Pakistan – Afghanistan: A history of mixed feelings on February 12, 2018Much has happened since the beginning of this year in the Pakistan-US-Afghanistan ‘love’ triangle. In the wake of recent terrorist attacks on its soil with over a hundred killed during a month, Afghanistan hurled serious allegations on its neighbour, and former ally in the war on terror, Pakistan, claiming it trained a terrorist involved in […]
One flower crushed; will others bloom? on January 26, 2018It finally happened: Zainab’s murderer has been caught, his DNA matched accurately, he confessed to his crime, it’s all over… or is it? While the county’s Senate has unanimously approved of a death sentence in cases of child sexual abuse and murder, Punjab’s Chief Minister wants the culprit in Zainab’s case to be hanged at […]
The ‘City of Lights’ vs ‘City of Gardens’ on January 16, 2018It’s been 13 years since I started living in Lahore. Coming from a city which is known for its fast life, the change was nevertheless there. Still, at the time when I saw the capital of Punjab, it had picked up on the pace of modernity. The wave of infrastructural development was discarding the image […]
The ‘City of Lights’ vs ‘City of Gardens’ on January 12, 2018It’s been 13 years since I started living in Lahore. Coming from a city which is known for its fast life, the change was nevertheless there. Still, at the time when I saw the capital of Punjab, it had picked up on the pace of modernity. The wave of infrastructural development was discarding the image […]
The joys of life: providing leisure and comfort on December 29, 2017Wrapped in a cosy shawl, legs propped up on an ottoman and feet warmed against a log fire, I take sips from a steaming mug of coffee between leafing through a classic novel read years ago, humming a favourite tune and occasionally glancing at a perfectly manicured, lush green lawn. At least to me, this […]
The naked reality on December 14, 2017Another day has gone by and their still haven’t been any significant developments about the poor girl who was stripped naked and paraded in Dera Ismail Khan in late October this year. The horrific incident immediately made it to the headlines, with print publications glaring at the reader with angry words, social media daring to […]
Many dreamers, none to change our world on November 30, 2017While the seat of power in Pakistan still remains mostly in the hands of few dynasties, which take turns in having their go in assuming control, democracies around the world more than a century old and firmly rooted, are welcoming young leaders to pump fresh blood in already robust systems. New Zealander Jacinda Arden, who […]
M is for Mahira, Malala and Maryam on November 23, 2017It all started with allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Hollywood hotshot producer Harvey Weinstein. Then came the #MeToo movement on social media. This saw more than 50 actresses and those working in other areas of the film industry come forward; opening up about similar experiences at the hands of the now fallen-from-grace movie mogul. […]
To ‘manhandle’ misogyny on November 20, 2017 Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Mustafa Kamal is yet to recover from the acrimonious divorce after a one-night stand with Muttahida Quami Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar. While he had used an opportunity to react to allegations hurled by Farooq Sattar during his U-Turn to and from politics, Kamal took his […]
Rewriting History: Why we keep going back in time? on November 6, 2017If I were to compare some notes with my elders and do the same with my younger ones, chances are that we may differ in many of our versions of historical events. The reasons are very simple: firstly, we don’t seem to get over our past and secondly, we can’t seem to decide which ending […]