Umair Javed

Customers versus clients

Customers versus clients

There is something dystopic about the fact that two children born a few hundred metres apart can have drastically different Published 18 Mar, 2024 07:02am
Moral visions

Moral visions

In Pakistan’s current space-time configuration, the language of politics has changed dramatically. Updated 04 Mar, 2024 09:44am
Ruptures in 2024

Ruptures in 2024

It is useful to draw out some trends that emerge from these otherwise compromised polls. Updated 19 Feb, 2024 11:31am
Why vote?

Why vote?

The anonymity of the voting process is not perfect in Pakistan, but it still offers a chance for throwing up surprises. Updated 05 Feb, 2024 11:00am
The wind vs the people?

The wind vs the people?

In a lopsided playing field such as this one, what chance does an out-of-favour party have? Updated 22 Jan, 2024 10:42am
Smog season

Smog season

Given what needs to be done to clean up Pakistan’s air, the scale of the task is daunting. Updated 27 Nov, 2023 08:52am
Why we should care

Why we should care

If humiliation is to be rightly opposed in Palestine, then it can offer a lesson in opposing humiliation of people closer to home. Updated 13 Nov, 2023 09:12am
A malignant settlement

A malignant settlement

A political settlement that can produce sustained development eludes the country. Updated 30 Oct, 2023 10:01am
Regressive overlaps

Regressive overlaps

Outpouring of India's online support for Israel is the outcome of deeply entrenched anti-Muslim sentiment. Updated 16 Oct, 2023 09:09am
A long four years

A long four years

PML-N supporters appear to feel less strongly about their party than PTI supporters do about theirs. Updated 02 Oct, 2023 09:54am
Whither public service?

Whither public service?

The basic function of the state in a developing country is to provide welfare to the poorest, something that markets on their own cannot do. Updated 18 Sep, 2023 09:58am
Burning bills

Burning bills

The deprivation story is straightforward: in Pakistan, nearly everyone, except for a select few, has to pay for electricity. Published 04 Sep, 2023 07:28am
Who set fire to Jaranwala?

Who set fire to Jaranwala?

A preliminary analysis of the tragedy shows that anti-minority mob violence has two aspects. Updated 21 Aug, 2023 08:44am
The Egypt model

The Egypt model

What we are seeing is a complete reconfiguration of the way both political and economic power is exercised in this country. Updated 07 Aug, 2023 09:35am
Four key trends

Four key trends

Are there other, deeper changes taking place that may signal a future source of disruption between state and society? Published 24 Jul, 2023 07:03am
Sources of instability

Sources of instability

Pakistani politics, especially in the mainstream, demonstrates gaps with society fairly frequently. Updated 10 Jul, 2023 09:03am
Escape and helplessness

Escape and helplessness

We are in a situation where no one has anything to offer when it comes to a larger cultural and political vision of where the... Published 26 Jun, 2023 05:45am
Is the party over?

Is the party over?

Surviving a concerted campaign seeking to dismantle the party is not straightforward. Updated 12 Jun, 2023 09:12am
Lahore’s forgotten villages

Lahore’s forgotten villages

The trend of devouring agricultural land for low-density planned development accelerated when lucrative returns from real... Published 15 May, 2023 07:05am