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Avenfield Verdict and the Road to Elections

It was 3 PM. The weather was sweltering. The NAB Court was swamped by Journalists. No, they were not covering a spicy celebrity gossip or an already over advertised mega project. They had gathered to cover one of the most defining cases in Pakistan’s history; one whose ripples would be felt for a long time.
The verdict shocking to some and jubilating to others; dealt a hefty blow to Nawaz Sharif, three time PM. The judgment passed by Justice Muhammad Bashir in response to petition for Avenfield Apartments 16, 16A, 17, 17A, gave a 10 year prison sentence to Nawaz Sharif and a fine of 8 million pounds in a corruption reference; a 7 year sentence and a fine of 2 million pounds in reference pertaining to forgery to Maryam Nawaz and a one year sentence to Capt. Safdar. Moreover, the Court also ordered Avenfield properties to be confiscated.
First things first, I will look at the judgment closely and try to analyze it. The Court had under the Section 9 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) shifted the burden of proof on the accused (in this case the Sharif’s) and consequently the onus of rejecting the allegations and proving their innocence fell on them. This Section is applied in cases where there is a discrepancy in income and assets. And it was under the same Section 9 that they were found guilty for not being able to bring forward sufficient evidence. Application of Section 9 is not a common occurrence and is applied in cases for financial irregularities. Since this section has been applied and is now decreed by the highest Court in the land it will most likely become a judicial precedent for future cases and hence the significance of the judgment increases. With respect to the case, it also needs to be pointed out that the prosecution put forward a very weak case. They had almost two years of preparation since the start of the Panama Case in which they could have unearthed irrefutable and unquestionable pieces of evidence which would have removed any reasons for doubt. But they presented very lightweight arguments with a lack of substance, relying frequently on the fact that the burden of proof is not on them. This makes their side of the case not as watertight as people had expected from such a high profile case. Another very fascinating aspect of the judgment is that it has been found to have quite a few grammatical and spelling mistakes that point to the fact that it had not been well revised and was probably compiled in a haste. In spite of this, the case and its verdict is seminal in the legal history of Pakistan and should be commended for what it stands for and what it has achieved.
Now let’s take a look at PML N’s narrative on this case and ruling. Apart from raising the slogan in public that the decision is pre-determined as per the wishes of the army as a vendetta against them and all the judges worked as puppets, they also hold that according to the verdict Nawaz has been acquitted on corruption charges. This is similar to the Iqama narrative after the Panama case. Also, he and his party have repeatedly held that he has not been given level playing field and an adequate environment to defend himself.
First taking a look at their argument about Nawaz getting acquitted on corruption charges, it is only a politically motivated statement to woo his followers but has little significance in the eyes of law. The petitions brought in the Court were of corruption charges for Nawaz and submitting forged documents for Maryam. Given the special nature of the case, as explained earlier Section 9 had to be applied. In the verdict the Judge states that the prosecution has been unable to completely proof ownership of Avenfield Flats by Nawaz (due to a weak case put forward). But because in this case Sharif’s had to prove their innocence by providing sufficient evidence against the corruption allegations, once they were unable to do so they would be held guilty of corruption and will be sentenced on Section 9. So the ball is in Nawaz’s court that knowing the implications of Section 9 why didn’t he put up a solid defense and instead devoted all his energies to wooing his voters.
As for their claim that they have not been provided a level playing field and fair trial, is it true really? Certainly not. Let me remind you, the case had been running for almost two years from the Supreme Court to the NAB Court. That is more than enough time for one to defend himself. Also, they had at their disposal the most qualified and experienced legal team and the machinery of the Government but the best evidence they could present was the Qatari letter or the Calibri Font typed trust deeds. Imran Khan had also faced a similar trial brought forward by PML N but he had presented his money trail and got acquitted in the space of months. The time and resources they had to defend their case were greater than most of the people have in such situations. Also, how can they question the fairness of a trial conducted by judges he had himself suggested in the first place (when forming the commission). Claiming that they are mere puppets playing part in a conspiracy, ridiculing them in the public, is a very unfortunate practice and should be highly discouraged.
