Research & Commentary Results

With elections set to take place on May 11, Pakistan stands at an important juncture of its history. The Election Commission of Pakistan, arguably the most independent and impartial that the country has had, is working diligently to ensure that the electoral process is free and fair. A democratically elected government could, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, relinquish power to another civilian government. Such a development, which marks a new phase in the Pakistan’s democratic struggle, indicates the need for a reassessment of U.S.

Along with countries such as Syria and Iraq, Pakistan has become a theater of doctrinal differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims, signifying that rifts between local groups have become linked to the wider violent sectarianism in the Middle East.

Wed, 3/20/2013 12:00 pm to 1:30 pmLocation: The SEIU Building1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashingtonDistrict of Columbia20 036 The Middle East Institute is proud to host Lieutenant General (Ret.) David W. Barno and Dr. Michael E.

Wed, 3/20/2013 12:00 pm to 1:30 pmLocation: The SEIU Building1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashingtonDistrict of Columbia20 036 The Middle East Institute is proud to host Lieutenant General (Ret.) David W. Barno and Dr. Michael E.

Wed, 3/20/2013 12:00 pm to 1:30 pmLocation: The SEIU Building1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashingtonDistrict of Columbia20 036 The Middle East Institute is proud to host Lieutenant General (Ret.) David W. Barno and Dr. Michael E.

Wed, 3/20/2013 12:00 pm to 1:30 pmLocation: The SEIU Building1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashingtonDistrict of Columbia20 036 The Middle East Institute is proud to host Lieutenant General (Ret.) David W. Barno and Dr. Michael E.

Wed, 3/20/2013 12:00 pm to 1:30 pmLocation: The SEIU Building1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashingtonDistrict of Columbia20 036 The Middle East Institute is proud to host Lieutenant General (Ret.) David W. Barno and Dr. Michael E.

The dust of speculation on the Supreme Court’s role during populous cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri’s recent march in Islamabad had hardly settled down when it lent itself to more speculation.  A two-member bench of the Supreme Court has admitted for hearing the petition of a citizen against Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman for allegedly making blasphemous remarks during a television program in 2010. This petition had earlier been rejected by the session court as well as the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court.

This piece was originally published by The Diplomat on December 21, 2012

Assertions and opinions in this publication are solely those of the above-mentioned author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Middle East Institute, which expressly does not take positions on Middle East policy.

This piece was originally published by Foreign Policy Blogs on December 20, 2012

Assertions and opinions in this publication are solely those of the above-mentioned author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Middle East Institute, which expressly does not take positions on Middle East policy.

The attempted assassination of Malala Yousufzai by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on October 9, 2012, marks a milestone in the trajectory of Pakistan’s future. It has manifested the balkanization of Pakistani society along the lines of those who have been labeled in the popular vernacular in Pakistan as “liberals,” and those who claim ideological proximity with the reactionary religious ideology and demonstrate mistrust and disapproval of American policies instituted in the “War on Terror.” How this debate pans out between the two groups will mark the path to Pakistan’s future.

This article was first published by The National Interest. on September 26, 2012

Assertions and opinions in this publication are solely those of the above-mentioned author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Middle East Institute, which expressly does not take positions on Middle East policy.