The rough road for democracy in Pakistan: Marred by military's dominance

After the Pashtun uprising and media intimidation, Pakistan's election appears to be skewed in more than one way

When anchorperson Gul Bukhari ‘disappeared’ on her way home on June 5, Pakistan’s journalist community was shocked and worried. This was the second time a female journalist had been abducted under strange circumstances, the first being Zeenat Shahzadi in 2016. After reportedly being taken to an undisclosed location, Bukhari was eventually released by her captors in the early hours of June 6.  

What made the episode even scarier and more intimidating was that that very same day, another journalist and anchorperson, Asad Kharal, was beaten up while he was on his way home. In a photograph, Kharal can be