Yes, this isn’t the most crystal clear verdict given in recent times but there can be no doubt that after the time and effort given to the defendants they can have no further resentments from this ruling.
This is a hefty political loss for PML N and from now they will be in damage control mode. Its patriarch/ party head (whichever you believe him to be), Nawaz had already been barred from electoral politics and is now facing a ten year sentence. Moreover, the heir apparent and future leader of the party, Maryam is also facing a sentence of her own and is out of the election process. To make matters worse Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza are in a mess of their own with NAB probing mega projects under like Multan Metro and Ashiyana Scheme.
Nawaz Sharif and his party had already faced a steady decline in popularity since the Panama verdict. Many people were upset with the harsh anti-establishment tone and a lot of its leaders had defected. Most damaging was the Khatam-i-Nabuwat (saw) controversy that made the party highly unpopular in its conservative right wing voter base. With all this encapsulating over the past year, the Avenfield verdict is only going to give rise to anti-Nawaz rhetoric.
But does this mean it is game over for Nawaz? I do not believe to be so. Although the party’s current situation is quite fragile and the ruling has done nothing to amend that, there is also a window for opportunity. Now everything depends on Nawaz and how prudently he leads his party. If Nawaz decides to stay in London than N League is done for good. He would be branded as a coward and his remaining support would dwindle. The onus to lead the party would fall on Shahbaz Sharif who, although a good administrator, is considered an uncharismatic figure and has been ineffective thus far as the leader of the party.
But if Nawaz decides to return and faces his sentence than he can become the face of a popular civilian struggle. It needs to be understood that he still has significant following in Punjab and he needs to build on that. He has quite effectively utilized his “Mujhay kyun nikala” and “Vote ko izzat do” slogans, which have become very prevalent among his rural voter base. Now with another verdict against him and the elections looming, his party can cash on the victim card. The slogan can be further emboldened to project that he is being persecuted by the establishment for standing up and for fighting for his people.
A critical factor in politics nowadays is the optics projected through the media. Punjabis are generally very compassionate people; the image of their leader going to jail and facing his trial would not only strengthen the resolve of his supporters but also gain him sympathy votes among neutral voters. Politics in most of Punjab are based on the Baradari and tribal system since the British days. N league, for a long time, has penetrated this Baradari network effectively. They would continue to hold this edge even if Nawaz is in jail because there is still a chance his party might come to power. But given Nawaz decides to stay in England the tribal chiefs would expect his party to lose and consequently switch loyalties.
For Imran Khan and PTI it is a dream scenario; he is seen as the face for the fight against corruption by the public and media. In this struggle, he has received a lot of acclaim and political prestige. Imran Khan’s PTI is a much revamped party from the one in 2013. Over the past year or so it has absorbed a lot of so called ‘Electables’ from PML N and PPP which includes many seasoned politicians from Punjab and Sindh. This has given his party a significant standing in rural Punjab and helped make inroads in the Baradari networks.
Along with that there are a large number of independents (especially those contesting on the Jeep symbol) who are favoring PTI indirectly. PTI is also expected to get the support of a lot of fringe voters who after the Avenfield verdict switched sides. But in politics nothing is a certainty, and Imran has to be really clever with his political maneuverings. He has to make sure he keeps the support of small regional parties, whose role is going to be very important. And where will PPP come in all this? They have a massive following in Sindh and who they support in forming the government could be the decider.
Imran looks to be in the driving seat right now but we have to wait and watch.
Politics is ruthless and unpredictable. Who could have seen Nawaz Sharif, a three time PM in jail? On the face it looks like a huge PTI victory and an unmeasurable loss for PML N. But thinking on a grander scale for a second, it looks to be signaling towards a time where the powerful might also be held accountable. Yes this isn’t a perfect world and this wasn’t the most appropriate path adopted (pity Nawaz Sharif) but it still is the best possible under the circumstances.

