- Author Name : Najam Sethi
• Pakistan Under Nawaz Sharif 1990 - 1993
This is the second volume of a series of books by veteran journalist Najam Sethi on Pakistan's sputtering journey under democracy from 1988 to 2021 after it emerged from a stifling decade of autocracy under Z A Bhutto from 1972-1977 and ruthless dictatorship under General Zia ul Haq from 1977 to 1988.
In this collection of nearly 200 articles, reports, commentaries and analyses, Sethi discusses a wide range of issues relating to state, society and government under the Nawaz Sharif regime from 1990 to 1993. Among the many subjects covered are: mockery of justice and judiciary under pressure; the "law of necessity"; state terrorism; humour in uniform; thinking beyond Saddam; privatise or perish; cold war blues; Nawaz Sharif's options; freedom, fairness, state and party; disintegration of the social contract; the rise of Nawaz Sharif; India's dangerous legacies; waylaying the press; the price of press freedom and accountability; the "great game" revisited; how the other half dies; US-Pak agenda for nuclear talks; art of stealing elections; dialoguing with India; unravelling Afghanistan; grasping cynics and power plays in Islamabad; Benazir Bhutto's social contract; "cleaning-up the fanatics"; killing fields of fundamentalism; how and why to get rid of the 8th Amendment; third force vs third solution; the tragedy of General Asif Nawaz; Establishment vs Civil Society; Discretion vs Justice; Nawaz Sharif's Lafafah legacies; and grand delusions of Mairaj Mohammad Khan and Rao Rashid.
The writing is full of sardonic humour, wit and penetrating analysis.
• Pakistan Under Benazir Bhutto 1988 - 1990
This is the first volume of a series of books by veteran journalist Najam Sethi on Pakistan's sputtering journey under democracy from 1988 to 2021 after it emerged from a stifling decade of autocracy under Z A Bhutto from 1972-1977 and ruthless dictatorship under General Zia ul Haq from 1977 to 1988.
It contains an insightful collection of over 100 weekly reports, comments and analyses by Najam Sethi on the state of democracy under Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto from 1988-90.
These articles highlight the politics of conspiracy, corruption, mismanagement, disinformation, victimization, invisible government, rigged elections, politicization of financial institutions, traitors, ' slandering matches, All Parties Conferences, Afghanistan imbroglio, jihad in Kashmir, shariat shock, budget blues, Indo-Pak impasse, mullahs on warpath, police lawlessness, judiciary under pressure, mockery of justice, Uncle Sam, etc.
The shenanigans of COAS General Aslam Beg and Opposition Leader Nawaz Sharif are as interesting as the games of hide and seek played by Salmaan Taseer or Mustafa Khan; there are fascinating insights into the personality and politics of Baloch leaders Ghaus Bux Bizenjo and Ataullah Mengal, and British journalist Christina Lamb's angst in the Land of the Pure is both revealing and intriguing.