Of friendship, Covid and loss on May 29, 2021It is human nature to share joy and success. We internalise our pain and put on a brave face. Everyone likes to bask in the glory of success and we all enjoy a good time. Pain is an orphan few want to own. However, this pandemic has inflicted so much suffering that I feel I […]
Indestructible Afghan spirit on May 25, 2021A quiet storm is brewing in our front yard and it is one that will impact the future configuration of the entire region. The Americans are committed to leaving Afghanistan by September 11, some twenty years after their blustering re-entry to the region. They will leave behind a power vacuum and nature abhors a vacuum […]
COVID and the new world order on May 19, 2021The wide-bodied Boeing 787, nicknamed Dreamliner, entered Toronto airspace and circled once or twice before landing. There was no line-up along the air corridor to delay descent. Like most international airports, Toronto’s Pearson International is quite expansive. The walk from the gate in Terminal 3 to the immigration counter is a rather long one and […]
Accoutability without results is a travesty on April 27, 2021Recently I was sitting with my friend Raja Munawar, Member Senate Punjab University. Although he is younger than me our association goes back decades. I feel so blessed to have friends who have my back, whether we are together or oceans apart. He is one of them. I have often pondered at the definition of […]
Ramadan Reflections: Stop trampling over Huqooq-ul-Ibad on April 19, 2021We all witnessed mayhem on TV across the country butI had a firsthand view of the turmoil. It was senseless andbrazen defiance of authority leading to complete chaos. I was crossing a roundabout when I saw a small group ofyoungsters wielding sticks, lighting fires, beating up people and breaking wind-shields of the cars. I am […]
Unique opportunities for PMIK in 2nd awakening — (Part-II) on April 12, 2021I was invited to friend’s farmhouse for dinner. The guests included close friends and I got introduced to somenew people. The weather was changing; sitting outside cold and warm air were hugging each with firewood providingwarmth and ambiance. Suddenly I saw a motorcade enter the gates. Expensive SUV’s with darkened glasses complete with Hilux seated […]
Unique opportunities for PM in 2nd awakening Part 1 on April 4, 2021PDM’s threat has dissipated for now. Chances of their resurrection at the same level are slim and at least not until the end of the year. It is an opportunity for Prime Minister Imran Khan to play catch up and come out swinging. The onset of COVID for PM IK may have been a blessing […]
Solution lies in convictions not accusations on March 29, 2021Living in Lahore is a unique experience. We have two competing elements in our airspace; pollution in our air and accusations on our airwaves. I wonder which one is more harmful. One damages the body, the other hurts the mind. Yet Lahoris go about life in their merry ways crowding food outlets and luxurious shopping […]
What matters is how good you are, not how bad they were on March 23, 2021Punjabis have a unique way of expressing. It can be fairly annoying at times. I will share a personal anecdote. Somebody owes me a serious amount of money in Canada. He always portrayed himself as “younger brother” who loved me to bits, full Punjabi style. One day I sat him down and asked him when […]
Love flies out the window on an empty stomach on March 14, 2021The high stakes battle for senate control concluded last night. It was like watching the final episode of an extremely engaging serial that could have had multiple endings. Tensions ran high among the contenders and their backers,clutching at every straw that could help them prevail. The results for Chairman Senate were decisive, based on rejected […]