synergy and collaboration. This lack of an integrated approach results in policies that do not complement or support one another, ultimately undermining their effectiveness. This fragmentation is particularly problematic for a country like Pakistan, where interrelated challenges require cohesive and coordinated responses.”
Editorial, ‘First steps’
Dawn, 29 May 2024
“On Saturday, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur finally attended the SIFC meeting to which he had previously not been invited, and it seems to have gone well. The federal information minister later issued a glowing appraisal of the development, stating, “I think today’s meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere with great positivity […] I think the good thing is that a message of unity was sent after today’s SIFC meeting that the centre and the provinces are on one page.” Mr Gandapur, too, described it as “a very good meeting”, while iterating that his province’s resources should benefit both its residents and the larger country. He promptly apprised his party chief, Imran Khan, of the discussion in a visit to Adiala Jail. Then, on Monday, the KP chief minister also managed to reach an understanding with the ministers of interior and power over his province’s power issues, signalling a shift away from his government’s confrontational stance.”
Editorial, ‘Hostage to the mob’
The News International, 29 May 2024
“Pakistan has decided to ignore the ever-evolving problem of intolerance that has been eating away the country’s social fabric. Last week, mob violence in Sargodha once again reminded authorities of their failure to protect minority communities in the country. According to reports, on Saturday (May 25), a Christian family was targeted by a mob when the family’s neighbours alleged they were guilty of blasphemy. Other members of the Christian community were also attacked. Thankfully, the situation was brought under control after the police rescued the two Christian families and thwarted the lynching attempt. The incident was dangerously similar to the Jaranwala mob attack last year that left scores of homes and buildings belonging to Christians burnt and severely damaged.”
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