Pakistan in Turmoil: Story of the Decline of State, Politics, and Society

Mujahid Husain is an investigative journalist whose work is without frills, focusing on facts that reveal the truth. This makes his work extremely useful because it is bare of Urdu's usual frills and unusual because of the torrent of facts at his command. He talks in this book about "Diwaliya Pakistan" (Bankrupt Pakistan), which Urdu journalism is unfamiliar with. Those who go to English journalism for truth undiluted by emotion should read Mujahid's book because its presentation is held together with a practical style and heretofore unknown facts.

One example is his narration of contacts between Imran Khan and two Bajwas that we know little about. Of course, the first Bajwa is Lieutenant-General Asim Saleem Bajwa, and the second is General Qamar Javed Bajwa, both ironically linked to fortunes abroad. However, the latter is responsible for Khan's final comedown. The details of these two relationships lies at the root of Pakistan's current narrative.

However, one must pay attention to the unconventional Urdu style of writing employed by Mujahid Husain: no frills, but flowing enough to prevent the reader from wandering from the theme. Other accounts, like one on Nawaz Sharif and the other on the Bhutto-Zardari clan, unveil details of unsavory corruption that mars the life stories of most Pakistani politicians and moral bankruptcy of both sorts, civilian and military. The style is without irritating sub-clauses - which means no exaggeration - because the facts appear overwhelming.

Khaled Ahmed

Consulting Editor Newsweek Pakistan