18 June, 2012 New York Times story: Coverage of Scandal Dents Credibility of Pakistani TV News The credibility of the electronic media is at…

Marta Franceschini: H Nizamuddin Auliya’s devotee

This message cheered me up. Amazing that some of us have never met yet there is a bond we share – the calm space…

Love and the Law: An exerpt from Bulleh Shah (Required reading if you have studied the law)

By Sovmind Bulleh Shah (1680 – 1757) was a Punjabi Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher from what is now considered Pakistan. As one…

At this one point, all talk ends – Bulleh Shah

Bulleh Shah   Pakar saaf dile diyaan khavaabaan nu. Gal aise ghar vich dhukkdi eh, ik nuqte vich gal mukdi eh.   Hold tight…

The land of his dreams

Professor Javaid Iqbal Syed’s memoir traverses the political and the personal, the mundane and the sublime, and weaves a narrative that reflects the decades…

Before it’s too late

Pakistan’s radicalization is now a threat to its society and the region. Whilst General Zia ul Haq will be remembered for institutionalizing extremism, most…

Dear Raza Greetings of Peace, Shalom, Namaste, Salaam! It is time, this holiday season, to savor the sweetness of those who work steadfastly for…

My Master has planted jasmine in my heart

Shahidain has sent another Bait from Sultan Bahu for Jahane Rumi “Alif-Allaah chambe dee bootee murshid man wich laee hoo Naffee asbat daa panee…

Priests and scholars parade their learning to please the kings

Abayat from Sultan Bahu on Priests and Scholars (thanks to Shahidain) “Parh parh ilam mulook rijhaavan, kiaa hoiaa is parhiaan hoo Hargiz makkhan mool…

The Journey Within

By Wanderer It was in August 1989 and the date was either 10 or 11. I had a strange dream, a dream that I…

On secularism, Jinnah and Pakistan

My contribution for Jinnah Institute’s secular space What are we fighting for? What are we aiming at? It is not theocracy, not for a…

LAHORE: The state, the police, the law and the general public are all to blame for the lack of rule of law in Pakistan,…

The teachings of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti

1. The heart of a lover is like a furnace of love. Whatever goes into it is burnt to nothingness because there is no…

Pakistan Policy Group – logo

Here is a log for the informal network of policy practice, research, advisory and communication activities. It would be good to know the feedback…

Beo Zafar – Pakistan’s ace-comediane

A short piece that I wrote on Beo, Pakistan’s ace-comediane whose talents are diverse and ever-blooming. Beo [Khala] as I have known her for…

Pakistan’s crumbling institutions

Published in The News (Sunday) Pakistan’s instability is a clichè, almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. All the theoretical ingredients for stability are there: an elected…

Music sans frontiers

By GEETA NANDAKUMAR Song of the soul Farida Khanum ‘Aaj jaane ki zid na karo, haaye mar jaayenge ham to lut jaaenge, aisii baatein…

More on Fahmida Riaz

Thanks to Isa Daudpota  who sent me the text and the translated poems after he had heard Kamila Shamsie talk about her.. Fahmida Raiz,…

LAHORE, Pakistan — For those who think Pakistan is all hard-liners, all the time, three activities at an annual festival here may come as…

democracy Two years and counting The obvious fallout of the media-government war has been a virtual blackout of what the civilian governments have achieved…