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A Satire by Adil Ashraf

Lahore University of Management Sciences.

You hear a lot about the infamous LUMS, but of course it’s a completely different thing to actually experience it. Let’s explore it a bit.

First of all the students. LUMS students thrive on knowledge. Every evening, in fact any time they can find they sit down and exchange information. From how much they loathe the uninvited company of flies with them to how much they fancy that one boy or girl to how fat Aisha is getting. They believe that every bit of information is important and deserves their due attention. What a fine set of intellectuals we are.

If we’re going to talk about the students here we also need to look at how people from different schools differ. If you flip your arm around a little, chances are that you’ll hit someone from HSS. This phenomenon is due to two reasons: one is that HSS has like 3/5ths of the students enrolled here, second is that only HSS kids are veila enough to always be moving around at arms distance. But, I don’t mean to take anything away from these HSS kids. Good chaps, most of them. Their main complaint is that they have too much to read. That’s fine, but as many readings they get, the number of laments they have exponentially increases.  But enough about them, let’s talk about our scientists at SSE. SSE kids’ lives revolve around the SSE building and their bedrooms. They, sadly, don’t have the luxury of being as veila as the HSS kids. The nice reward of a STEM career keeps them motivated. Which is admirable, I must say. Plus they get to tag each other in highly complex science memes which are beyond me,so I guess the scales even out.

SDSB is an interesting case. If foxes were human, they’d probably go to SDSB. Not because they look especially dashing, but because foxes are chalaak, which I use because the word cunning doesn’t have the same effect. You need to always be alert in case it’s time to get some sweet sweet CP, or in case there’s an announcement for an exam, quiz, presentation, project or whatever other hell LUMS likes to drag us through. SDSB also has vendi machines which I add here because I just wanted to say that I finally have a vendi card and am now part of an elite class that can access these futuristic snack machines. The 5 rupees you pay extra for the nimko here makes the nimko all the more nimkoer too.

Now you Law students. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you guys. If LUMS’s schools were its children. SAHSOL would be the middle child. A tad bit neglected, and in the corner at every family meeting (In fact it’s always to the side, the building can’t move). SAHSOL has the smallest batch size. But what they lack in numbers, they make up for in length. Length of time, to be specific. They have the honour to eventually evolve into a being beyond what the other students can hope to be. LUMS has a lot of super stuff, there’s the super store and the super crisps at the super store, but SAHSOL specifically has super seniors. Who can shoot laser beams from their eyes, lift incredibly heavy objects, and also extend their stay here to 5 years (two of the previous facts were wrong, figure out which ones these were).

Well, I had wanted to talk about more than just the bachei here. But, alas, being from SDSB my CP is due and I shall be chalaak here and leave some stuff to write about later. Huehuehue.

Adil Ashraf

Class of 2021

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Unsung heroes of LUMS

When we see our everyday lives and systems playing before us smoothly, we often get used to how things are run, failing to appreciate the unsung heroes who diligently work to keep them that way. In order to appreciate their tireless efforts and gain an insight into their perspective we set about the task to interview a few of these hard-working individuals around campus.

 

I had the pleasure to talk to Junaid, one of the guards at our in-gate, who most of us probably interact with on a daily basis. Junaid, who is from Sargodha, has spent the last 16 years working at LUMS. He chuckled at the astonished look on my face as I expressed my surprise on this long tenure, commenting on the fact that he had witnessed much change at LUMS. Every year, he stated, brings along a fresh batch of students, and every year he learns something new from them. When I asked if it ever angered him when students often argue at the gate, he merely smiled, saying “They’re children, what’s there to be angry for.”

When asked if he had any advice for the students, he took a while to respond

“Take care of your parents.”

He emphasized on the effort parents make in order to grant their children education, and his one advice was to honor that effort and do them proud.

 

Farooq Arshad, the cashier at PDC , has been working there for the past 12 years. Starting his work here in 2005, he reminisced about how he’s seen students grow up, graduate and even go off to teach at other universities. He spoke fondly of them, saying he’s still in contact with many of them. Commenting on how there’s something different about the students at LUMS, he said his time spent here has been nothing short of memorable. When asked if he had any advice to offer to the students he shrugged saying “Children make mistakes and learn at their own pace. Making mistakes is necessary.”

