Blaze News - Pakistan

We are the democrats and defend democracy to death. We are the saviours of the country. We'll change the fate of the country - once again - should we be given more power. We don't play politics; politics forcibly plays us. We liberate politics. Don't we? For we are politically apolitical and apolitically political. We guaranteed civil supremacy and democratic tenets. All at the cost of our politics. We, the public servants, serve the masses that no others could. We are the guardians of the Constitution. We are the fountainheads and speakers of truth. We, the intellectuals, guard the people's interests. We are the champions of the divine tenets. We are personifications of Prometheus, Moses, Theseus, Heracles, Mandela, King Arthur and the reincarnations of Houyi, Beowulf and Cú Chulainn. These catchphrases have been preached by all the centres of power for decades in the country. What these aphorisms truly mean - and whether they align with reality - demands h...

In Kashmore, Kandhkot, Tangwani, Badani and Ghouspur towns of Kashmore district, 'peace' is merely a brief interval of fear, insecurity and uncertainty between murders, kidnappings and extortion. Even these periods of peace are fleeting. In the past week, five people were killed within three days in Kandhkot and its surroundings, not to mention extortions and robberies. These incidents are a fraction of the criminality sweeping across the district, suggesting an alarming criminal rot. Equally alarming is the scant attention this criminality receives in mainstream media. With a vast riverine area, Kashmore has long been a refuge for criminal gangs which launch their activities and then retreat to the safety of the challenging kutcha terrain. However, the threat from dacoits has recently escalated. Armed with advanced weaponry, emboldened by weak governance, and aided by patrons and intermediaries, bandit gangs operate with impunity, carrying out kidnappings for ransom, extortion...

All cruelty springs from weakness. —Lucius Annaeus Seneca   The foundational philosophy underlying the evolution of society was the establishment of a predictable order, an inclusive social framework, and the sustainable fulfillment of needs. This objective was achieved through the implementation of laws aimed at creating order and diminishing the inherent chaos of life. These laws delineated individual rights and established sanctions and enforcement mechanisms. Nevertheless, social exclusions, differential access to resources and varying stakes expose flaws in the design and implementation of laws. These flaws give rise to social injustice and cruel practices, encompassing physical violence as well as emotional, social, political, ethnic and economic exploitation. Despite the extensive legal framework in place, the question arises: where does cruelty within a society originate? The answer lies in comprehending the motivations behind cruelty and its intricate connection with vulne...