The Friday Times
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News and views not fit for print
Rape convictions converted to fornication. Harassment law narrowed without hearing the federation. This article argues the problem is not a lack of sustained effort by women — it is the fragility of every gain they make. By Nida Usman Chaudhry www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Women’s Rights On Loop
The women's rights agenda in Pakistan does not suffer from a lack of effort; it suffers from a lack of finality, where a single misogynistic pen can erase
thefridaytimes.com
The Cornwallis Code, the Permanent Settlement, the defeat of Tipu Sultan — and a 1791 order barring Indians from Company service. This article weighs the reforms and the institutional racism of the man who lost America and governed India. By Ahmad Faruqui www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
How General Cornwallis Lost In North America But Conquered In South Asia
Following the surrender of the 13 American colonies, Cornwallis returned to Great Britain on parole – instead of public disgrace, he received a hero's welcome
thefridaytimes.com
"Two steps forward, one step back" was the title of a 1987 book on women in Pakistan. This piece argues that thirty-nine years later, the loop is unchanged: hard-won rights dismantled by the stroke of a single pen. By Nida Usman Chaudhry www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Women’s Rights On Loop
The women's rights agenda in Pakistan does not suffer from a lack of effort; it suffers from a lack of finality, where a single misogynistic pen can erase
thefridaytimes.com
He surrendered 7,000 troops at Yorktown and lost thirteen colonies. He returned home to church bells, a knighthood, and the governorship of India. This article traces how Charles Cornwallis turned defeat in America into empire in Asia. By Ahmad Faruqui www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
How General Cornwallis Lost In North America But Conquered In South Asia
Following the surrender of the 13 American colonies, Cornwallis returned to Great Britain on parole – instead of public disgrace, he received a hero's welcome
thefridaytimes.com
📊 New provinces may bring government closer to citizens, but new assemblies and bureaucracies do not guarantee better services. The test is whether power, funding and accountability reach people. By Abid Hussain www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Pakistan’s Provincial Dilemma: Rethinking Administrative Boundaries
Creating new provinces requires national strength rather than turning it into a source of political confrontation. Ethnic and linguistic sensitivities must be
thefridaytimes.com
Centre says it sent Rs5.87 trillion. Province says Rs4 trillion is owed. Rs700 billion in war-on-terror funds never audited. This article argues the KP fiscal dispute can be settled only by an independent audit, not an emergency decree. By Muhammad Sajjad Anwar www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Emergency In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A National Security Is Imperative Or A Test For The Federation?
The proposed emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be judged not only by severity of militancy crisis but also by its constitutional legitimacy, parliamentary
thefridaytimes.com
Write an elegant op-ed blaming the victim without pointing at the hand holding the gun. This article examines the architecture of evasion in Pakistani commentary — and why zooming in on minutiae is a way of looking away. By Ejaz Haider www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Architecture of Evasion: How Analysts Sanitise Raw Power
The way a problem is “set” dictates what we are permitted to see and how to perceive and analyse it. The current crisis thus becomes a “law and order” issue
thefridaytimes.com
HEC warned families about consultants promising guaranteed foreign admissions in 2023. A warning cannot authenticate an offer letter. This piece argues students need a system that verifies university offers before money changes hands. By Sumreen Younas www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
The Cost Of A Promise That Was Never Kept
Recovering money and recovering confidence are different needs. Students deserve help with both, and reassurance that another person's alleged dishonesty is
thefridaytimes.com
National security and provincial autonomy need not be competing goals. The challenge is ensuring emergency powers remain lawful, proportionate and accountable. Sakib Berjees on Pakistan’s constitutional crisis. www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #RuleOfLaw #Federalism #PakistanPolitics
Pakistan’s Political Crisis: When Constitutional Power Becomes Political Currency
Pakistan’s imposition of emergency measures and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa raises critical questions about constitutional legality, provincial
thefridaytimes.com
From weapons production to post-war reconstruction, conflict can generate profits at multiple stages. Who benefits economically when societies are left in ruins? Akram Saqib explores the war economy. www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #WarAndPeace #GlobalEconomy #DefenseIndustry
The Lucrative Architecture Of Blood: How Death And Destruction Fuel Global Capitalism
War destabilises state infrastructure, destroys law enforcement mechanisms, and displaces millions of vulnerable individuals, creating ideal operating
thefridaytimes.com
The KP emergency raises a broader question for Pakistan: should democratic principles apply equally when political rivals are in power? Mazhar Lakho explores the implications for Sindh. 🇵🇰 www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Sindh #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #RuleOfLaw
How The KP Emergency Could Change Sindh’s Politics
The KP emergency raises questions about PPP’s commitment to democracy and provincial autonomy, and whether its consequences could reshape Sindh’s politics.
