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Wali Flo Shah’s success story: When he refused to let poverty break him
“I know you’d expect this kid to be a criminal, But before you judge someone, don’t be as cynical Because that child wasn’t a story, That child was me.” Thus, eighteen-year-old Wali Shah ended his...
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Bulbulay: When a poor man’s distress is funny
The TV-show ‘Bulbulay’ enjoys a sizable fan-following in Pakistan, but I’ve never really been a part of that base. On watching its most recent episode, my face appears to have been restructured to bear...
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Altaf Hussain’s UK investigation: Hold your horses, Pakistan, only time will...
Two months ago, there was a press conference between British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Adam Thompson and a soiree of Pakistani journalists. The purpose of this meeting was to brief the media...
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I dare to defend Misbah
"I hate Misbah!" "He made us lose another game." "This is what to expect when you have a captain like Misbah!" Try as I might to close my eyes to this increasingly trite propaganda, I find escape...
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Why my champa tree reminded me of the sect-free mosque
More than six months ago, I bought a small champa tree, supposedly because my husband wanted one, but really, I love champa myself. It’s ‘frangipani’ in English, but it is the name ‘champa’ that means...
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My visit to Bibi Zainab’s (AS) shrine: Memories cannot be destroyed
I was 23, in my last year of an undergraduate degree and perhaps like every young soul, had many questions about everything under the sky; religion, nationalism, God and just life in general. Although...
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Blue drums: Beverages and milk that could kill you
Nowadays, wherever we go, we find blue-coloured drums, which are used by shopkeepers to store water and prepare beverages. People drink the beverages without any qualms even after coming to know about...
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Singing the national anthem in a tank top: Worthy of abuse?
The true face of people shows on the internet. Online anonymity has something thrilling about it which makes you say whatever you really want to. Unfortunately, some people (even while not being...
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Bring Aafia Siddiqui back, but make her trial transparent
Yesterday, major newspaper publications flashed a news report that the US has shown willingness to transfer Aafia Siddiqui, serving prison sentence in Texas, to Pakistan after signing of prisoner swap...
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Who cares about the Royal Baby?
He’s here. Don’t pretend you don’t know who I am talking about; the entire world is one baby fart close to wearing a romper and carrying a baby rattle themselves. Photo: AFP I appreciate and welcome...
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A letter to Adnan Rashid: Do the Taliban have a bullet for every raised voice?
Dear Mr Adnan Rashid, I am writing to you in my personal capacity, as I’m shocked by what you have written to Malala Yousufzai, my sister by religion. I am surprised that you don’t want to argue...
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Zimmerman trial: No justice for the black man
Post civil rights movement America is still coming to grips with the rich ethnic diversity it assimilates. The courtroom pursuits led by six jury members on the State of Florida vs George Zimmerman...
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Thanks for nothing Mathira and Josh Condoms
It is estimated that by the year 2050, our population will be 300 million strong. Every day, a whopping 14,000 babies are born. That is 14,000 more mouths to feed, 14,000 more children to educate and...
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PEMRA, banning an ad on contraception makes no sense
From banning websites over blasphemous content to the recent ban on the advertisement for contraception, Pakistan seems to be headed in the wrong direction. The problem at hand is not just the ban, but...
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Batman vs Superman: Please don’t mess this up, Zach Snyder!
As compared to Marvel’s well-oiled presentation at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), the official announcement by filmmaker Zach Snyder for a sequel to Man of Steel seemed just a little hastily put...
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Asylum seekers: Why should Australia shoulder our burden?
Australia has recently come under fire for its new policy regarding asylum seekers attempting to enter the country without a visa. According to their prime minister, this policy is an attempt to...
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Madiha’s unfinished ibaadat
“Why do you do this work, beti? What do you get out of going door to door telling suspicious families to vaccinate their noisy, crying kids?” Rukhsana bibi never understood why her daughter was so...
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Pakistan triumphed over West Indies, but should we be celebrating?
“We won, we won! I ca't believe we won!” This was the reaction by most Pakistanis on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter after Pakistan won 3-1 against the West Indies on their own Caribbean...
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Remember Zakoota Jin and Roohi Bano? They need us now.
Reports circulated earlier this week about the dismal conditions Roohi Bano was currently living in. The former television actress was said to be residing without access to gas and power and there were...
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Burka Avenger: Why criticise the effort just because of the burka?
Imagine a young Pakistani girl. She lives a normal life; maybe she is just a reporter like Superman. She dresses pretty much like every other Pakistani girl. There’s nothing unique about her. Except.....
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