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In a man’s world: The women politicians of Afghanistan
It was a sight rarely seen in traditional Afghan society. Last month, Fawzia Koofi, a presidential candidate for the 2014 elections and one of the 69 female Afghan parliamentarians, arrived to meet a...
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The Way of the Gun: The legendary gunsmiths of Darra Adam Khel
In his 1922 book, Story of the North West Frontier Province, author JM Ewart writes: “That gap in the low hills (south of Peshawar city) marks the Kohat Pass, which really has a better claim to being...
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Sadequain of the sand
On a hot Karachi day, about a month ago, the Seaview Beach seemed to be more crowded than usual. That day, over 200 people, including families and students, thronged the beach to witness mostly...
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Breaking down the wall
On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani army stationed in the eastern wing of its country laid down arms before its Indian counterpart. The apparent regional supremacy of India was further enhanced by a...
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Defender of Pakistan
It is almost symbolic how this story begins. The war hero Mervyn Lesley Middlecoat was born aboard a train as it stopped in Ludhiyana while travelling to Lahore from Delhi on a warm July morning in...
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The phantom soldiers
On a sultry night in September 1965, a convoy of heavy trailers transporting Indian tanks was moving on a road in Indian Kashmir when it suddenly came under rocket and machine gun fire. A dozen tanks...
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Big bird — 1 Romney— 0
Louis Farrakhan did it. So did the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI). Now, it’s Elmo and the Cookie Monster’s turn to stage a Million Man March. That’s the unlikely sight that jaded Washingtonians were treated to...
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The art of reading
Finally being able to watch my childhood superheroes prance around the silver screen and pulverise super villains is quite an amazing feeling; one that combines wide-eyed wonder with misty-eyed...
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The terrific ten: Comic book geniuses
Grant Morrison Grant Morrison is a madman! Yes, I said it! The Scottish writer is, hands down, one of the greatest comic book writers this planet will ever see. Morrison’s work is heavy; don’t expect...
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Who’s the fairest of them all?
There she stands: a tall, statuesque leggy blonde clad only in animal skin. Standing with her legs apart, she turns away from a slain black panther on the ground, moving presumably to attack the...
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Comic relief: Where is the desi superhero?
With their majestic capes swirling around them, these muscular and powerful men strike fear into the hearts of evildoers. Alongside them, mysterious and beautiful masked women are always ready to leap...
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Book review: Comparative Analysis of Media and Media Laws in Pakistan - a...
Should an anchorperson be an expert in diverse subjects ranging from politics, to law, to economics? If not, would he or she be able to ask pertinent and precise questions? What should the ultimate...
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Oar—inspiring!
The sight of Karachi’s old landmarks and mangroves, and the undying spirit of women rowers from the Karachi Boat Club make for an unforgettable sojourn into the seas. “Oars in the water, 90 degrees...
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Being YBQ
Before I could get into Yousuf Bashir Qureshi’s head, I had to first get to, and into, the Commune Artist Colony. Neither task was easy. I really didn’t know much about Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, except...
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Art & Afridi aspiration
Picture this scenario: Pakistan is batting and the match is at a crucial juncture. A wicket falls and in comes Shahid Afridi to bat. Minutes later, he walks away from the crease — he is either bowled...
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Sohni dharti
“This is our misfortune: we are giving birth to a society where courage has come to be understood as being a goonda, and the nobility of character is seen as cowardice. Today, a blood-dripping gandasa...
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Goonda raj
“Remember one thing, a Gujjar can sell his blood on the 11th of each month but he won’t sell milk,” Jagga Gujjar tells a group of shopkeepers. Jagga then goes on to beat them and instructs them to...
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Rallying the Refuseniks
Although Israel may have a won a physical victory in the recent assault on the Gaza Strip, its grasp over a moral victory has gradually been slipping. With each Israeli aggression, a steadily...
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Boycott, divest, sanction
Apartheid is defined by the UN as “inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and...
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Mainstreaming bias
On the 17th of November, media mogul Rupert Murdoch tweeted: “Why Is Jewish owned press so consistently anti- Israel in every crisis?” Murdoch, who is known for his overt proclivity towards Israel,...
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