Awoken Nation

  These days, PML-N supporters love to say that the military’s “Imran Khan project” has failed miserably. They think the 2018 elections were rigged in Imran’s favor. But what they don’t understand — or choose to ignore — is that the military’s “Nawaz Sharif project” was an even bigger and longer-running experiment. Unlike Imran, who struggled for 26 years to reach the top, Nawaz was gifted power on a silver platter. How Nawaz Sharif Was Created The story of Nawaz Sharif’s political rise is nothing short of remarkable — not because of his talent or political acumen, but because of how carefully the military crafted his journey. Nawaz wasn’t always a politician. He was just a young man from a business family, more interested in cricket than politics. But in the 1980s, General Jilani, the governer of Punjab and a senior figure in the military establishment, saw potential in him. The potential wasn’t political genius — it was obedience. Nawaz was seen as someone who could be molded, co...

  “Divide and rule” has long been a cornerstone of authoritarian and fascist regimes. From ancient empires to modern dictatorships, the tactic of creating internal divisions among the population has been a powerful tool for maintaining control. By fostering distrust, hatred, and conflict among different social, ethnic, religious, or economic groups, rulers ensure that the population remains fragmented and disorganized—too weak and distracted to unite against the regime. This deliberate strategy allows authoritarian governments to suppress dissent, limit freedoms, and deprive people of their basic rights to health, education, and economic stability. Let’s explore how the “divide and rule” principle operates under fascism and dictatorships and the devastating effects it has on the lives of ordinary people. The Strategy of Division At the heart of “divide and rule” lies the manipulation of identity and social divisions. Authoritarian regimes often identify existing fault lines within ...

This is a story from Wajahat Saeed Khan’s sharp insights about Pakistan's military, its current challenges, and why change—though resisted—is now unavoidable. 1. The Army's Dilemma: Power vs. Popularity Pakistan’s army is often portrayed as invincible, with a thick skin that deflects criticism. But here’s the truth: the institution thrives on popularity as much as power. In recent years, this popularity has declined due to political entanglements, economic struggles, and internal strife. And who’s the central disruptor? None other than Imran Khan. While external threats exist—terrorism, a simmering insurgency in Balochistan, and tensions with India—the internal divide, fueled by Khan’s narrative, has destabilized the military's grip. The rank-and-file soldiers, many of whom resonate with Khan's populist message, pose a silent yet significant challenge to the army leadership. 2. Why Change is Inevitable History offers a lesson. Every powerful military leader...

Let me tell you a story—a story drenched in irony, coated with dark humor, and wrapped in the suffocating grip of power. It’s about a dictator, a young cadet with a thirst for justice, and yes, a crate of mangoes. Sounds strange? Well, welcome to A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif. The Paranoid General and the Young Cadet At the heart of this story is General Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s military dictator, a man so consumed by paranoia that every shadow looks like an assassin and every mango tastes like poison. Picture him—wearing his aviator glasses, his mustache neatly combed, a prayer bead clutched tightly in his hand. Power has a way of turning even the most confident men into trembling souls. Then there’s Ali Shigri, a sharp-witted, rebellious Air Force cadet. He’s not your typical soldier. Behind his composed demeanor lies a storm—a deep, burning anger over his father’s mysterious death. Colonel Quli Shigri, Ali’s father, was allegedly found hanging from a ceiling fan in wh...

Imran Khan: The Symbol of Resistance The story of Imran Khan continues to grip the nation— As I narrate this, Khan has spent  500 days in Adiala Jail , and what’s remarkable is their  unbreakable spirit.  No matter how one views him, history will record this man as an “unbelievable” figure—a storm of resilience. I can’t help but think of the times he’s been compared to  Nelson Mandela , who endured decades in prison yet emerged as a liberator. Mandela’s story was tough, and his struggle was monumental. But Imran Khan’s battle feels even more nuanced: He isn’t fighting colonizers but the  mental slavery  and power structures of his own people. Khan is no ordinary prisoner. He is a man imprisoned for refusing to compromise his principles. They locked him up to break his will, to coerce him into silence. But instead, he became even larger than life —a symbol of defiance and hope. The Forgotten Lives and the Blood of November 26 If you think this story stops h...

  1. The Beginning: A Bold Vision When Elon Musk dismissed LiDAR as "a fool’s errand" back in 2019, many critics laughed it off. They said it was reckless and impossible. How could cars rely solely on vision? Fast forward to today, and Tesla has proven him right. This story isn’t just about technology; it’s about persistence, innovation, and, ultimately, domination. I’m here to share the journey of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology and how it turned the autonomous vehicle industry on its head. From the start, Tesla took a radically different approach. While competitors like Waymo and General Motors (GM) invested in expensive LiDAR systems and complex maps, Tesla focused on cameras, vision-based AI, and data collection. Critics said it couldn’t be done. Yet, here we are: Waymo is scaling back, GM is shifting strategy, and even Google’s CEO acknowledges that Tesla leads the race. 2. The Turning Point: Admitting Defeat For years, companies argued that LiDAR was essentia...

  This is an extract from a media talk delivered by Faisal Chaudhary outside Adiala Jail. The Start of a Battle Standing in court today, I felt the weight of an unfair system bearing down on us. A criminal case had been registered against us in the marketplace, and charges were filed without any solid evidence. To make matters worse, we haven’t even received a copy of the charge sheet. Despite repeated requests for this crucial document, our pleas seem to fall on deaf ears. This isn’t just negligence; it’s a blatant disregard for legal processes. Our call for CCTV footage—a key piece of evidence—remains unanswered. What struck me most was how this one case stands isolated while other FIRs have been separated. The accusations revolve around incitement, but there’s no proof. Those who stayed loyal to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are being targeted, while others who abandoned the party are walking free. This selective justice is painful to witness. Political Victimization in Ful...