Global Realignment and Our Isolation on September 17, 2023I had just finished watching the Bollywood style presentation of G20 summit glorifying PM Modi when I got calls from two friends that I respect immensely for their dedication and contributions to Pakistan. Both have excelled in helping the needy. As they were private conversations I will not share the contents; the gist was that […]
Even the Darkest Night Yields to Dawn on September 10, 2023Saudi Arabia is an economic juggernaut. Late King Faisal Al Saud triggered this process when he challenged the West and their Oil Companies. He changed the dynamics to make Saudis major beneficiaries of the “black gold” emerging from its massive oilfields. Starting in the seventies, Saudi Arabia embarked on its journey to convert itself from […]
Victims of a Deaf Conscience on September 3, 2023Imran Riaz Khan is a living legend amongst Pakistanis wherever they live. Prior to his kidnapping, everyone waited daily for his commentary uncovering the truth fearlessly. Millions of his followers miss him sorely and anxiously, waiting for his safe return. Since his kidnapping, his whereabouts are unknown. One prays for his life. It sends chills […]
When Freedom is Stifled on August 27, 2023History has many inspiring stories of true leaders facing adversity and how they rebound. I am particularly impressed by a folklore about King Bruce of Scotland. He had suffered a loss on the battlefield and fled taking refuge in a cave. His army was routed and in a disarray. Sitting alone he felt dejected and […]
Spider in its Web on August 20, 2023Malik Meraj Khalid was a political stalwart in Pakistani politics. He held high offices during Z A Bhutto’s government and under Benazir Bhutto. He became the interim Prime Minister in 1996-97 after the sacking of the 2nd Benazir government. He was forced out of office by BB for calling out Asif Zardari’s blatant corruption. He […]
Where White is Black on July 31, 2023It was during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Hostilities were in full swing in East Pakistan and air war had started on the Western front. I was living in Punjab University, New Campus; at that time and was President of Students Union. Trenches were dug around hostels to protect them from air raids for students. An […]
Freedom is not Achieved by Sitting at Home on July 23, 2023Our physical training (PT) instructor in Burn Hall was a retired “Subedar;” equivalent of an Army Sergeant. All students in Senior School were split into two Houses, St Michael and St Gabriel. Each had its instructor. I was part of St Michael. Our Subedar Sir was a tall, ram-rod erect and well-built man, supporting a […]
Global Realignment Impacts Pakistan on July 9, 2023The sixties and seventies were the golden era of the Pakistani and Punjabi film industry. There are commonalities between blockbusters in those days and what is happening on our political horizon. “Phaney Khan” was one of them, depicting a Lahori bad boy who would intimidate others by waving a “kachu”, a large knife. He would […]
Positions Without Rationale Are Unsustainable on July 2, 2023Lahore is a city of extreme contrasts. Those living in “jhuggis,” temporary tents, scrape a living by rummaging through garbage, begging, petty thefts and low-paying jobs. Their biggest challenge is the next meal. Then, we have the wealthy bursting at the seams, desperate to display their lavish lifestyles. The dwindling middle class is somewhere in […]
Memories Don’t Wipe Like Blackboards on June 25, 2023Miss Minto was our math teacher in Burn Hall, Abbottabad. She had a severe, no-nonsense, demeanor that kept the boys in check. She had a penchant to use the blackboard to write formulae, enunciate the problem, and write the solution in detail. It was a great way to understand complex algebraic equations. At the end […]