One year after: On the endangered freedoms in Pakistan
It has been a year as I wrote here since I was almost assassinated. I have already posted the tribute to Mustafa who died…
Karachi airport attack a sign of wider security challenges
The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack on Karachi airport, that’s killed at least 28 people, including the ten suicide terrorists. The…
Farzana’s honour killing is a national shame
My outrage – sadly limited to social media on the brutal stone age murder of a pregnant woman in Pakistan ostensibly developed city [View…
State accountability
My piece published in The Friday Times (June 18 issue) Leaving aside the political debate on the results of the recent Transparency International (TI)…
Magic moments – incredible photos on mysticism
Today, a magical photographer and a brave journalist Iason Athanasiadis, wrote to me after reading some of my comments in NYT. This is such…
A season of quotes
Never a dull moment. And, increasing requests for quotes, opinions and reactions. Sometimes I wonder if it makes a difference? I am putting some…
2011- A year that will haunt us
From Paper Magazine 2011- a year in review A journalist recently remarked that 2011 was the year that no one will remember. Alas, this…
Developments around Taseer killing disturb liberal Pakistanis
Islamabad, Jan 5 The emergence of Facebook pages eulogising the assassin of Governor Salmaan Taseer and praise from Islamic clerics for the killer have…
Asma Jahangir – A formidable fighter
Fearless and a formidable fighter, Asma Jahangir personifies the struggles Pakistanis have initiated against shameful cultural practices, discriminatory legislation and executive excess. A frail…
Media and mobs – Arundhati Roy versus the terrorists
Arundhati Roy is the conscience of India. Her treatment by a greedy media playing the tunes of fundamentalists is deplorable and condemnable. Roy’s statement…
Collapsing Local Governance
Recent floods have exposed the capacity of the state to govern, especially at the local level. The disintegration of local state is not a…
A nation determined to be innocent
There's massive disappointment and anger that this could happen at a time when the country is going through such a bad phase," he said.…
Sanity at last: Pakistan accepts flood aid money from rival India
This is a sensible thing to do. Finally sanity has prevailed. We hope that Pakistan’s neighbours – India, China and Iran help us out…
Generous and timely: US Response to Pakistan’s Disaster
Ironic that the United States has been perhaps the most pro-active and generous country in helping us with flood relief. Pakistanis, especially those were…
Pakistan’s misery is just starting
Pakistan commentator and editor of influential cyber-magazine Pak Tea House Raza Rumi also warns of systemic collapse if the needs of millions of poor…
Pakistan needs immediate assistance
I just wrote this on Pak Tea House: PTH is starting a series of posts devoted to the Pakistan’s current crisis effects of which…
Moenjodaro might have been washed away
I just read this message (pasted below) from the Director of the World Heritage Centre on impact of Pakistani floods on the Archaeological Ruins…
Oldest university on earth is reborn after 800 years
Nalanda, an ancient seat of learning destroyed in 1193, will rise again thanks to a Nobel-winning economist By Andrew Buncombe During the six centuries…
Islamabad tragedy – a close call
While we were landing, it makes me shiver that another aircraft had lost contact with the control tower in Islamabad and was about to…