I was hit by how the man before me had seen a decade of students such as ourselves, with dreams and ambitions akin to ours, go on in life to be either met with success and failure. When insisted to offer some wisdom he finally said to achieve prosperity one must be able to have control over their words and emotions. Our words are a reflection of our personality and if one can control his tongue he can handle ever situation aptly.

 

Asif, works  at the PDC, we had to convince to get a few words from, as he was hesitant about wasting time while on duty. A father of three children, he also works by night as a tailor in order to meet ends and provide his children an education. I was taken aback by his dedication towards his children’s education as he further explained how he also sends his kids to an academy, wanting nothing but for them to prosper in life. About his interaction with the students, he appreciatively told us how several students always make an effort to personally greet him. When we asked him about how students often create a mess, leaving their trays at the tables, he did agree it would be helpful if they didn’t but stated that he was here to work and would assist them in any way. Our next stop in interviewing was Zahida, one of the diligent workers at the bathrooms. Despite it being a late hour, and her obviously being exhausted by her strenuous duties she greeted me with a warm smile. She remarked that the students she sees here are hardworking and hopes that one day her own children will be able to study like them. When asked to offer advice she spoke with genuine concern, saying that despite it being an age at which they are naturally reckless, students should try their best to stay away from harm and not indulge in anything that they would later regret.

 

These individuals, with their persistent efforts and tedious jobs, ensure that life at LUMS carries on without a hitch. In addition to their standard job requirements, they also deal with the unnecessary tasks that we as students often burden them with. Despite this, they had nothing but genuine concern and warm words to offer. On our part we should try to make their jobs easier, be it by cleaning up after ourselves at PDC, not littering at the khokha or simply by offering a smile or word of thanks. They not only deserve our basic courtesy but our appreciation and utmost respect.

Mariam Nasir

Class of 2021

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Indo Pak: Hello from the other side!

 

India and Pakistan, ‘the land beyond the Indus’ and ‘the land of the pure’, are connected through time and space, the world this year celebrated 70 years of our birth. And we celebrated seven decades of facing repercussions of a brutal partition that separated us in our minds and hearts and rooted the seeds of hatred and fear. The history has stood as the supreme spectator of the bond that our nations share and time has been and will always be the greatest master of the fate that our lands bear. We share a connection that is beyond the boundaries that divide us. It is beyond the religions that separated us in the first place. It is past the wars that we’ve fought and the lives that have been lost. It is far more than the words and decisions of a ‘few’ men of faith and politics that have governed, misjudged and miscommunicated our thoughts and emotions.

We have together experienced eons of history which have seen great empires rise and fall. We have seen our culture grow and flourish into grandeur. Our heritage that has left the world rapt in awe is unparalleled. Urdu and Hindi are just two different languages with the same soul, one took the Arabic script the other Devnaagri. The ‘wah-wahs’ for Urdu shaayris are as loud and passionate here as they are there. In fact, a lot of Urdu words have found their place in Bollywood songs. We share the Punjabi fervour and the devilishly delicious Hyderabadi Biryani. There were streets and towns in India where a Muslim mother recited to her kids the adventures of Lord Krishna and a Hindu Mother narrated the stories of mercy and compassion of the Prophet. If it existed once, it can exist again. For god’s sake, we have been eternally linked through the marriage of Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza. If you are a victim of Shah Rukh Khan’s romantic magic, then we are head over heels for Fawad Khans’s charm. And even though it’s not very easy to admit, swallowing our pride we openly acknowledge the well-established fact that your Coke Studio is a tad better than ours. We have fallen in love with your melodious music and simplicity of your daily soaps. If you have danced to the Bollywood numbers, then we have hummed along with the tunes of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Atif Aslam. The India vs Pakistan cricket matches are as exhilarating as ever. They drive us to the teetering edge of our seats. With our hearts pounding hard and fast, and the rage building up, we both add to our vocabulary of abuses fiercely ready to barrel them towards each other but the only victim at the receiving end is our poor idiot box.

