Dr Khalil's Intellectual Space

Pak Political Economy +

Dr Khalil's Intellectual Space

Pak Political Economy +

Why do we need a limited government in Pakistan?

Playing with or using or spending other people’s money engenders reckless behavior. That’s one of the arguments that call for a limited government. Not only for a limited government, but in principle no government intervention in the market, but very rarely, like the case of the CCP (Competition Commission) in Pakistan. And most of all, […]

Regarding what’s happening presently in the power corridors of Pakistan

Could there be any disaster greater than the debacle of 1971? It’s a power struggle between those who follow nothing, no constitution, no laws, no values, no principles, no traditions, no norms, but only when they all or any thing benefit them. And they all include in this no-holds-barred fight: politicians, military, judges, intellectuals, NGO-minds, […]

Imran Khan Phenomenon: A Penultimate Explanation

[This piece I wrote like in a fit.] Finally, I found what may be termed the penultimate explanation. Since this IK (Imran Khan) phenomenon emerged on the political scene in Pakistan (end of 2011), I have been writing and speaking about it, trying to explain it. Although, of course, there could never be a single […]

7 arguments against devolving government to the local level

The issue of devolution of powers to the level of local governments has become an intellectual, political, and economic fad in Pakistan. When something becomes a fad, it means it is accepted without giving it any thought or putting forward any arguments. It acquires the status of something taken for granted. And it is presented […]

Elite Capture – A Misleading Term

Elite capture is a euphemism and a misleading term that conceals the real extent of an impactful phenomenon, that is, a systematic capture of the state.

A Critical Discourse on the Constitution of Pakistan

This discourse with Saeed Afridi took place in a WhatsApp group and has been compiled with his permission. On May 7, 2024, out of desperation, I made a comment in a WhatsApp group, of which most of the prominent intellectuals are members. And thus, a discourse was set in motion. The discourse is copied below, […]

Theory of Riyasati Ashrafiya and Colonialism

Since I don’t see colonialism as an all-encompassing, overriding excuse and don’t hide myself behind that, my analysis focuses on the evolution of the institution of the state in the subcontinent and how that institution of the state was co-opted by the (Muslim) Ashrafiya and how the Ashrafiya took hold of a constitutional state after […]

When to topple a government-the case of Bangladesh and Pakistan

The toppling of the Hasina Wajid government in Bangladesh as a consequence of massive and violent protests helped me arrive at a clear-cut view regarding what has been happening in Pakistan. Earlier, my inclination was the same as the presently held firm view: When to try to topple a government? My answer is: Never! In […]

Indian and Pakistani Society: Social, Cultural, and Sexual Upheaval

Indian society is passing through the throes of social, cultural, and sexual upheaval. Ours is immersed in the nectar of hypocrisy. While the state in both countries is playing the role of a leg-puller with a degree of difference, it’s because in India, the size of the middle class is much larger than Pakistan’s.

If one believes in violence, one can never play a positive role in the resolution of a conflict

If one doesn’t think in terms of values, first and foremost in terms of moral values, one would never be able to understand and resolve whatever conflicts one has to deal with. Most probably, one would contribute towards sharpening the existing conflicts and thus would help give rise to new conflicts. Violence is one such […]

The Matrices of State Economics

All the economic matrices exclude the economic status of a taxpayer, and that’s why we have such misleading categories as a tax-to-GDP ratio and tax expenditures as a percentage of GDP. Why don’t we have such matrices that measure how much tax burden was put on taxpayers and how that burden made their standard of […]

The business of electricity

No business would ever plead with its customers to use less of their product(s). Be it electricity or anything else. The electricity business for the government of Pakistan is like a luxury and limited edition product… That is the outcome of 76 years of business practices by the government of Pakistan.

Who Owns Pakistan

There is no ownership of the state of Pakistan in Pakistan! No political party owns it. No constitutional institution owns it. Neither the parliament nor the PAs. To all of them, it’s a gold mine to extract as much gold as possible, and that’s what all the fighting, including the politics, is all about.

