Meher Rana

Aug 30, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Meher Rana

This August, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa launched a significant initiative for judicial reform. This reform involves the reconstitution of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee and Task Force, aiming to streamline the justice system and address the massive backlog of 2.2 million cases pending in courts nationwide.

Jun 27, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Sanchita Bhattacharya |Gulzar Dildar |Parvez Mahmood |Meher Rana

As the civilised part of the world covertly converses and passively shows disdain about the Afghan Taliban's ban on educating girls over the age of 12 for more than 1,000 days, two important reports vis-à-vis Afghan women have come into the public domain. The Spectator reported on June 23 about the systematic sexual abuse of women by Taliban operatives and commanders in Taliban-controlled prisons.

Jun 25, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Zalmay Azad |Meher Rana |Hasan Zafar |Saad Hafiz

In recent months, the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have seen a dramatic and alarming rise in militant activity. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a formidable insurgent group, has reasserted its presence, effectively undermining the state's control in these regions. This resurgence has coincided with the tenure of the Ali Amin Gandapur-led provincial government, raising critical questions about the government's ability and willingness to counter this growing threat.

Jun 23, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Zubair Torwali |Shahzad Naveed |Arshad Yousafzai |Meher Rana

In 1992, when Sufi Muhammad made the Malakand Division, and Swat in particular, the epicentre of his movement for the implementation of Shariat, a large majority of Swat's residents sided with him. Every summer, they would block the only road leading to and from Swat at the Malakand top. Summers quickly began to be associated with his movement's annual season.

May 28, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Umer Farooq |PremAnand Mishra |Meher Rana |Ahmad Faruqui

In the last three years, South Asia has witnessed a rare development—from the shores of the Arabian Sea on Pakistan’s southern coast, up till the steppes of Central Asia, the US has no military footprint on the ground. The Central Asian states of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan hosted a US military presence from 2001 till 2014. US bases, landing and refueling rights for its military aircraft were rescinded by these Central Asian states under pressure from Russia and China.