Pakistonomy

In this episode, Uzair has a broad conversation with Fasi Zaka about whats going on in Pakistan with the recent student protests, the constitutional amendments, and the state of the broader information ecosystem. We also talked about two of the weirdest amendments being discussed as part of the proposed constitutional amendments and what they mean for Pakistan. Fasi Zaka is a Pakistani political commentator, columnist, radio talk show host, and television anchor. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:20 What’s going on in the PTI? 19:20 Rape allegations and protests 31:20 Media ecosystem and regulations 52:01 Pakistani diaspora supports Trump? 1:00:10 Gaza and the media 1:06:15 Constitutional amendments

Political tensions continue to brew in Pakistan, with the Sharif government facing issues both in Islamabad and in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In this episode, Uzair talks to Arifa Noor about the latest political developments in Pakistan. Arifa Noor is a journalist with Dawn and host of the shows Newswise. We covered what going on with the announcement to ban and then un-ban the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), why the Tehreek-e-Insaf is facing challenges in achieving its goals via protests, and the reasons for the PML-N’s growing confidence in the economy. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 PTM ban 21:20 PTI protests and its impact 28:10 Centers of power in Pakistan 36:53 Economic stability and PML-N’s confidence 51:25 Bilawal’s role in constitutional amendment

The world seems like it is staring into the abyss, with conflicts breaking out across Eurasia. Does this mean that we are entering a new global conflict where the three great powers – the United States, Russia, and China – are entering into direct conflict? What role are smaller powers such as Israel and Iran, playing in all of this? And what do the political systems in the great powers tell us about what comes next? These are the big questions that Dr. Kamran Bokhari tries to answer in this conversation. Dr. Kamran Bokhari is the Senior Director of the Eurasian Security and Prosperity portfolio at the New Lines Institute. He served as Director of the Analytical Development Department from 2019 to 2023. Dr. Bokhari is also a national security and foreign policy specialist at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute. Some of the recent pieces of analyses he has written are worth a read: - https://newlinesinstitute.org/political-systems/post-khamenei-iran-the-future-of-evolutionary-regime-change/ - https://geopoliticalfutures.com/irans-regional-position-is-crumbling/ - https://geopoliticalfutures.com/southwest-asias-shatter-belt/ Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:45 Are we in a third world war? 13:10 Evolution of warfare 22:10 Role of smaller powers 31:30 Critiquing the Washington Beltway consensus 43:30 Assessing China and Russia 59:02 Future scenarios 1:15:30 US elections and foreign policy

In this episode, Uzair talks Khurram Husain about the recent agreement between Pakistan and the IMF, which has secured a 3-year $7 billion programme. We talked about what comes next for the economy and why the hard work is only just beginning. In addition, we focused on Pakistan’s debt sustainability, with Khurram sharing his perspective on why restructuring debt is perhaps not the right path for the country at this point in time. The articles we referred to in our conversation are linked below: - https://www.dawn.com/news/1859741/shaky-stability - https://www.dawn.com/news/1861209/and-audits-for-all - https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2024/08/28/break-the-taboos-propping-up-unsustainable-debt-pleads-a-former-central-banker - https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/pakistan-needs-public-debt-restructuring-by-sanjay-kathuria-1-2024-09 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:45 Debt restructuring for Pakistan 13:16 IMF agreement and its implications 22:55 Petrol prices and relief 29:10 Politics and the current status quo 36:25 Conclusion

In this episode, Uzair talks to Salahuddin Ahmed about the ongoing moves to amend Pakistan’s constitution and its drivers. We focused on the role of the Supreme Court, why the government is pushing through a new ordinance to change the court’s procedures, and the impact of political polarization on the superior judiciary. We also talked about why these proposed changes matter to ordinary citizens, and the outlook for Pakistan’s democracy. Salahuddin Ahmed is a lawyer and former president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association. He recently wrote a must-read piece on these proposed amendments which you can read here - https://www.dawn.com/news/1859376/constitutional-package-judicial-overhaul-or-national-suicide Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:10 Ordinance issued by government 19:10 What does the government want to achieve? 31:00 Politics and judiciary 36:50 Patronage and the courts 42:05 Why should citizens care? 56:30 Paving the way for authoritarian rule

