Pakistan’s Media – responsibility must anchor freedom
My piece that was published earlier this week: IT is a truism that media freedom in Pakistan today has been earned after a long…
Why Jodhaa Akbar is a disappointment?
The challenge of translating a historical era into a cinematic endeavour is daunting, especially when it concerns historically contested subjects such as the fabled…
Living Histories
Essences of the past and present come alive at the Lawrence Gardens Lahores Lawrence Gardens, baptised the Bagh-i-Jinnah in the post-independence era, represent the…
Mian Mir’s 384th Urs
Mian Mir’s death anniversary celebrations are commencing today. Mian Mir is regarded as one of the greatest Sufi saints of the Subcontinent. He belonged…
The flawed boycott mantra?
Thursday, February 21, 2008 Much has been said on how the election results are a referendum against the policies of General Musharraf. While there…
Afghan Madhouse (Book Review – No Space for Further Burials)
Decades of imperialism have left Afghanistan and its people devastated. But the fall of the Taliban, and the much touted ‘liberation’ of Afghanistan, has…
Shehr-i-Qatl ke log (People of this Murderous City) a poem
Reposting this 2007 poem: Alam kay iss jazeeray mein Jahan sab per ujar gaye Aur saari musafitan be-nishaan ho gayee Teri tasveer neechay gulab…
Nahaj ul Balagha – Looking back to Get Ahead
Fahmida Riaz is Pakistan’s premier female poet. She became a sensation in the early 1970s when her bold, feminist poetry created a stir in…
Hazrat Ali’s letter on governance and citizenship
The common stories about Islam or Muslims have to do with the chopping of arms and killing of infidels. We are told that Muslims…
What goes around…No more saviours please
Now that the wheel has turned its back yet again, there is much to ponder. There are many who are saying that this is…
October 18: Attack on Benazir Bhutto’s rally at Karsaz, Karachi (From the archives)
Despite the Tragedy, Extremism Will be Fought by Pakistanis Published October 20, 2007 (blogcritics) 180 are dead and more than 500 injured in Karachi…
Killing Shias is not jihad – stop this carnage in Pakistan
This is an old article – When the state kills – authored by Pakistan’s eminent intellectual Khaled Ahmed. It remains relevant for what is…
Inhospitable Reception
“While the ‘easy-white-woman’ stereotype is being reinforced, how can Pakistan become a tourist destination?” Conversing with Charlotte is always a pleasure. She’s original and…
Qurratulain Hyder -End of an Era
The death of Qurratulain Hyder marks the end of an era of the finest writing in Urdu. Hyder, also known as Ainee Apa, dominated…
Nazmain Chand – Poems for 15th August
Happy Independence day to the Indian friends and readers! Today’s post comprises a few poems that may capture several moods and facets of the…
Dhaka by degrees
How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees. -William Shakespeare I grew up in the post-East…
Insider’s Indonesia
Lush green vistas and the eclectic Javanese culture, the breathtaking Bali coastline and the curiously composite Islamic identity of the country made up my…
Why I love Pakistan? Top 5 reasons
The Civilization Pakistan is not a recent figment but a continuation of 5000 years of history: quite sheepishly, I admit, that I am an…
Karachi – “Bright Lights”
Each time one visits Karachi the sprawling metropolis seems more run down. Crumbling infrastructure, notwithstanding the recent improvements, and a sense of neglect are…
Visiting Dhaka- “We are strangers now?”
The warmth of people and the magic of old Dhaka overwhelms you. Having said that, Dhaka is bursting on the seams with a gushing…