Published in The Friday Times on January 11th 2013 Pakistan has what you call an abusive relationship with its citizens. It isn’t a good provider: no electricity, no gas, no water. It is also not good at ensuring security, an essential in a stable relationship. Hundreds...
Published in The Friday Times on December 7th 2012 Amidst all the growing intolerance in Pakistan, culture has been one of the first to suffer. But it is also true that in dark times our souls seek to be stirred and our spirits lifted, often leading...
Delivered on November 4th 2012 at Avari Hotel I’d like to begin by thanking Faith Matters and its leadership, for inviting me to speak on this very important topic of interfaith harmony in Pakistan, and in particular between the Christian and Muslim communities. The work that...
Published in Daily Times on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 It was wartime in Africa, Uganda. Idi Amin had just been removed and Milton Obote was in charge in 1985. I was five, sleeping soundlessly in my room when I heard voices; clutching my blanket I walked out...
Published in Daily Time on August 28, 2012 The Holy Quran has zero references to the punishment of blasphemy. Hegemonic to the extent of being demonic, Pakistani Muslims are blasphemy-obsessed. Not a single voice from the Muslim clergy community has been raised on the issue of...
Published in Daily Times on August 2nd 2012 Feminism ought to be a verb — to act out the notion that women are equal to men in their status, abilities and virtues. It is not a stagnant ideology that merely observes oppression and outright terror mounted...
[caption id="attachment_216" align="alignleft" width="600"] Girls on phone camera footage clapping to a wedding song[/caption] Published in the Daily Times on June 9th 2012 While the rest of the world fights for an equal payday for women and women empowerment principles in the corporate world, Pakistan remains, according...
Published in Daily times on May 12th 2012 Much has been said about Pakistan’s first Oscar for Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Saving Face and the subject of acid crime against women in Pakistan. It has been argued that the film has brought Pakistan’s image a golden streak, which...
Published in the Daily Times on April 30th In 2011, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said there were about 451,377 people, including 345,899 women, suffering from psychological problems in FATA. In this region, on a daily basis, people witness acts of war and trauma. Mothers...
Published in the Daily Times on April 10th 2012 There are many fellow travellers I am not proud of sharing my green Pakistani passport with but I am particularly not proud of sharing this passport with Hafiz Saeed. His organisation is a declared terrorist outfit by...