Terrorists 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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The Panama Case verdict: international and local reactions
A festive rally was taken out in the capital of Panama after the court ruling on the Panama Leaks case in Pakistan was finally announced. The rejoicing people hoped that maybe now their country’s name...
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Misbah: A great player. A leader of cricketers. A maker of men.
Illustration by Feica On the lawns of Aitchison College, a game of schoolboy cricket is developing. Saeed is batting at number four. His proud parents casually watch on, grazing on fruits while...
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Moin Akhtar, my father
"I was young and stranded and had left my job as a mechanic. I did not know what to do, but a quiet voice was always whispering to me, 'Whatever you do, make sure it is grand.'" —Moin AkhtarSeptember...
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How I miss you, Sabeen
This article was originally published on April 23, 2016. Born 1974. Flown, but never forgotten It’s now a year to the day when I got that call. Sitting at lunch, family visiting, and a single, awful...
View ArticleSabeen, the one who never backed down
This article was originally published on April 25, 2016. The fingers type, but I don’t feel them moving. The ears sense a commotion, but I cannot hear. The eyes fight back tears, but it’s futile to...
View ArticlePanama verdict: the most it has to offer is irony
As the leaks from the Isthmus of Panama poured in, to nick the words of honourable Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, ‘many an alabaster pedestals crumbled’ on being confronted with the irrefutable qualms of...
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Diary of a French girl in Pakistan
On my visit to Pakistan for the first time ever, I distinctly remember the day I was crossing the Wagah border from India, listening to a song by Noori while my heart was beating fast – not out of...
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Cola wars: A social and political history
‘Cola Wars’ is a term which emerged in the US in the early 1980s. It was coined to describe the advertising and marketing tactics of The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo against each other. Coca-Cola has...
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Mashal's death is a result of the regression of our student politics
Much has been said about what the lynching of Mashal Khan revealed about Pakistani society – from the brutal consequences of mob hysteria to the degree to which fanaticism has seeped into the social...
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Occupational injury: How Pakistan is failing its 56 million labourers
This article was originally published on December 5, 2015.A serious physical injury could put an enormous financial burden on a labourer and his family — which is exacerbated if he is the sole...
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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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Sports are known for matches, but rarely for how they are used as political...
Recently a minister belonging to one of the island nations which make up the West Indies suggested that the Caribbean people should forget about the declining status of West Indian cricket and...
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The spices and flavours of Marrakech will tickle your tastebuds
When people ask me if they should visit Marrakech, I quickly reply with an enthusiastic yes, shortly followed by “But it’s not for everyone”. With its dusty roads and confusing alleys, this historical...
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What is the Pakistani hockey player really worth?
— Photo courtesy FIH This article was originally published on August 5, 2015 Pakistan hockey. It is not unusual to talk about it in the past tense now.World Cup winners, Olympics giants; the kings of...
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