Pakistan’s parliament has historically been one of the weakest institutions in the country, but even by those standards, events that transpired over this past week have set a new low. Masked men entered parliament and took away numerous PTI legislators, who were subsequently arrested by the police. This has caused an uproar across the country, with the PTI leading the charge in terms of talking about the sustained and accelerating decimation of the rule of law and democracy in the country. In this episode, Uzair talks to Salman Akram Raja about what happened in parliament and what comes next. Mr. Raja is Secretary General of the PTI and a senior supreme court lawyer. We also talked about coalition building and how the PTI intends to reach out to other groups who have been protesting against similar violations for years. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:45 What happened in parliament? 8:30 Ways to strengthen parliament 13:50 Situation in the judiciary 20:45 What is the PTI’s overall engagement strategy? 26:10 Gandapur, divisions, and coalition building 31:40 PTI’s outreach to PTM and others

In this episode, Uzair talks to Tabarak Rehman who is attempting to become the first person ever to run 1,400 kilometers across the length of Pakistan to raise awareness around the country’s education crisis. His goal is to raise $1 million for The Citizens Foundation, an incredible non-profit that operates nearly 2,000 schools in Pakistan. Tabarak is a New York-based Turnaround & Restructuring Consultant at AlixPartners, who’s also super passionate about educating Pakistani students. Through his social media, he has guided hundreds of Pakistani students toward higher education in the U.S., even helping secure over a million dollars in student loans for at least 30 of them. His academic journey started from his boarding high school, Cadet College Hasan Abdal after which he went to IBA Karachi for his undergrad and then Northeastern University in Boston, where he earned his Master's degree. He also holds a CFA Charter. You can support Tabarak’s cause here - https://fundraise.tcfglobal.org/fundraiser/384593207740/tabarak-runs-across-pakistan-for-education Follow Tabarak’s run here - https://www.instagram.com/tabarakruns/ Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:20 Tabarak’s journey 14:45 Resources for getting an education in the US 20:30 Running 1,400 kilometers 26:30 Training regimen 32:00 How to help 38:10 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations: - David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell - The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason - Built to Last by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Ilhan Niaz about where Pakistan stands today and the nature of the status quo ruling the country. We also talked about the mainstreaming of anti-establishment views and what that means for the politics in the country. Finally, we also talked about modernization and the role of the Protestant Reformation in kick-starting this process in Europe, and whether Pakistan has the core ingredients to modernize. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Independence Day 2024 4:15 Where did Pakistan go wrong? 14:50 Assessing the status quo today 21:00 Anti-establishment views in Punjab 29:15 Protestant Reformation and modernity 39:55 Can Pakistan modernize? 51:50 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations - Great State – China and the World by Timothy Brook - Asad Rahim’s essay in Dawn - https://www.dawn.com/news/1852072/the-two-partitions-polemics-purges-and-pakistans-first-opposition-party

In this episode, Uzair talks to Amb. Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury about what led to the collapse of the Hasina regime in Bangladesh and what comes next for the country. We focused on the reasons why younger citizens were angry with the government and reports of violence against Hindus over the last few days. We also discussed whether foreign agencies led to Hasina’s ouster. Amb. Chowdhury is a war hero who took active part in the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971. For his bravery and contribution in the battlefield the Government of Bangladesh conferred upon him the gallantry award Bir Bikram. He has also served as a top diplomat for Bangladesh around the world, including as Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States of America, with concurrent accreditation to Colombia, Brazil and Mexico from 2005 to 2007. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:20 What just happened? 17:40 Claims of foreign involvement 29:20 Secularism in Bangladesh 40:05 What comes next?

Balochistan’s city of Gwadar has been the center of protests for the last few days. Roads and highways leading into the city have been blocked and countless protestors have been arrested. Uzair talks to Dr. Mahvish Ahmad to figure out what is going on in the province and better understand the underlying reasons for the crisis in Balochistan. Dr. Mahvish Ahmad is an Assistant Professor in Human Rights and Politics. Before joining LSE, she was an A.W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Humanities Research, University of the Western Cape. She completed her PhD in Sociology at Cambridge. Earlier, Mahvish was a journalist covering military and insurgent violence in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region, and co-founded the bilingual Urdu/English magazine Tanqeed with Madiha Tahir. She is currently completing a book on state violence in Pakistan’s southern province of Balochistan. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:05 What’s going on in the province? 7:00 Multiple issues driving protests 13:30 Missing persons 19:05 Resource extraction 25:40 Historical drivers 32:55 Baloch protestors v. TLP 37:10 Islamabad politics and Balochistan 42:05 Evolution of Baloch society 51:05 Path forward 57:20 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations: - https://loksujag.com/special-edition/bloch-women-long-march - https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/items/dee93c5f-6f5e-43a8-bfd7-e79de8d2d35f - https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/home-front-changing-insurgency-balochistan - https://www.scribd.com/document/554334646/The-Problem-of-Greater-Balochistan-PDFDrive