Tag: imran khan
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PAKISTAN HAS CHALLENGES BEYOND POLITICS
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan During my university days in the late sixties and early seventies politics was reentering our civil discourse. After ten years under Ayub Khan, Pakistan transitioned from a “Basic Democracy” system to an “Adult Franchise”. The present borders of Pakistan were then known as West Pakistan where Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto…
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PDM IMPLOSION IS A NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan December 2020 was a tumultuous month in Pakistani politics. It started with thunder, threatening a severe storm but ended in a whimper despite intense rumblings. PML(N)’s de-facto leader Maryam loudly proclaimed a “now or never” agenda for PDM leaders. Lahore’s public meeting on December 13th would unravel PTI’s Government with…
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POLITICOS REMEMBER YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Rustic wisdom emanates from centuries of experience transferred from generation to generation. These universal truths are common amongst cultures and geography. In the subcontinent folklore, it goes as “jo beejo gay so kaato gay”. Yet our political leaders overlook this basic wisdom blinded by the shine and glamour of money…
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SAUDI BLOWBACK LEADS TO CHANGE OF GUARD
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Rub al Khali, the Empty Quarter covers a third of the Arabian Peninsula. It hugs the belly of Saudi Arabia in the south linking it to Yemen, Oman and UAE. Our farm was on the edge of Rub al Khali, south of Riyadh close to an oasis town Al Kharj,…
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PTI NEEDS TO WALK THE TALK FOR COMMON MAN
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan When we joined the New Campus in late sixties, Punjab University had a vibrant rowing club. The boats were shifted from River Ravi to the canal running through the heart of the Campus. The equipment was reserved for the team and discipline was strictly imposed. Not for long when the…
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PAK US RELATIONS IN BIDEN ERA
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan I remember playing weekend cricket in Abbottabad as a kid. One of our playmates used to walk off with the wickets if he got out. A spoiler who could not accept defeat. President Trump reminds me of him. Despite putting up a strong resistance and getting more votes than 2016…
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DESPERATE NAWAZ ENTERS UNCHARTED TERRITORY
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Gujranwala was an interesting show. PML(N) has deep roots there since Zia Ul Haq coupled with “Butt Baradari”. It suited them well. It exploded the myth of PDM as the event unfolded. After Maryam’s speech, the stadium started to empty while Bilawal spoke. Maulana (slot machine) Fazal spoke to empty…
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WHAT IS FUELLING NAWAZ’S BLUSTER?
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Lahore has a unique culture amongst its traditional families in and around the walled city. Blunt and down to earth they enjoy the coziness of shared common walls. Since moving to Lahore I had many friends from this area. In this joint family system sometimes a member would adopt a…
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CCPO TRIGGERS IGP CHANGE- BAD OMEN FOR PTI
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan “Tail wagging the head”. An idiom that befits the present situation. A fifth Inspector General of Police has been posted in two years of PTI Government. Is it normal? Most definitely not. It seems like the trigger is stuck on a rapid fire weapon. The gun should be aimed at…
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2 YEARS OF PREP AND 3 TO DEPLOY
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Pakistan just completed 73 years of existence. We have been through some good, bad and dreadful times. We learn from the past, live in the present and work for the future. There are multiple lessons we can draw on. Without getting bogged down in details we have lived through stalemates,…