Himal Southasian (Page 254)

Fighting Hudood, protecting women

Pakistan votes to amend rape laws 15 November 2006: Pakistan's national assembly votes to amend the country's strict Sharia laws on rape and adultery. Until now

By The Editors

/ 9 Dec 2008

The compatibility of democracy

The Pakistani intelligentsia is used to bemoaning, in addition to the overdeveloped state structure, the disease of authoritarianism that threatens the future of democracy in Pakistan. This disease is nurtured,

By The Editors

/ 9 Dec 2008

Fighting for constitutional primacy in Pakistan

The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty … Let us then admit that force does not create

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

The democratic uncertainty of Pakistan

Everyone in Pakistan wants democracy; ironically, this includes the army, which intervenes every now and then to put the country back on the rails and introduce 'true' democracy.

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

‘East of the Railway Tracks, Section 2’

In this section of a larger panorama, Venantius J Pinto shows us a village that may be the epitome of decrepit. Ramshackle structures stand with walls cracked and doors off-

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

The revival of Nepali politics

The political agreement reached by the Seven-Party Alliance on 9 November and a peace agreement signed between the two sides on 21 November, besides committing the Maoists to abandoning

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

Hope amidst explosions

President Mahinda Rajapakse's decision to open the A9 Highway to Jaffna as a one-time measure to send humanitarian supplies to Jaffna has come as a surprise, albeit

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

Sachar’s Damning Report

Muslims remain the silent underclass of secular India. From lack of access to education to negligible representation in public employment, they lag behind on all socio-economic indicators. A new

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

Round-up of regional news

INDIA/PAKISTAN More trains, not too many New Delhi and Islamabad have given signals recently that they are keen to build on the initial success of their crossborder train lines.

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

Bangladeshi standoff

The political situation in Bangladesh has become so volatile that anything a reporter writes runs the risk of being out of date by the time it gets to print. The

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

Back to their corners

The proposed free trade area agreement between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is unlikely to materialise in the near future. Deep divisions have crept up

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008

Sri Lanka’s international straitjacket

While the history of the current process of Sri Lanka's globalisation goes back to the colonial period, the opening up of the country's economy 40 years

By The Editors

/ 8 Dec 2008