In our Muslim majority theological sect, the day a child is born, his or her indoctrination begins. They are given a religious identity and all its trappings, even though they have no choice in the matter. Believing your own religion or sect is superior to all others is also a part of the package. Though […]
Bridging cultural gaps
Growing up in our society, a child comes across many instances of conflict being resolved either through force, or by authority. The child sees a one sided decision being made, usually with the weaker party’s case being ignored completely. The narrative about different faiths and cultures is not so different — people feel compelled to […]
Religious literacy and tolerance
Religiously driven conflicts cannot end until the populace effected by them have a certain degree of empathy. As long as people refuse to look at things from the other side’s perspective, there can be no peace. It is a lack of empathy which has shaped our society’s unfortunate attitude towards religious minorities. In our society, […]
Is soft skill development a dream?
The day a child finally takes the plunge into the world of formal education, and gets registered at a school is a memorable day — particularly for the parents. For now, they entrust the child’s care to the school. Here in Pakistan, there are different types of educational institutions, which cater to different sections of […]
International Women’s Day. Just celebrations?
One can’t help but wonder how women domestic workers and low paid factory employees can benefit from ‘Women’s day events’ held at posh hotels. What do such events do for women who have been victims of violence, harassment or abuse? Most of the women at such events are already quite aware of what their rights […]
Pakistan’s dull spring
February is the month when the season transitions from a chilling winter to a beautiful spring. It is a month of love and transformation that is celebrated by cultures around the world. A western festival associated with love — Valentine’s Day, also takes place on February 14. It is an event which creates controversy every […]
Women’s access to justice
Articles 8 to 29 of Pakistan’s 1973 constitution clearly elaborate the fundamental rights of all Pakistani citizens. All native Pakistanis are guaranteed security, right to a fair trial, freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and safety from illegal detention regardless of caste, gender or ethnicity. However, the harsh reality […]
Intolerance and extremist attitudes
Following the murder of school principal Hafiz Sareer, his murderer Fahim Shah stated in his confessional statement that he had been taught to kill blasphemers without feeling any remorse. Shah was one of the students at Hafiz Sareer’s school as well as a Hafiz-e-Quran. Is this carnage a result of the intolerance that has permeated […]
Women must be respected
Pakistan is the fourth worst country for women according to a recently released ‘Women Peace and Security’ Index. In the list of 153 countries, Pakistan was ranked at 150 with very high rates of gender discrimination and low financial inclusion for women. The findings of the index were surprising and almost unbelievable when they were […]
Zainab’s tragedy
The main character involved in sexually abusing and later murdering Zainab is still at large. Since the incident, police investigation has brought into the lime light many other innocent victims. The very news was more than enough to lead anyone into a state of shock and depression. Just imagine the level our society has steeped […]