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Hasrat Mohani and Robert Grant: Poets under the British Raj
Robert Grant and Hasrat Mohani were both poets. The former was a Briton, while the latter an Indian, the ancestors of both these poets had no relation with India. However, once both of them were in...
View ArticleWhat we don’t know about our Foreign Service officers
Many Pakistanis don’t tend to know much about the positive initiatives our embassies take. When I moved to Washington DC a few years back, I was in the same boat. However, it was not long before I...
View ArticleCSS aspirants, take a seat
The Federal Public Service Commission – the Vatican of examination bodies within the country – announced the much awaited results of CSS examinations more than a fortnight ago. The event was marked...
View ArticleWhen will the state enable our differently-abled?
I recently saw some pictures going viral on social media, that showed disabled students taking entrance tests on their own. Every picture was adorned with thousands of likes and appreciative comments;...
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10 things that will happen when you move to Karachi
Karachi – messy, slightly dangerous and hot as hell – it’s a place that will infuriate you and seduce you. This is as cosmopolitan as Pakistan gets. – you’ll meet all sorts in Karachi. Karachi-ites...
View ArticlePTI vs PML-N: And the loser is...
Normally, when one resigns from a job, it means they are leaving. Normally, their employer accepts their resignation and starts looking for a replacement. 'Normally', it seems, is a word that is poorly...
View Article'Go Misbah Go'
Disgrace from spot-fixing scandal, unavailability of core fast bowlers, conflicts within the team, end of international cricket on the home ground, and round-the-clock chastisement by former stars and...
View ArticlePTI and the mantra of education reform
While discussing reforms liberal progressive folks, who support the PTI, are utmost fond of mentioning the party’s progressive stance on education. This, now passé, statement could not be further from...
View ArticleSeason 7: What happened to Coke Studio?
I was under the impression that Coke Studios Season 7 was a failure. It wasn’t until I dug around a little that I found out it was generally well-received, apart from a small number of naysayers.I can...
View ArticlePIA: A ‘dead product’ to sell?
The management of the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been trying to retain a PR firm to rebrand its image since August, but in vain. Image problems, however, should be...
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Crumbling majesty: The fascinating Pakka Qila
Crumbling majesty: The fascinating Pakka Qilaby Zeeshan Ahmed Hyderabad fort, Sind, 1844. "The Fort formed at once the place of defence, the treasury, and the residence of the native rulers." — Richard...
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Get your Raj: How to write the perfect Bollywood movie in 10 easy steps
1. Get your ‘Raj’ Shahrukh Khan. More important than the story is the hero. Godfather starring Tushar Kapoor would flop but the story of Humpty Dumpty starring Shahrukh Khan would make 5 trillion...
View Article'Liberating Sindh': Imran Khan and the Hero syndrome
Imran Khan has now resolved to liberate the poor and the exploited people of interior Sindh from their feudal lords. I have to say, his words and his tone are nothing less than a humiliation of people...
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First impressions ...
When it comes to political leaders and parties in Pakistan, first impressions are indeed the most lasting ones.First impression: The PML-N government ...First impression: The PPP government in Sindh...
View Article6 issues Imran Khan must address at the Larkana rally
At last, the winds of “change” have turned their way to Sindh. Some say the Kaptaan seems to be struggling in gaining a foothold in Sindh. Others are more optimistic. In any case, while the celebration...
View Article'The 3,000 deaths that don't matter'
There have been 3000 of them over the past seven years. According to the numbers collected by the Aurat Foundation, three thousand women were killed for honour, most by their own family members. Their...
View ArticleOf doctors and quacks: Getting a PhD in Pakistan
As part of our doctoral course work, a few days ago, I was sitting in a lecture when one of the students said she did not agree with what a particular author had written. Instead of asking her the...
View ArticleHoubara bustards: An annual massacre of national pride
With the recent news of Pakistan yet again issuing hunting permits for the protected houbara bustard for the winter season, it is clear that the Pakistani government has paid no heed to the Pakistani...
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Edgware Road: Walking in freedom
When I first moved to London, an Italian colleague at the American law firm where I then worked told me that “in Central London, the Americans live in Chelsea, the Italians in Knightsbridge, the French...
View ArticleTV soaps: Is the 'shaadi' plot really that bad?
Television is a force of nature in Pakistan, of a quality that ebbs and flows with the tumultuous times; but unlike our stuttering film industry, has an often surprising resilience and ability to adapt...
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