If we all look in the right places, we would notice that you and I are more alike than we are unlike. It is unfortunate that we have grown up in societies where we are wired to not like each other where our differences are shoved under the spotlight and the similarities are thrown into oblivion where all the bad that happens remains and the good, well, we hardly get to know about it. We keep knocking on to each other’s ‘borders’ for an exchange of bullet shots, blazing bombs and raging patriots. Instead, we must have an active dialogue, where we can exchange ideas, books, a cup of tea, food, poetries and songs and every little thing that makes life beautiful. The time has come for the Pakistani and Indian youth to unite and break the shackles of hatred that the social, political and historical monsters have bound us in because if we grow above it, the future of our nations is going to be brighter than the Sun.

Our struggles and our victories are same. Let us remember that we are humans, young, wild and free, with dreams that touch the sky and voices that are so loud that they are meant to be heard in every corner of the world no matter which side of the border we belong to. We are all bundles of joy and love and that is what we are first, before being a Pakistani or a Hindustani, before being a Muslim or Hindu. So, let’s embrace the positivity that resides within us. A future where a Pakistani having ‘aloo ka parathas’ in an Indian dhaba and an Indian savouring ‘biryani’ in a Pakistani restaurant should not seem like an impossible thought, where ‘dilli ke raaste’ and ‘Lahore ki galliyan’ tell stories of camaraderie that is lost but still alive somewhere in our hearts. To start with, think of a future where we are not enemies but rivals who can be friends. Just imagine the things we can achieve together.

So, when we celebrate the 71 years of our Independence next year, let us remember the yesterday that binds us together, let us rejoice in the tomorrow that will bring with it a promise of friendship, love and hope. Let us prove to the world that they can’t divide us anymore. That we can be a great example of peace and prosperity, staying true to the colours of our flags. A friend once told me that the existence of India and Pakistan is imperative for each other because it unites its denizens against a common foe. I say let the existence of India for Pakistan and vice versa be important to unite its citizens among and with, but not against each other. India and Pakistan are two names that are always going to be taken together for eternity to come, so let it be for all the right reasons because a peaceful forever awaits us.

 

By Tania Mishra

Tania is an Economics student at University Of Delhi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Semester Abroad

I am very lucky to have gotten the chance to study in US for semester.

America is a country where people have freedom of expression. Very likely, no one will judge you here. People have freedom of expression when it comes to their clothing, their arguments, their private life and sharing their point of view.  We all see USA as a melting pot which means that we see diversity of people leading to diversity of cultures here.

In my experience, I have found education in United States very organized and balanced compared to that in Pakistan. In States, workload is well spread across the whole semester. I am a Business Management major, and I don’t see tons of assignments, case-studies, quizzes, exams and presentations here. Professors here try to keep their course as much easy and learning intensive as they can. Professors try to minimize the student-teacher barriers. I personally met different professors in their offices and every time I left them, I used to carry some good tips for a better practical life with me. Professors try to keep the classroom atmosphere very casual. I remember, on my first class of Geography, my Professor came in shorts, again showing freedom of expression and a casual atmosphere in class. These are the things that I don’t see very often back in Pakistan.

I have travelled to Pittsburgh many times in the past two months. To experience, life in one of the very busy city in States was again fun. While I was walking around with my bunch of international friends on the streets of Pittsburgh, almost 90% of the people (majority Americans) who passed by us used to say these common lines “How are you doing?”, “How’s it going?” Etc. These lines show that although people live a busy life but still they care about people around them. In Pittsburgh, we went on a “Ducky Tour” and that was real fun. We had a tour of whole Pittsburgh. Also, on the “Ducky Tour”, we were around ten international students and all the Americans on the bus were appreciating us and asking all of us about our countries showing they respect different cultures.

Personally, there a lot of things I have learned over the course of my semester here. And I am really excited to get back to LUMS. See you in spring!

Haseeb Ashfaq

Class of 2018

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Why Beijing Should Be Your Next Holiday Destination

Summer of 2015 I found myself booked for a flight to Beijing 15 days prior. While I packed and prepared myself to spend a year in an unknown country due to my parents’ jobs, while constantly running to get my visa requirements completed, I was understatedly terrified. Despite having little to no time to actually mentally prepare myself to stay a year in a country that spoke a language unknown to me, I had plenty of time to hear about the never ending restrictions on the life there. How on earth was I going to find myself around there with half of the apps being banned, like Google and Youtube? How was I even going to communicate with the people? As the time of my departure neared, the number of looming questions in my head multiplied as did my anxiety.

