Accountability for all (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

For too long, the so-called public representatives, politicians and their cronies in Pakistan have been abusing political powers to promote personal interests at the cost of the nation.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/915331

In search of lasting peace (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

The bilateral relations between India and Pakistan are again grabbing top headlines, but not for the right reasons.

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Needless political drama (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

We are indeed witnessing interesting times in the politics of Pakistan again. The surprise return of Mustafa Kamal, ex-mayor of Karachi, has created a storm in the country’s political circles as he lashed out at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), his former party, leadership and made startling “revelations” in a series of press conferences. Since then, he has also announced the creation of a new political party, which will strive to uphold national interests, empower the common man and promote accountability.

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Final push toward peace (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

As Pakistan enters into the final phase of its military offensive against terrorism, there are already welcome signs that civil-military leadership is setting the base for greater cooperation in security matters.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/898886

Rooting out corruption (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

Soon after assuming power, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had clearly stated his intention to take strict action against corrupt officials and streamline the process for appointments in integral state institutions.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/896286

No honor in killing (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

In 2014, a young woman Farzana was stoned to death by her family members outside the premises of Lahore High Court. Her crime was marrying a man she loved. This “honor killing” made global headlines, but Farzana just became another statistic as public outcry around this incident slowly died down and the government again failed to take concrete measures to curb this tradition.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/889441

Push for education reforms (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

There is little doubt that education forms the cornerstone of democracy and modern society. Pakistan is finally prioritizing development of education and health sectors to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/884791

New age of civic activism (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

The citizens of Karachi were in for a surprise at the beginning of this year. There was something different about the roads filled with overflowing gutters, huge garbage piles and open manholes — all signs of a slack, rather missing, government. As a way to protest the ineptness of provincial government, a local artist had stenciled face of the provincial chief minister around these garbage piles and manholes with a message, “fix it.”

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/881336

Tax woes of Pakistan (Muhammad Waqas, Arab News)

In a desperate attempt to broaden Pakistan’s tax base, the Sharif government has announced a tax amnesty scheme for traders — just pay a nominal one percent on untaxed amount of up to Rs50 million and there will be no questions asked. This is yet another example of the government’s short-sightedness and lack of political will in formalizing the country’s thriving black economy, now estimated to be about 60 percent of the registered economy.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/877571