Justice or Hypocrisy?
This past decade has witnessed a significant change in the socio-political dynamics of Pakistan. The revival of democracy , restoration of Judiciary and the 2013 transition of power were all major contributors…
France “Burqa Ban”: Just Anti-Islam or Anti-Women Too?
France, by popular claim, is a secular republic where religion is treated as a personal and private matter. Hence, the French feel that anything and everything that symbolizes a religion must be…
Justice Hurried Is Justice Buried
The Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Ordinance, 2015 was promulgated by the government of Punjab as part of the National Action Plan to curb and counter terrorist activities that have long been a…
How To Close The Gender Gap? Get Political
“All men are born equal.” There is no doubt that this ideal should include women. However, since time immemorial, women from all walks of life have been subjected to patriarchal attitudes. Throughout…
Finding a Fine Balance: The CAT and the Third World’s Dilemma
Historically, the notion that force could be used to derive the truth has often tempted persons to resort to the chair of torture, turning away from Lady Justice. The United Nations Convention…
The Conditions of Women’s Human Rights
“My silences had not protected me. Your silences will not protect you.” Audre Lorde had it right when she said that women have been taught to respect fear more than their own…
License to Abuse
The attack at the Charlie Hebdo’s offices in Paris, a French satirical magazine, leaving 12 people killed for what they have published, left the world in general and the champions of freedom…
Marital Rape Lives On In Pakistan
Marital rape, the term itself, confuses many people. Is it actually rape if it happens between husband and wife? Most people believe that there is no such thing as rape within a…
I tube, you tube, we all scream YouTube
In the year 2010, during the month of May, Pakistani authorities shut down the popular social networking site Facebook, as it was allegedly hosting certain ‘blasphemous’ pages. Not much time went by…
UK Election Results 2015: A Boost to the Residential Property Market
Overseas investors can breathe a sigh of relief as David Cameron makes his way back into 10 Downing Street, seizing an unexpected overall majority vote. The run up to the General Election…
Laws Governing Air Warfare
Laws Governing Air Warfare Although States have not adopted a specific regulation of modern air warfare, it is evident that the general principles of international humanitarian law apply. Aerial bombardment, for instance,…
Avoiding Electronic Crimes or the Fundamental Rights?
Recently, a large hue and cry has been raised by the public at large when the outcome of “years of drafting and consultations” has been presented before the National Assembly by the…
The Case for signing the Apostille Treaty
Introduction Migrating or making investments abroad invariably involves transfer of various documents. Notarization and legalization of documents is an important but cumbersome step in cross border exchange of public documents. Notarization is…
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Pakistan
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are an important pillar of the human rights framework and the below average results in this area are a poor reflector on the general human…
Reviewing the Punishment of Apostasy in Islamic Law
Apostasy or Irtidad in Arabic literally means to ‘backslide.’ In Islamic terminology it is ‘turning away from Islam’ or ‘severing the ties with Islam’ and a person who abandons Islam is called…
Signs of a Failed Legal System
The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index offers a detailed, multidimensional view of the extent to which countries adhere to the rule of law in practice. In arriving at its conclusions,…