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So who exactly was Jinnah?
We sat in the proverbial 22nd row of a small theatre room in Badar Commercial. My eyes were moist with emotion, when Talat Hussain turned around and said “Quaid-e-Azam zindabad!” It was the end of the...
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A tale of eras: Christmas in Pakistan and Bethlehem
Pakistan, 21st December, 6pm: Rodney and his friends drive into their apartment complex in a truck, in which lay 10 meter long dried bamboo shoots, the kind used to put up wedding tents. Watching from...
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Christmas dessert: Red velvet cake is served!
It’s the season to be jolly! What’s better than a beautiful, moist red velvet cake? It fits perfectly with the theme of Christmas and it’s sure to be a hit no matter when you serve it. This cake goes...
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Spare a thought for the policeman
I am an honest policeman disgruntled by the stigma attached to my profession. So, in order to let everyone see what my life is like, I have decided to pen down what a month in my shoes looks like....
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If I am an introvert will society not accept me?
My mother, in that vexing and endearing way in which mothers operate, called me up recently to confide about my brother’s faltering performance at school. Concerned, I inquired about this new...
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Hockey ignored by Pakistan’s cricket obsessed media
Most Pakistanis now know about the country’s hockey team winning against India in Asian Champions Trophy, all thanks to the cricket team being beaten by India… yet again. Pakistan was declared the...
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How Bollywood entertained us in 2012…outside the cinema!
What would Bollywood be without drama? And I don’t mean just the films. The lives of former stars, current stars and even potential stars are scrutinised to death, sometimes over the most trivial of...
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New Delhi gang rape: Who can change the attitude of such men?
By now most of you know that the victim of the New Delhi bus gang rape in India has died. Along with the Indians, a lot of people across the world are still reeling from the shock of the cruelty and...
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Tony Greig: More than the sum of the parts
The first time I heard of Anthony William Greig I was listening into a Test Match special in 1972 - the first Ashes test at Old Trafford. The voice of John Arlott describing Greig scoring a 50, when...
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Tahirul Qadri, the Bhutto boy, and the establishment’s last play
Based on the political events of the last 10 days, one of the most commonly asked questions in Pakistan is: ‘What is going on?’ As in what is going with the whole Qadri parade, what is up with...
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New year’s resolutions: What Tribune bloggers hope to do
As we exit 2012 and say hello to 2013, The Express Tribune blog desk decided to ask some of our bloggers to send us their New Year’s resolutions. Below is a collection of these amazing, inspiring,...
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Pakistan: A land with feudals, a nation without Shahzeb
Suddenly, out of the blue, one incident can jolt a group of people into corrective action. It breaks through their familiarity. It shatters apathy. Simultaneously, several strong-willed, capable...
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The PPP is not a liberal party, and never has been
Most of the time when I read op-eds about the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the English dailies, they're almost bilious – especially if they're meant to eulogise the party. Normally this is how the...
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Hear me now, as I scream from heaven
I, Nirbhaya Damini, have left my earthly abode. After fighting hard for two weeks, my mortal body has surrendered to grievous injuries, inflicted on it, by six human beasts. I must confide to you that...
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Positive Pakistan: Moments of pride in 2012
The authors of this post are Maria Niazi and Tamreez Inam. It’s that time of the year when we reflect back at the year that was and look forward to the next one. So we opened up the news and all we saw...
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Iran’s female minister was sacked, but not because of her gender
When it comes to the international media, they certainly want you to take home a distorted image of Iran. Consider the recent sacking of Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, the Iranian health minister from...
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Be grateful for what you have, you never know when you will lose it
We have all heard the song “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” but to say that injury makes you humble was a true revelation to me. From the confident stride of an excited corporate newbie to...
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A winter treat: Scrumptious Szechuan hot and sour soup
I love soup at any time of the year, but in winter, it's a wonderful treat on chilly days. Nothing is more satisfying than a hearty bowl of soup when you need to be warm and nourished. But the question...
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On dynastic politics and feudalism: A response to Salman Ahmad
Renowned Pakistan musician Salman Ahmad wrote a piece published in The Express Tribune on December 31, 2012. I have tried in the following paragraphs to rebut his argument by pointing out factual...
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Can SAARC become a vibrant regional organisation?
I tried to find the answer to a question at a South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) conference recently held in Islamabad. After meeting representatives of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan,...
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