I was a victim of verbal sexual harassment at work and blamed myself for it
“Read this interesting one-liner by Manto,” said my boss from one of my former workplaces as he nudged his smartphone in my direction. Knowing who Saadat Hasan Manto was, and well-acquainted with the...
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My visits to India made me realise how easy it is to be friends
The only time I met the late Om Puri was in 2004, when he came to participate in the Kara Film Festival in Karachi. That was his first visit to Pakistan. I was introduced to him at a dinner hosted by...
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Sweden may have come under attack, but it will never be overpowered
On Friday, April 7, an Uzbek suspect hijacked a delivery truck and rammed the vehicle into the Åhlens City department store on Drottninggatan, a busy, crowded, partially pedestrian street in Stockholm,...
View ArticleTerrorists aren't always 'brainwashed', they commit murder in a rational state
I wonder which comes first: Does a bigoted society influence the government and the state; or does a bigoted state and government influence a society? Some experts suggest that (in a democracy) no...
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How I discovered the hidden springs of Khuzdar in Balochistan
The sky at Moola Chotook lights up with the planet Venus and Jupiter and the constellation Orion’s belt. Curiosity can be a powerful driving force; the need to constantly seek and discover. The one...
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Once populated with temples, only traces of Hinduism remain in Laki
Earlier this year, I went to Laki, which is about 18 kilometres from Sehwan. Laki is famous for its natural streams, but once I got there, I also realised how important Hinduism has been to Sindh and...
View ArticleOnly memories are left of Mashal, the idealist who always wanted to learn more
A mob lynched Mashal Khan last week at the premises of his university on the allegation of blasphemy. Factually, the statement is accurate, but reducing the incident to newspeak is simplistic and...
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No longer a thriving fishing village, Kalankar lake's community can only hope...
I remember the moment I was sitting on a partially-broken wooden batila (small boat) at Sindh’s Kalankar lake earlier this year. Local fisherman and boat captain Mir Hassan Mallah pointed toward the...
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A history of Karachi’s garbage outbreaks
Photo: File photo Karachi has witnessed at least three major garbage outbreaks. At the same time, ironically, the history of the city also suggests that it not only managed to eliminate these...
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The colourful faces and celebrations of Holi in Umerkot
Holi has become one of the well-recognised cultural and religious events across the planet. While the global status it has received might be new, the festival of course has historical significance in...
View ArticleWhy I disagree with the censorship of social media and the imposition of hijab
Pakistani representatives seem to be getting their ankle-length trousers into quite a few unseemly knots these days over unprecedented ‘slights’ against our battle-hardened culture. Under attack (as it...
View ArticleContemplating suicide at age 8: How I grew up hiding my depression
When I was eight, I heard about a three-year-old who fell in a water tank and drowned. The news shattered mothers in the small community we lived in. My own mother told me to be more vigilant of myself...
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How I raised my perfect child with Down Syndrome
For most parents, the day their first child is born is a special moment. It is the day that marks the start of a journey full of promises, dreams, and expectations. Parents hope that their newborn will...
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23rd March special: The resolutions after the Resolution
Picture: Archive 150 The first resolve: Head of the All India Muslim League (AIML), Muhammad Ali Jinnah, speaking to party members in Lahore on March 23, 1940. Jinnah was presiding a party session in...
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I found the mystic light I was seeking in the Broghil valley
I distinctly remember the photograph I saw of a child in a stone hut in the Broghil valley, close to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. She had the most striking eyes and was wearing a traditional dress...
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Exclusive | One moment in Perth changed our lives: Aaqib Javed
By Hafsa Adil This article was originally published on November 14, 2014. Despite the locks and the looks, Aaqib Javed was never the quintessential Pakistani fast bowler. Drafted into a team boasting...
View ArticleMoin Khan on the 1992 World Cup
25 years ago, on March 25th 1992, the Pakistan cricket team won the World Cup - the wicket keeper at the time - Moin Khan, reminisces about that great day in Pakistan cricketing history. This interview...
View ArticleHow a gurudwara in Nankana Sahib promoted Punjabi for centuries
Gurudwara Patti Sahib is relatively small, as far as Sikh places of worship go. The single-storey structure is surrounded by a courtyard, next to which there are several rooms. These were once reserved...
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Stargazing in Balochistan took me to an infinite universe
“That constellation is the Big Bear, the one opposite it is the Little Bear. At the tail end of the Little Bear is Polaris, the North Star,” I was told. I was around 15 years old when one clear night...
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Helping an injured biker made me realise Karachi's traffic police isn’t...
My usual ride to the university each morning involves surfing through radio channels while I am half asleep. But this last Friday was different. I witnessed a traffic accident that jerked me out of my...
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