THE London-based advisory firm Henley & Partners’ assessment indicates an atmosphere of distrust that Pakistan has earned owing to its act of supporting terrorists and mismanagement of public affairs. As per the assessment, Pakistani passport has been ranked the world’s fourth weakest in terms of number of destinations Pakistani residents can visit without needing a visa. A look at the the passport index compiled by the firm reveals that Pakistan ranks ‘better’ than only three countries namely Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. All these are countries where fundamentalism rules the roost. With the heightened sense of security among all nations of the world, it is but natural for countries to be skeptical about allowing visa on-arrival to residents of countries that have emerged as either the bases or safe havens of global terrorists. The mismanagement of economy, polity, and public affairs may ensure that Pakistan slips further in the passport rankings. Allowing terrorists to operate from its soil has created turmoil within, and suspicion abroad about Pakistani residents. Given the situation, there is little hope for things to improve in Pakistan. In the process, the Pakistani citizens will suffer a loss of credibility internationally.  

 

 

THESE days, wrestlers in India are fighting their bouts outside the sporting arena! Some are pitching for justice on the streets through protests while some are seeking justice from the judiciary even as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) yet again finds itself at the centre of attention. The IOA has found itself in a spot after its ad-hoc committee decided to exempt protesting wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from the trials for the forthcoming Asian Games. The decision has irked the fellow wrestlers who have challenged it in the court and also reached the doors of the IOA for an explanation. IOA President P T Usha yet again finds herself in a tricky position as she had to explain the logic behind the ad-hoc committee’s decision to exempt Punia and Phogat. On the face of it the IOA decision seems unreasonable as it denies a fair chance to the other in the arena a shot at Asiad qualification. If the IOA has already selected wrestlers in some categories, then it could have done so in all categories thus making the trials redundant. Usha need to sit down with the peeved wrestlers at the earliest and explain the thinking behind the exemption before it is too late.