Once Bitten, Twice ShyBy: Shazil Amir on May 27, 2018I was born in 2004, which makes me a member of the centennial generation. I still remember the time when I was six years old, and always came home crying because “I wanted to buy the whole toy store” every time I visited the market with my parents. My parents then changed their parenting strategy and I was asked to decide what I wanted before going to the market. When I turned ten, I noticed a … [Read more...] about Once Bitten, Twice Shy
The inglorious King and the Budha cavesBy: Gulbaz Mushtaq Advocate on May 27, 2018As one moves away from Golra and inches closer to Margalla hills, crossing newly-developed sector D-12, history in all its glory and gore awaits him. The village of Shah Allah Ditta welcomes the traveller with open arms and entertains him with stories; these are the stories of foreign invaders, Buddhist monks, Hindu sadhus and Muslim ascetics who left their marks for all times to come. Some 700 … [Read more...] about The inglorious King and the Budha caves
Mental Health problem – A Social RealityBy: Farzana Jahan Qarabash on May 24, 2018Scientists have described it to be the most stressed of all times and this is something that we would all agree to. In the race of getting it all, an individual is left drained. Social alienation, strained relationships, anxiety, depression, complexities and hatred are all the consequences that we are left to battle with. As one writer has put it, here everything is perfect but nobody is happy. As … [Read more...] about Mental Health problem – A Social Reality
A Buddhist’s pilgrimage to PakistanBy: Manoranjan Sharma on May 24, 2018At Lumbini in Nepal, we have a connection with Buddhism like a baby has with the breast. It is religious and spiritual, yes, but far more. Since it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a pilgrimage site, Buddhism - its sacraments and ceremonies - flows through the streets and sites of Lumbini like blood through veins. It is a part of our everyday life, like to a Muslim living in Mecca or a … [Read more...] about A Buddhist’s pilgrimage to Pakistan
FirewoodBy: Muhammad Umar Bhatti on May 24, 2018Meenu The door (or what was left of it after withstanding years and years of termite attacks and rains) creaked open. And in came a shy and thin ray of light along with my brother (just a little thicker and brasher than the sunbeam), in our room-cum kitchen-cum dining hall-cum lounge-cum store. We all, rightly, called him “Gittu”, because of his stunted growth due to malnutrition (of which I, … [Read more...] about Firewood
Neo-Ottomanism a myth or realityBy: M Saad ur-Rehman on May 21, 2018In the treaty of Lausanne (1923), signed in Palais de Rumine, Turkey gave up the remainder of the territory held by the Ottoman Empire. In return, the Allied powers recognised the new republic of Turkey and eventually one of the greatest empires in the history of mankind came to an end. Mustafa Kemal, the founder of the modern Turkey, introduced rigorous reforms in all sectors of the country and … [Read more...] about Neo-Ottomanism a myth or reality
‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ – how your thoughts affect youBy: Mujahid Zahid on May 20, 2018American minister and author, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, has produced 47 successful books throughout his career, which have helped dozens of people achieve their dreams and live a prosperous life. His book 'The Power Of Positive Thinking' is one such work with sole objective of helping the readers lead a prosperous, satisfactory and a worthwhile life. Peale's classic helps us readers find an … [Read more...] about ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ – how your thoughts affect you
Pakistani debate on PTM and Manzoor PashteenBy: Riaz Haq on May 18, 2018Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) has held rallies across Pakistan in support of Pashtun rights. The movement was born in response to the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a young Pashtun falsely accused of being a terrorist by a rogue senior police officer in Karachi. PTM has received very little coverage in Pakistan's mainstream media but the extensive foreign media reporting on its leader Manzoor … [Read more...] about Pakistani debate on PTM and Manzoor Pashteen
Beyond political correctnessBy: Ayaz Khan on May 17, 2018How to ventilate the stifling ideas entering into intellectual spaces and weed out the ‘constructive’ thoughts? The question is broadly answered by the ‘censorious’ environment which most of the universities in Pakistan have assimilated. The recent removal of Dr Ammar Ali Jan by Punjab University administration draws a flagrant and gloomy image of the embedded concept of ‘intellectual caution’, … [Read more...] about Beyond political correctness
Is the media really free?By: Riaz Haq on May 16, 2018The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) recently acknowledged the practice of hiring journalists vetted by MI5, the UK intelligence agency, to keep out the "subversives". The CIA is believed to have driven American investigative reporter Gary Webb to suicide after he exposed the agency's use of drug deals to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua. American researcher Joseph Overton has described … [Read more...] about Is the media really free?
