My Eid in a different Pakistan
I hold the bills and hard earned cash Mentally calculating if I have any left For the new shoes my two sons want For Eid-ul-Adha. But I know I don’t. My husband had told me quietly in the morning,...
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A woman’s scream at a jalsa
First of all, I would like to make it clear that I am in no way trying to defame any political party. I am writing this simply to highlight our failure as a society. That being said, I would like to...
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A French, a German, a British and an awesome Pakistani
“Pakistan? Where are your burqas?” “We don’t wear one”, I gestured to my friends and myself. “Yeah, of course – not on holidays. But you know, the ones you’re forced to wear in Pakistan.” Laughing with...
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This Eidul Azha, go Kheer a la mode!
For me, there can’t be an Eid without the ravishingly delicious Kheer – the ultimate sweet indulgence. A new twist to this traditional delight will surely bring a smile to your lips and, while the...
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When one starts questioning the rituals of Eidul Azha
Eidul Azha in a rural set-up has jarring differences when compared to how we celebrate this Eid in cities. I live and celebrate my Eid in Karachi, but if I celebrate it in my ancestral village in...
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Did Haider do justice to Shakespeare’s Hamlet?
William Shakespeare, in one way or another, is an inspiration for every writer. In Bollywood, there is only one director, Vishal Bhardwaj, who has always done justice to Shakespeare’s plots and does...
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I am a girl and I love going to the mandi
It is considered a universal fact that a cattle market (mandi) is no place for a woman. “It’s a guy thing”, they say. “What would you do in a mandi?” They ask. “Are you sure you want to spoil that...
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Eidul Azha is nothing but a pool of blood
A few days ago, the cattle markets began receiving a huge number of people every hour, coming from different parts of the city, to buy the sacrificial animal that suited their budget and met their...
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It’s time we chuck the ‘chuckers’ from Pakistan cricket
Few weeks ago, Pakistan cricket received a severe blow when it’s most prominent bowler, Saeed Ajmal, was banned from bowling in international cricket due to suspected illegal bowling action. This news...
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This Eid, there was no spirit of sacrifice for me
Six-year-old Osama ran hurriedly down the stairs of his apartment, as did the other kids. Children came rushing out of their houses, some from their homework and others from their video games. Mothers...
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Put all that meat to good use with some handi kebabs
We, Pakistanis, love our barbeque and our Eidul Azha is incomplete without some form of meaty delight. So, as Eid came, I decided to whip up a saucy dish for my guests. I always loved cooking on...
View ArticleProud of ‘Gullu’ making it to Oxford Dictionary? Think again!
The moment I read news regarding the word ‘Gullu’ being added to the Oxford Dictionary, I felt completely dumbfounded. Like as if something that shouldn’t have happened, did happen, and in the worst...
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Gullu Butt bakra, Raja the cow and our immature Pakistani media
The end of an Islamic year is marked by the performance of Hajj, an act of submission that Allah has allocated a huge reward for. Pilgrims from across the globe stand humbly before their Lord, seeking...
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Breast cancer: Pakistan’s most common cancer
It was the summer of 1999, when a bunch of us, final year medical students, were attending to patients in the crowded outpatient department at the Mayo Hospital in Lahore. Our professor had called us...
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Dear politicians, it’s about time you divide and devolve
There aren’t many times when I agree with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) but this is one such occasion. The country needs to be divided into smaller units and power needs to be devolved to lower...
View ArticleDeaths, blame game and Indo-Pak ceasefires, when will it end?
While celebrating Eid, it was quite tragic to hear about the trade of attacks, continuing till date, across the Line of Control (LoC), near the Sialkot border, resulting in heavy causalities – of...
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Ban the bowlers, ban them all!
After depriving the world of the most glorious sight in international cricket – Saeed Ajmal in all his grace, splendour and beauty giving an interview to Nasser Hussain after a match – the ICC plans to...
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Operation 021 is nothing like Waar
First and foremost, before getting down to the brass tacks of the movie Operation 021, those that have the slightest of doubt or inclination that Operation 021 mimics or is made along the same lines as...
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Busting myths on World Mental Health Day 2014
Every year on October 10th, people all over the world commemorate World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of mental illnesses and to support efforts for their treatments. Psychiatry, the branch of...
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Today, let’s celebrate Malala Yousafzai
“Live, Malala!” I remember seeing this line somewhere on social media when Malala was shot. I remember sitting anxiously, watching the television, while channels aired the live coverage of Malala being...
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