Author name: Yasser Latif Hamdani

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] Abstract Imran Khan’s dramatic announcement to resort to civil disobedience had TV anchors and newsmen scampering to define civil disobedience for their viewers. Civil disobedience has been a concept that has vexed political scientists for a very long time.  There is no consensus on what this term means and has come

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] Abstract South Asian States, despite the existence of fundamental rights in their national constitutions, require a regional mechanism. This is because the national mechanisms have failed to deliver.  A Pan-South Asian court will be useful not just in ensuring human rights in all these states but will help foster a relationship

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] Abstract In Pakistan, the state’s constant struggle to define the role of religion in governance and policy has also been reflective of the struggle of the Muslim community in South Asia to define itself politically.  The question before us in Pakistan, which is so self-consciously aware of its Islamic identity as

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] In this essay I attempt to show how PTI, a charismatic party under Imran Khan, has institutionalized itself. The rise of PTI has been remarkable but not unexpected. It is a party of the right which has deployed ultra-nationalism and politics of protest to gain national prominence.  This was not possible

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] Abstract The definition of modernity expressed in political science terms is a system of state and society whereby social justice is aspired to, freedom of belief, ideology and conscience is fully protected and where rule of law reigns supreme. As the Islamic World increasingly finds itself confronted with modernity in these

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] Abstract  Why is it important to study partition? The investigation into the political and human sides of partition can help us come to terms with our history as inhabitants of this subcontinent. Neither the Pakistanis nor the Indians have fully come to terms with partition and have expressed what I like

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] Abstract There is much confusion about the term “secularism” in Pakistan. There is to start with, of course, the burden of Pakistan’s founding myth i.e. Pakistan was created in the name of Islam, which gives our priestly class a veto on any progress towards secular equality in Pakistan. This is stemmed in

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] Abstract It is stated often that many of Jinnah’s actions as Governor General of Pakistan were undemocratic or unconstitutional. Four accusations in particular seem to stick.  First, that Jinnah chose to be the Governor-General instead of prime minister; second, that he concentrated power in his own hands; third, that he dismissed

By Yasser Latif Hamdani[1] The Constitution (18th Amendment) Act, 2010 is the boldest attempt yet at restoring representative parliamentary democracy in Pakistan since General Zia ul Haq’s military regime altered the constitution fundamentally to tilt the balance of power in the favour of the President of the republic. The Zia regime also tampered with the