Fast forward a few months later, this place had now become my second home. Beijing showed me that when I thought life in Islamabad was fast, I was in for a shock. The metropolitan center, densely populated, always bustling with life regardless of the time of the day, became my city. I began to own it like it was my very own. So when someone asks me where to travel next, I bank my vote with Beijing.

Beijing, whose history dates back to 3000 years, has been the capital city in many dynasties including Ji, Yan, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing, the early Republic of China and now currently serves as the capital of the People’s Republic of China. The capital boasts to be the most populous capital city of the world. An impeccable hybrid of both modern and traditional architecture, culture and traditions, Beijing is a sure attraction to all. Beijing has a lot to offer, whether it is sightseeing, shopping or recreational activities. Below are my personal favorite places to visit.

  1. The Great Wall of China

One simply cannot visit Beijing and not witness one of the Seven Wonders of the World with their own two eyes. The magnificent structure which measures half the length of the Equator was built over 2700 years ago and most of it still stands in its original glory. Built from rock and stone mostly, the wall served as defense from invaders like the Huns and the Mongols. There are many sections of the wall that are open to the public. Badaling, one of the sections I visited thrice in my time there, is very well preserved and is always bustling with local and foreign visitors. The wall can be climbed and upon reaching a particular section, certificates and/or souvenirs can be bought. The climb itself is not that easy as I expected from my little hiking experience at the Margalla Hills of Islamabad, however, the views from the top are worth every steep step to the top.

  1. Wangfujing Street

Wangfujing has to be the most interesting and most famous street to visit in Beijing. Most of it still in its traditional setting, the street offers many exotic dishes and snacks in its small old hutongs. People with weak stomachs like myself, will either lose their appetite by seeing deep fried scorpions and seahorses on sticks or will resort to McDonalds’ Fillet-o-Fish. When visiting at night,  Donghuamen Street, which is located perpendicular to Wangfujing can be visited to experience the night market culture in its full spirit.

  1. Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

The Tiananmen Square is known greatly due to the pro-democracy protests that took place in 1989, however, there is an even greater history behind this. The Square itself, located in the heart of Beijing, is a large open area dominated by the Tiananmen a gate that embodies a large portrait of Mao Zedong. The gate opens into the ancient Imperial City, within which the Forbidden City lies. The Forbidden City is named so as it was only accessible to the royal families of the Ming and Qing dynasties and ordinary people were not allowed.

  1. Silk Market and Pearl (Hongqiao) Market

Perhaps the most famous shopping areas of Beijing for tourists are the Silk and Pearl Markets. For people looking forward to shopping for souvenirs or gifts, these two locations are easily accessible through the metro and subway. These are always busy with local and foreign visitors who visit for shopping and recreational purposes. The Silk Market is famous for the high end silk products sold there whereas the Pearl Market specializes in fresh water pearls and precious gemstones.

  1. Chaoyang Acrobatic Show

One of the best acrobatic shows in China performs weekly at the Chaoyang Theatre Beijing. The tickets sell out almost immediately which proves the high viewing demand of the show. The show includes nerve wracking stunts and visuals that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The exhilarating experience will surely wanting for more by the end of it.

  1. Summer Palace

The best time to visit the scenic Summer Palace is during spring or autumn when it is neither to hot nor cold and the historical royal garden can be thoroughly enjoyed by those who want to witness the remnants of the Qing dynasty. There is also the facility of boating around the beautiful garden when the weather best allows.

  1. Olympic Park Bird’s Nest and Olympic Water park

Tourists, adults and children alike, are bound to enjoy the visit to the Bird’s Nest which serves as the National Stadium for Beijing. It was primarily designed for the Summer Olympics 2008 and its state-of-the-art facilities will be put to use again in Winter Olympics 2022. The Olympic Water Park is best enjoyed during the summers as it is an indoor facility containing exciting rides of different sorts that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages.