thefridaytimes.com
252 million people. Four provinces. Gwadar is 910 km from Quetta; Rahim Yar Khan nearly 600 km from Lahore. This article asks whether Pakistan's current provincial map can still deliver services to the people living at its edges. By Abid Hussain www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Pakistan’s Provincial Dilemma: Rethinking Administrative Boundaries
Creating new provinces requires national strength rather than turning it into a source of political confrontation. Ethnic and linguistic sensitivities must be
thefridaytimes.com
Emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have moved from "what if" to "what now." This article asks whether the step satisfies constitutional mandates under Articles 232 and 234 — and whether it will actually make citizens safer. By Muhammad Sajjad Anwar www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Emergency In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A National Security Is Imperative Or A Test For The Federation?
The proposed emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be judged not only by severity of militancy crisis but also by its constitutional legitimacy, parliamentary
thefridaytimes.com
Litigating a party's tactical failures without reference to the engineered no-confidence vote, the stolen mandate, and the flouted court orders is not analysis. This piece argues it is evasion dressed as rigour. By Ejaz Haider www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
Architecture of Evasion: How Analysts Sanitise Raw Power
The way a problem is “set” dictates what we are permitted to see and how to perceive and analyse it. The current crisis thus becomes a “law and order” issue
thefridaytimes.com
Families need safe ways to verify overseas education offers before paying: direct university checks, written fees, traceable payments and accessible reporting. Prevention should not depend on families navigating the system alone. By Sumreen Younas www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/...
The Cost Of A Promise That Was Never Kept
Recovering money and recovering confidence are different needs. Students deserve help with both, and reassurance that another person's alleged dishonesty is
thefridaytimes.com
Can Pakistan confront its security crisis without turning constitutional power into a political weapon? Sakib Berjees examines the KP emergency, provincial autonomy and the limits of federal authority. ⚖️ www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #Constitution #Democracy
Pakistan’s Political Crisis: When Constitutional Power Becomes Political Currency
Pakistan’s imposition of emergency measures and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa raises critical questions about constitutional legality, provincial
thefridaytimes.com
War is a human tragedy—but it is also an economic system. Akram Saqib examines how arms manufacturers, private contractors and reconstruction firms can profit from prolonged conflict. www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #WarEconomy #GlobalCapitalism #ArmsTrade
The Lucrative Architecture Of Blood: How Death And Destruction Fuel Global Capitalism
War destabilises state infrastructure, destroys law enforcement mechanisms, and displaces millions of vulnerable individuals, creating ideal operating
thefridaytimes.com
Can the PPP defend provincial autonomy in Sindh while supporting emergency rule in KP? Mazhar Lakho examines the political questions surrounding democracy, federalism and Benazir Bhutto’s legacy. ⚖️ www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #PPP #Democracy
How The KP Emergency Could Change Sindh’s Politics
The KP emergency raises questions about PPP’s commitment to democracy and provincial autonomy, and whether its consequences could reshape Sindh’s politics.
