Published in the Daily Times on October 29th 2013. Any exposition on the murder of Salmaan Taseer points to the fact that the Pakistani media was squarely responsible. Not just that, the pundits made a hero out of the killer. It’s déjà vu. In a ratings...
Interview on NPR on October 25, 2013: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/25/240749015/do-pakistanis-support-us-drone-attacks?ft=1&f=1014# Drone strikes in Pakistan are in the spotlight after that country's Prime Minister visited the U.S., and a new report detailed hundreds of civilian casualties from American attacks. But how do people in Pakistan view drones? Host Michel Martin...
Our message to young girls reads as: you can be shot in the head for fighting for your right to an education; you could be imprisoned if you are framed for blasphemy, and you could be gang-raped for being what 5-year-olds are: vulnerable. The stories...
Published in Daily Times on August 6th 2013. Picture shows total number of anti-Ahmedi stories run by the Urdu Pres since 2007. “That looks very biblical,” I said out loud while approaching the place Ahmedis call their sanctuary, Rabwa. Incidentally, the name of the city was changed...
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...
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 the Daily Times on March 119th 2012 The LUMS Abdus Salam Chair, once established, will be responsible to work in the spirit of everything that embodies Dr. Salam, who was inspired by the Quran for his ideas on the electro-weak theory and ‘Theory of...
April 7th 2009 There are so many ways for Americans to find themselves if they are lost: They can read Eyewitness to America, an anthology of people who were there when the US was created; they could go to Gettysburg or heck, just rent the TVC;...