The Quaid
He not only dominated the world that he lived in. He reshaped it Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can…
Deft, delicate and damning
A sequence of timely moves leaves the opposition reeling Candid Corner “I sometimes think that people’s hearts are like deep wells. Nobody knows what is at the bottom. All you can do…
Dark dungeons of crime
Custodians of the illicit with no shame in theft Candid Corner “It was as good as sealing yourself into a dungeon: walled in, with nowhere to go but your own doom.” -Haruki…
Slaves of the oligarchs
It is time to sift right from wrong and true from false Candid Corner “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were…
Deception, delusion, destruction
Insisting on continuing the protest borders on making fodder of innocent people Candid Corner “When we don’t put the brakes on our self-absorption, we have nothing stopping us from total self-destruction. We…
No shifting the goalposts
The parasites having denuded the state of its potential and promise must be eliminated “Goals – there is no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There is…
Gilgit-Baltistan elections and after
A darkening and depleting cell of political wilderness “I have studied pathological liars. Anything they say, they believe. That is one of the reasons they are so convincing because they have no…
A leaky boat hankers for the shores
Capsizing appears a veritable reality Candid Corner “In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.” —Warren Buffett In spite of setbacks…
Crossing the red lines
With a sordid history of crimes behind them, the long arm of the law waits in front Candid Corner “Without strong watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of…
Nestled in a world of conceit and conspirac
Evil stalks in the dark, hovers above in the light, but strikes at all times “The world is a dangerous place to live not because of the people who are evil, but…
Dynamics of an ill-intentioned agitation
A classic case of thieves joining hands to save the spoils of their thievery “The motive behind criticism often determines its validity. Those who care criticise where necessary. Those who envy criticise…
A three-layered badge of shame
A coalition of criminals coming together in a last-ditch battle for survival “Commit a crime and the world is made of glass. Commit a crime and it seems as if a coat…
The Tomahawk gambit
Not a mere faux pas, but a calculated attempt to sabotage the state “It is standard practice for corrupt leaders who are seeking a certain political outcome to hype or manipulate a…
Politics of bankruptcy
Romance by the night, tantrums by the light “The path of life is strewn with many perils and the folly of knowledge is one of the greatest dangers. Wisdom is a treacherous…
No compromise, no going slow, no reprieve
Chickens have come home to roost Candid Corner “Shame on the misguided, the blinded, the distracted and the divided. Shame! You have allowed deceptive men to corrupt and desensitise your hearts and…
Human sufferance and belittlement
Discrimination ingrained deeply in the psyche of the ruling elite Candid Corner “Just take any step, whether small or large, and then another, and repeat day after day. It may take months,…
Demise of politics
Instead of serving the people, insatiable greed to accumulate and usurp Candid Corner “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices.” George Orwell The…