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...
View ArticleFrom Akbar to Modi, Kashmiris have a history of pelting stones at oppressors
In 1586, the Mughal imperial army finally entered the valley of Kashmir, after being defeated twice by Kashmiri forces. The Kashmiri emperor, Sultan Yusuf Chak, had already been taken prisoner by Akbar...
View ArticleIndia is losing Kashmir in the virtual world like it is in the streets
Struggling to retain control of the streets and college campuses here, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. Something had to be done to...
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Tense moments of 1987: how Pakistan won its first-ever Test series in India
30 years ago, Pakistan won a most famous Test victory against India. It was Pakistan’s first Test win against its arch-rivals on Indian soil since 1952. The win also heralded Pakistan’s first-ever Test...
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Walking past the coast of Rio de Janeiro reminded me of Karachi
On the face of it, very little seems to be in common between Karachi and Rio de Janeiro. But after having visited Rio and Karachi, I realised that the two cities have commonalities. Both the...
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Mistrust and hostility: A Pakistani journalist in Afghanistan
This article was originally published on October 7, 2015. As a TV anchor, I'll readily admit that our electronic media neglects covering Pak-Afghan relations. Why? Because it will not bring in...
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