July 3, 2021
The Elections (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 recently sailed through the National Assembly without any debate even though it changed two crucial provisions of the Elections Act, 2017 dealing with the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis and the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Despite voting through paper ballot being the gold standard for democracies across the globe, the government is bent on introducing EVMs which it deems to be the panacea for all ills in our electoral system. Numerous lawyers and members of the opposition have raised serious questions on the haste with which the bill has been adopted as well as the wisdom for adopting electronic voting. If passed by the Senate in the same haste, this would radically alter the voting mechanism potentially putting a question mark over the democratic legitimacy of the amendments and, more importantly, damage the integrity of the election process.
Pakistan: Backlash grows against PM Imran Khan′s ′sexist comments′ | Asia| An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW
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Pakistan: The growing backlash against PM Imran Khan′s ′sexist comments′ | Asia| An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW
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Pakistan’s romance with western academia
Experts urge universities to prioritise local doctorate-holders instead of relying on foreign lecturers
KARACHI:
For private universities across the country, any association to the western world can often be the brightest feather they can pin to their caps.
By virtue of which, foreigners routinely journey to Pakistan, where their services are hankered after in the local academia.
Once here, the possibilities are assumed to be endless. Climbing the professional ladder, claim local pedagogues, is relatively easier for those who come from the global north. Foreigner mediocrity is prioritised over native excellence in Pakistan, believes Karachi University’s former vice chancellor, Dr Pirzada Qasim. “If it is a western name like Edward on the resume, the person’s academic repertoire turns secondary in the eyes of the hiring managers,” he opined with conviction.