Haftay Ki Seedhi Baat

This is a special episode on the plight of political workers in Pakistan. Specifically, I am talking about the social media 'activists' that nearly all political parties have in Pakistan.

This week I talk Senate Elections and what is to come. I talk about why I am convinced a Technocratic government is coming and the crisis in PML - N where the focus is now to get rid of N and S.

This week I am talking about the court decisions about disqualification of Mian Nawaz Sharif, the impact on PML N as well as ideas of Judicial Independence and Activism

I talk at length about what happened in NA 154. Building on the twitter thread, I talk about the local politics and internal party rifts that are hurt PTI and led to this shock defeat. I talk about professionalizing the political parties and why voter research and constituency analysis is the way to go

This week I am talking about upcoming elections, why the politicians need to get their act together and why a technocratic government would be a bad idea.

Then I talk about media integrity and claims. I am suggesting parliamentary hearings of these anchors and media houses to inquire about the claims they make and to hold them accountable.

I talk about the new government that we will have and the caveats it brings for Pakistan. I also discuss the next 5-year plan and the institutional reforms on the table.

Lastly, I talk academics. I plan to continue to talk on this from different aspects for the next few episodes. Send in your questions and suggestions to [email protected] or @adnanrasool on Twitter

This week I am discussing what I learned and observed at the South Asian Economic Summit as well as the issues of state capacity with regards to Islamabad Dharna. I argue that state capacity is high but the state only chooses to apply it strategically especially in election years.

In this episode, I am talking how Maryam is being let down a path that leads to nowhere by her advisers. The problem of succession and why our Foreign Office needs to understand how modern diplomacy works.

This episode I discuss the Bilawal Zardari interview followed by growing economic concerns of a different kind. I end with a creative idea I have observed in East Asia that might help Pakistan with taxation.

In this episode, I am taking apart the discussion on why we need to be feeling bad for the same media that refuses to acknowledge the cowardice it shows in times of crisis. Secondly, I explain why we need early elections and why a technocrat government is not the answer.