thefridaytimes.com
Dr Moonis Ahmar argues that weakening mafia power requires stronger institutions, civic resistance, ethical leadership and zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism. Is reform still possible? www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #Democracy #RuleOfLaw
When Mafias Become The System
Mafias cannot flourish in a society which is based on merit, rule of law and accountability. When the line drawn between right and wrong is blurred and those
thefridaytimes.com
Why has Pakistan struggled to turn its human and natural resources into shared prosperity? Ambassador M. Alam Brohi traces the influence of privileged elites across successive regimes. www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #SocialJustice #Governance
The Betrayal Of A Nation: How Pakistan’s Elite Failed Its People
We have plundered the country; subjected our people to deprivation denying them their basic human rights; constructed a society like a pyramid having small
thefridaytimes.com
Families sell land and pawn jewellery to finance overseas dreams. When admissions turn out to be fake, who protects them? Muhammad Salar Aziz Abbasi examines the cost of migration fraud. 💔 www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #Education #Fraud
The Open-Air Cage: Fake Admissions, Airport Gatekeepers, And A Generation Cornered
A generation desperate to leave Pakistan is being exploited by fake education consultants and obstructed by an unaccountable state that offers little
thefridaytimes.com
When political rivalry paralyses cities and threatens democratic governance, ordinary citizens pay the price. Qamer Soomro calls for restraint, reconciliation and constitutional safeguards. www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #PakistanPolitics #Democracy #Governance
Pakistan Back To Square One: The High Cost Of Political Confrontation
Political ego, confrontation and an unrelenting obsession with power have brought Pakistan back to square one
thefridaytimes.com
Could the Middle East face its own 1914 moment? Shajeel Zaidi explores mutual-defence commitments, Houthi attacks and the risks of a wider regional conflict. ⚠️ www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #MiddleEast #Security #WorldPolitics #Riyadh #Houthi
The Blank Cheque Returns: Why The Riyadh Airport Attack Risks A 1914-Style Cascade
The Riyadh airport attack risks triggering a 1914-style cascade, as rigid defence commitments, proxy warfare and competing regional alliances threaten to turn
thefridaytimes.com
What can Lincoln teach a divided world? His stand against slavery, belief in equality and respect for human dignity offer enduring lessons amid today’s racial, religious and political conflicts. By Akbar Ahmed, Amineh Hoti & Frankie Martin www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #HumanUnity #History
Abraham Lincoln’s Universal Lessons in Human Unity
While Americans view him as their greatest leader, Lincoln's legacy transcends borders, inspiring global heavyweights from Leo Tolstoy and Nelson Mandela to
thefridaytimes.com
An old register can preserve a nation’s unfinished arguments. Zaffar Junejo explores how Sindh’s peasants connected land rights, press freedom and provincial autonomy with Pakistan’s future. 📚 www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #LandReform #CivilLiberties #Sindh #History #Federalism
What Sindhi Peasants Asked For In 1948
An old, handwritten register from 1947–48 preserves the robust debates, grievances, and political vision of the Sindh Hari Committee during Pakistan's
thefridaytimes.com
When mafias infiltrate politics, governance and state institutions, the rule of law suffers—and ordinary citizens pay the price. Dr Moonis Ahmar examines Pakistan’s growing crisis of accountability and corruption. ⚖️ Read more: www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #Governance #RuleOfLaw
When Mafias Become The System
Mafias cannot flourish in a society which is based on merit, rule of law and accountability. When the line drawn between right and wrong is blurred and those
thefridaytimes.com
Pakistan’s entrenched elite, landholding dynasties and power-sharing arrangements have kept ordinary citizens waiting for justice and opportunity. Ambassador M. Alam Brohi examines the cost of elite capture. Read more: www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #Governance #Democracy
The Betrayal Of A Nation: How Pakistan’s Elite Failed Its People
We have plundered the country; subjected our people to deprivation denying them their basic human rights; constructed a society like a pyramid having small
thefridaytimes.com
For Pakistan’s young people, leaving has become more than ambition—it can feel like survival. Muhammad Salar Aziz Abbasi examines fake admissions, alleged exploitation and barriers facing aspiring emigrants. Read more: www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #Youth #Migration
The Open-Air Cage: Fake Admissions, Airport Gatekeepers, And A Generation Cornered
A generation desperate to leave Pakistan is being exploited by fake education consultants and obstructed by an unaccountable state that offers little
thefridaytimes.com
Pakistan’s political confrontation comes at a cost to ordinary citizens. Qamer Soomro examines the toll on livelihoods, democratic institutions and provincial governance—and the need for dialogue. Read more: www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #Pakistan #Democracy #Politics
Pakistan Back To Square One: The High Cost Of Political Confrontation
Political ego, confrontation and an unrelenting obsession with power have brought Pakistan back to square one
thefridaytimes.com
The 1914 lesson is clear: alliances meant to deter conflict can also accelerate escalation. Shajeel Zaidi examines how the Riyadh airport attack could widen regional tensions. 🌍 Read the full article: www.thefridaytimes.com/12-Oct-2026/... #SaudiArabia #MiddleEast #Geopolitics
The Blank Cheque Returns: Why The Riyadh Airport Attack Risks A 1914-Style Cascade
The Riyadh airport attack risks triggering a 1914-style cascade, as rigid defence commitments, proxy warfare and competing regional alliances threaten to turn
thefridaytimes.com