کچھ لوگ چاہتے ہیں میں ان کی زبان بولوں

کچھ لوگ چاہتے ہیں میں ان کی زبان بولوں۔ کیوں بھئی میں آپ کی زبان کیوں بولوں۔ کیا میرے پاس اپنی زبان نہیں۔ کچھ لوگ چاہتے ہیں میں ان کے خیالات، ان کے نظریات پر صاد کروں۔ کیوں بھئی میں آپ کے خیالات اور نظریات پر صاد کیوں کروں۔ کیا میں خود اپنے خیالات و […]

Supreme Court as the Enemy of the Constitution

Time and time again, it has been demonstrated that the custodian of the constitution, that is, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, is enemy number 1 of the Constitution of Pakistan. Of all the violators of the constitution, it’s the judiciary that tops the list. Then comes the military. The last on the list are the […]

The Pendulum of Politics

Earlier, the pendulum of politics used to oscillate back and forth, that is, from the right to the left and from the left to the right, so to speak. But now the pendulum of politics doesn’t oscillate back and forth, that is, from the right to the left and from the left to the right. […]

The Constitution is an orphan now

Certain politicians, judges, and generals are fit to be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution. But who will leash the cats? How to leash the cats? Nobody holds up the constitution now. It’s an orphan constitution now. Abandon it so that the brutal conflict finds a new, no holds barred shape. Or have a […]

Who is the main culprit? Politicians or the security establishment?

Here is circumstantial evidence that substantiates my long-held thesis that the main culprit is the politicians/political parties. All those who used to consider the security establishment the main culprit have now come to side with Imran Khan. Because he, at the moment, is against the security establishment. They ignore the fact that it’s a ploy […]

My Intellectual Setup: A Short Note

Taking advantage of this opportunity, let me say the following: I have a world outlook. I have certain values and principles to adhere to. I have a methodology to guide me through… And my earlier writings/views as well as my present ones, follow from that. I don’t need or want to appear new or innovative […]

A note on nationalism in Pakistan

Nationalism! What nationalism? In a country where ordinary people are treated as third-rate citizens by the Riyasati Ashrafiya and Ashrafiya and no ordinary person enjoys dignity, Etc. Etc. Etc., how come nationalism emerges there? Nationalism grows up in a society where ordinary citizens feel indebted to their state, government, its institutions, etc. (police, courts, bureaucracy, […]

کیا بایاں بازو بدل رہا ہے؟

نوٹ: یہ تحریر 2 دسمبر کو ’’نیا دور‘‘ پر شائع ہوئی۔ https://urdu.nayadaur.tv/25285 اس نومبر میں الحمرا لاہور میں معنقد ہونے والا ’’فیض میلہ‘‘ ’’فیض‘‘ سے

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توسیع کی سیاست

سیاسی طاقت کے ریاستی ایوانوں میں کیا سازشیں ہوتی ہیں۔ ہم بےچارے عام شہریوں کو کیا پتا۔ اخبار، ریڈیو اور ٹی وی چینل جو خبر

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زری پالیسی: مختصر نوٹ

A Short Note on Monetary Policy زری پالیسی: مختصر نوٹ (1) یہ اختیار ریاست/حکومت نے ہتھیا لیا ہوا ہے کہ شہری، ادارے اور کاروبار ایک

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بے چارگی کی زندگی

سیاسی قضیے [ 29اکتوبر، 2018] [نوٹ: یہ تحریر اگست 2007 میں انگریزی میں لکھے گئے، ایک پرانے مضمون میں بیان کیے گئے اور چند ایک

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سیاست کی سماجی جڑیں

سیاسی قضیے: [25 ستمبر، 2018] ترقی یافتہ ملکوں کی سیاست، بالعموم، درپیش معاملات پر مرتکزکیوں ہوتی ہے؟ جیسے کہ ٹیکس کے معاملات؛ لوگوں کی زندگیوں

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!میں‌ خود سے شرمندہ ہوں

سیاسی قضیے: یکم جولائی، 2018 میں ایک ایسے گھرانے میں پیدا ہوا، جو سراسر بے مایہ تھا۔ تربیت، دیانت داری کے چلن پر ہوئی۔ کسی

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انتخابات یا لاٹری

سیاسی قضیے: 3 مئی، 2018 کتنے برس کبھی اِس سیاسی جماعت، کبھی اُس سیاسی جماعت کے ساتھ لگے رہنے کے بعد، اب یہ بات سمجھ

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My nationalist pride

My two cents (tweets) It kills the somewhat nationalist pride in me that the office of prime minister has a pride that needs to be

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Sense of direction

With JUI (F), MQM, and PML (Q) once again out to test their gamesmanship, and ANP, PML (N), the Army, and the political-religious parties outside

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Wikileaking clandestine governments

While the Pakistani NGOs seek the Right to Information Law, the likes of “Wikileaks” are wikileaking clandestine governments! The latest ‘leaks’ of Wikileaks provide a

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