TTX Vocabulary

‘THE end came when it was least expected’ is a sentence that punctuates so many discussions about all kinds of sudden and not-so-sudden events in our life. Sardar Usman Buzdar may never have reached the shores during his term so far as chief minister. But once again the chatter that predicts his removal from the post has intensified just after the gentleman collected a handful of compliments for holding his nerve during Punjab’s fight against Covid-19. Most of these positive vibes have come from his PTI colleagues but then it is the same source that is believed to pose the most potent threat to the sardar. Quite certainly, the unrest predates whatever little praise may have come the way of the Punjab chief minister in recent months. The situation appears pretty tense. As more and more people join the chorus of questions about the chances of his survival, every move that Mr Buzdar makes these days must be viewed in the context of his durability in the chief minister’s office. ...

WHILE mudslinging and point-scoring may be part and parcel of politics, certain issues should not be exploited by opponents just to get back at rivals. For example, when questions of religion are dragged into political debates, this can have dangerous consequences in a society like Pakistan, as we have witnessed in the past. PML-N leader Khawaja Asif has been under fire, particularly from religious parties, after comments he made in the National Assembly last week. On Tuesday, Mr Asif had to clarify his remarks , saying that “misinterpreting” his statements was “extremely irresponsible and wrong”. The former federal minister had said that “no religion is superior” under the Constitution, apparently speaking in reference to a social media campaign targeting Pakistan’s minority citizens. Religious parties had leapt at the remarks, in reaction to which Khawaja Asif had to reiterate his belief in Islam and its tenets in the house. The fact is that a great fuss is being created out of...