Hina Hafeezullah Ishaq

A while ago, a ‘progressive’ female member of the Punjab Assembly (MPA), belonging to the opposition benches, caused an uproar amongst the members of most of the enlightened public by demanding that the Family Laws be amended to allow men to marry up to four wives without obtaining permission of the first wife. She went […]

Almost ten days ago, around 40 children, under the care of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Punjab, were shifted to Lahore from Faisalabad amid serious allegations of child abuse including sodomy, physical torture, harassment, forced labour and exposure to pornographic material, allegedly committed by the institution’s staff. Striving to conform to the commitments […]

It is said that two things are infinite in this world: the universe and human stupidity, and there might be doubt about the first! Last Friday, at my daughter’s school in the afternoon, I sat on a bench reading my law book, waiting for the school bell to ring. My concentration was broken by two […]

A couple of days ago, I received a message in desi text lingo, which when translated said: “In order to detect/trace theft, dacoity, murder, kidnapping, call immediately. A team will bring trained dogs to you. 24 hours service, money back guarantee.” It was followed by two mobile numbers. Mercifully, I had no need of this […]

There is an argument that is advanced by many propounders of the ‘Ostrich theory’. It is argued that social and legal issues that are classified as taboo are best left to the ostrich to deal with, as raising them will lead to anarchy in society.   Incestual rape is one such issue. Incest is defined […]

Sharifan Bibi was an elderly widow. In her gentle, wrinkled face, were deep soulful eyes. If one were to look inside, the pain and helplessness contained in them seemed endless in depth, as if time had stood still and not a single ripple had been caused in spite of the enormity of her ordeal; her […]

I must admit that for the past few days, I have been hooked on the song ‘Naina Lagay’, sung by Amanat Ali and Maria Meer. I remember when Amanat Ali, a young and talented boy from Faisalabad, sang on Saregama, a popular Indian talent hunt show. An avid fan of music and music shows, I […]

In September last year, members of the Sindh Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution recommending that the provincial government declare 18 years as the minimum age for marriage. There are reports that the Sindh government is all set to table a bill that falls in line with this. The Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 governs the […]

Sometimes people ask me why I write. As a child, I lost my brother — he was brutally murdered and I saw him in his injured condition. He lost his battle for life after remaining in a coma for five days and having three neurosurgeries. On the day he passed away, I was sent to […]

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of […]