These were some of the many places I had the pleasure of visiting while I stayed in Beijing and safe to say, made my stay there enjoyable and memorable. Beijing, itself, is a very culturally diverse city with an interesting combination of modern lifestyle and preserved history. While the city spans out in a futuristic landscape, lined with subway train tracks and dotted with skyscraping buildings, its rich cultural history still peeks out in its unique ways like the dainty hutongs hanging from old streets. It is a must-visit city as it is truly a city like no other.

Zainab Shuja

Class of 2021

 

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A Necessary Dependence?

Consider the typical LUMS student – overburdened and sleep-deprived, with yet another deadline looming, assignments and group projects essentially being categorized according to the week of their submission, tutorials, unannounced quizzes, midterms or finals just around the corner, long sessions in the library soon becoming routine (all-nighters always a favorite), the occasional giving up completely, stressing over the load of the coursework or why they procrastinated so much, and so on. Before, after, or in between classes, they’re likely to grab a cup of coffee or tea from the nearest store to get that extra boost of energy, or, in the case of the aforementioned all-nighter, have one before getting to work, and find themselves periodically going to get another, and then another. Can relate? You’re not the only one. In fact, according to one study, 78% of university students report to habitually consume caffeine greater than or equal in amount to the recommended level. I am one such student, increasingly relying on coffee as a restorative since the beginning of this semester. But to what extent is this reliance imperative and when does it become an unsustainable waste of time and money and harmful to health?

The answer, being subjective in nature, is not quite clear at all; let’s first see why you might need caffeine.

“When I don’t have coffee, I tend to sleep a lot more,” said one LUMS student. “It’s difficult to work as much as I normally do, which leads me to procrastinating more – that I can’t have.”

“If in the morning it’s to stay alert, but I usually drink a cup of coffee just for the taste,” said another student. “It’s basically a craving.”

Most students actually do have coffee or tea either for the taste or because of the ample and convenient availability of caffeine on campus (staying awake and attentive because you simply have too much left to do made easier). But there are other benefits of drinking coffee or tea as well. Did you know that caffeine can increase your metabolism by as much as 20 percent? Or that research suggests it may offer long-lasting protection against age-related memory and thinking problems? And there’s no dispute that a cup of espresso in the short term will lower fatigue and elevate mood, as well as improve logical reasoning: think about how that could work for you.

But, as always, there’s a catch. For one, caffeine, a stimulant, can be highly addictive – frequent consumption can build tolerance, requiring a higher intake to have the same experience. Closely related to this, you have coffee routinely, say at least 5 to 6 cups a week, lowering your intake will be subject you to withdrawal symptoms: from headaches and irritability, to nausea and vomiting; for the regular consumer, an apparent tradeoff exists between withdrawal and becoming increasingly dependent on caffeinated products.

The more significant incentive for managing your caffeine consumption, however, is that excessive caffeine is inexorably linked to increased heartbeat, muscle tremors, nervousness, restlessness, and most notably, insomnia. Though, as mentioned earlier, caffeine does enhance cognitive thinking in the short term, a persistent lack of adequate sleep will inevitably affect judgment, mood, and ability to learn and retain information, which in turn will negatively affect your academics.

Pay attention to how much you drink, and when you drink it.

As reported by The Huffington Post earlier this year, one study showed that caffeine consumed as early as six hours before bedtime still significantly disrupts sleep. Participants who consumed caffeine at bedtime, three hours before, and six hours before all experienced a shorter night’s sleep and diminished sleep quality. They spent more time awake during the night. Even caffeine ingested six hours before bedtime caused participants to lose more than an hour of total sleep time, even though they did not perceive unlike the participants in the previous two categories. Therefore, the late-afternoon cup of coffee or tea that you might pick up after class could be a major reason behind your sleeplessness, even though you may not feel its effect.

So, the answer – unduly, simple enough in theory, but not quite so in practice – take caffeine responsibly. Keep in mind your sleep schedule – are you an early or a late riser? Make sure next time you have a coffee or tea, it’s well before the time you usually sleep. Remember, regardless of your reason to drink coffee or tea, nothing can replace a good night’s sleep – prioritize smartly.

By Maisam Ali

Class of 2021