Pakistan
Anti-Army Sentiments Simmer
While Nawaz Sharif’s premature exit as Pakistan’s prime minister led him to confront the military leadership, it is Imran Khan’s departure that has seen anti-army sentiment explode across the country.
Cholera-Hit Town Left to Go Thirsty
As the Pakistani government develops Balochistan’s Gwadar into a deep sea port under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the problems faced by the rest of the province get brushed under the rug. This year, even before the devastating floods, Balochistan's water needs were sidelined leading to multiple epidemics.
Pakistan Takes Stock of Damage by Floods
The commute from Karachi to Lasbela in Balochistan takes around three hours, but after the floods and damage to infrastructure, it is taking much longer. Relief camps dot the road as thousands return home to take stock of the damage.
Pakistan Drowns in Floods of Others’ Making
Everything unjust and broken in Pakistan is going to grow dramatically worse because of climate change, and the poor and vulnerable will carry a disproportionate share of the burden.
In Karachi, Street Food Tells a Story of Division and Unity
As exiles and immigrants come and go, they leave their mark on the street food. The politics ushers in years of violence, followed by years of peace. Yet the underlying divisions that cut across the city remain the same. Even in its togetherness, Karachi stands divided in its identity.
Islamic Views on Blasphemy Are More Complex Than Pakistani Courts Admit
Islamic scholars in freer societies should help Pakistan by sharing a message that is crucial for the future of not just this Muslim nation but also Islam itself: Killing or tormenting innocent people in the name of the Prophet Muhammad doesn’t protect his “honor.” If anything, it only defames Islam.
In South Asia, a Battle Against Taboos on Female Sexuality
Young girls in Pakistan often grow up being told they can do certain things after marriage, and daughters in South Asia are often referred to as guests in their parents’ house until their marriage, waiting to be given away to their husbands at the right time.