Fakiha Hassan Rizvi

In the run-up to the 2013 elections two cynical terms are oft repeated by some politicians and, unfortunately, by a large section of media. These terms are ‘muk mukka’ (meaning a deal between the two parties, with the connotation of an underhand deal between the two parties) and a similar term ‘noora kushti’ (meaning a […]

“For decades we have piled deficit upon deficit, mortgaging our future and our children’s future for the temporary convenience of the present. To continue this long trend is to guarantee tremendous social, cultural, political, and economic upheavals. You and I, as individuals, can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but only for a limited period […]

Barely did the human heart survive the inhumane spectacles of Shi’ite genocide in Balochistan that flames emerged from Joseph Colony, Lahore. As many as 180 houses belonging to the Christian minority were set ablaze. What reportedly started as a verbal onslaught between two drunkards wearing tags of different religions turned into a perdition devouring properties […]

Events unfolding as a consequence of the Arab Spring had a substantial impact on the young people living in the countries in revolt. The Arab awakening is described at times as a ‘youth-driven’ movement, which is driven by the poor performance of authoritarian regimes. However, despair lingered amidst slogans of democracy, equality and freedom of […]

Earlier this year the slogans of change were highly charged. The initiators constituted of ‘vibrant Pakistani youth’. The polling stations filled up, as the Election Day converted into a day of celebration for a nation weary of rampant corruption, fomenting extremism and uncertain modes of governance. The unemployed but educated youth also foresaw the amelioration […]

I remember watching the famous British comedy television series “Mind Your Language” when I was about eight-years-old. It was broadcast in Pakistan during the 1990s. The show was set in an adult education college in London and focused on ‘English’ as a foreign language. The classes were taught by Mr Jeremy Brown, a role played […]

The unwavering faith and intense struggle of Afghan women has continued since the civil war started in Afghanistan. As the only woman to this date ever to be crowned ‘Miss Afghanistan’ (Zuhra Yousaf) puts it, “War steals the very breath of life. Afghanistan stopped breathing and the little that was achieved by Afghan women came […]

Nawaz Sharif seems to have the Midas touch, as 14 years after being shunned from the corridors of power he has become the prime minister (PM) for an unprecedented third time. The transition of power has been smooth as all political forces have acted maturely and accepted the mandate granted by the electorate. Mr Sharif […]

With the electoral results of Pakistan at the international and national display, the triumph of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is prominent. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is geared up to take his seat as the premier of the country for the third time now. His victory speech promises the execution of his reasonable and sound manifesto […]