With a Bourne Identity meets Dante meets Harris Tweed thriller, Dan Brown is back with a bang with his new novel, Inferno. With it we again meet the erudite Harvard symbolist Robert Langdon. Much was speculated before Inferno hit the shelves, including whether the book would be about Da Vinci’s long lost masterpiece in Florence, but the speculations have now been laid to rest. Warning: some spoiler ahead. Robert Langdon in this story finds himself in a Florence hospital with no recollection of how he got there. He only has a laser pointer that reveals renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli’s depiction of medieval literary giant, Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. This is a part of Dante’s epic poem The Divine Comedy, the other parts being, Purgatory and Paradise. Aided by the attractive 208 IQ, Sienna Brooks, and hunted by shadowy Backwater type security agency, The Consortium, Langdon is launched on a quest to discover a weapon, built by a crazy mad scientist that has the ability to depopulate the planet of human species. To find that weapon, Langdon has to race against time, solving various puzzles and codes, travel from Florence, Venice to Istanbul before it’s too late to save the planet. The novel deals with the futuristic concepts of trans-humanism - an international movement that aims to enhance human intellectual, physical and psychological abilities by using cutting edge scientific research. It delves deep into the question of overpopulation and its effects on human civilisation, while exploring the deepest recesses of the hell visualised by Dante more than 600 years ago. Although Inferno is definitely a page turner, it suffers from being a bit too formulaic. From Angels and Demons, Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol to Inferno, it seems that Dan Brown is following a certain pattern for the Robert Langdon series, consisting of famous art pieces, a mad genius villain on an arcane quest, beautiful but intelligent female sidekick, and a forever alone Robert Langdon. All of this actually has the effect of making the novels a bit too predictable. Although to Dan Brown’s credit, he does pull out some surprises (thus upsetting the formula he has so faithfully followed in the preceding novels), but then quickly reverts to the same setting as the novel nears its ending. I found the ending of the novel somewhat anti-climactic, considering the crescendo of revelations and surprises that he was building up towards the end. Also, the book falls into the trap of erudition in which its predecessor, The Lost Symbol fell in, thus making the pace of the story lethargic. Parts of the novel give an impression that Dan Brown is acting more like a tour guide rather than a thriller author. It seems that he is under pressure from the armies of fans and detractors alike who religiously dissect every piece of fact to either uncover some hidden knowledge or to prove that Brown is really a nut job. Thus, the author, in order to impress (apparently), tries to cram ever more information so that you got to have an encyclopaedia with you every time while you are reading the book. Compared to The Lost Symbol, this book is less lethargic, but unfortunately nowhere near the genius of Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, Deception Point and Digital Fortress. That does not mean that Inferno doesn’t make up for a good read. The novel might make up for a summer blockbuster, but that, so far is undecided. Moreover, it seems that Dante’s Divine Comedy will enjoy a brief resurgence in readership amongst the younger audience before slowly fading back to relative obscurity. Despite some factual errors and a slow moving narrative, Inferno nonetheless is a highly interesting read, and towards the conclusion, the novel is un-put-down-able. Inferno definitely deserves a place in your bookshelf. Read more by Jamaluddin here or follow him on Twitter @einsjam

With the music of the Ranbir-Deepika starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, music director Pritam brings to us one of the most widely anticipated soundtracks of this year. There are still two weeks left for the May 31 release but the buzz around the film has already reached fever pitch. With Ayan Mukerjee at the helm, the film is expected to have a certain amount of youthful energy and breeziness to it (remember Wake up Sid?) and the music has been a success so far. Moreover, through one of the highlights of the soundtrack we are able to see the variety that it offers. The album utilises the vocal prowess of a treasure-trove of singers. From established vocalists such as Sunidhi Chauhan and Rekha Bharwaj to new talents such as the increasingly-popular Arijit Singh and Sreeram (who first appeared on the radar as the winner of Indian Idol 5). Badtameez Dil (a song from the movie) kicks off the proceedings with Benny Dayal at his best. What started off as a trumpet piece has been developed into an out and out dance track! The crazy lyrics of the song may not be works of poetry but they sure compliment the feel of the song. Continuing in the same vein of lighter and fun dance tracks, there is, 'Dilliwaali Girlfriend'. This song is the closest to a Punjabi bhangra type of song that you will find on the album. Although, it took some time to grow on me, I love it! And the video definitely had something to do with it! Balam Pichkari is the catchiest song on the album. This sing-along takes you back to Rang Barse. Watch out, there is no way you will be able to resist this one! That said, Vishal Dadlani proves his versatility once again and female artiste Shalmali Kholgade matches him note for note! Ghahgra marks the return of 'Mohini' aka Madhuri to our screens. It is again an interesting item number that is impossible to miss especially with the excessive hype around it– it is a treat to see the dhak-dhak diva, Madhuri with the generation next’s superstar, Ranbir Kapoor! What an awesome duo, right? This flows into 'Kabira' a more emotional track that is sure to impress. Rekha Bhardwaj's powerful vocals bring out the nuances of Amitabh Bhatacharya’s lyrics that tell the story of heartbreak. What is even more impressive is the second version of the song, sung by Arijit Singh, who has now made a mark for himself with the versatility of his work. This is followed by two versions of 'Ilahi' – an original and reprise. The reprise has been rendered by Mohit Chauhan, who garnered critical acclaim for being the voice of Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar. For me, both versions of the song have a 'road trip' kind of feel to them. And when I first listened to them, they reminded me a little bit of Rockstar's 'Phir se udd chala' but they sure bring in a fresh feel too. The album ends on a melodiously beautiful note with 'Subhan Allah'. This is without a doubt one of the best romantic tunes to have come out of Bollywood recently with its soulful proclamation of the beloved. Pritam, who has of late mostly redeemed himself from his earlier criticism of producing 'influenced' work proved his mettle by delivering two blockbuster soundtracks for 'Cocktail' and 'Barfi' last year. With 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' he has once again proved that he is one of the top talents in music direction in today’s Bollywood. Happy singing every body! PHOTOS: https://www.facebook.com/YehJawaaniHaiDeewani Read more by Ayesha here or follow her on Twitter @ayesh_b

I love Chinese food because it is so quick and easy to cook. With managing a very demanding one-year-old and keeping the house clean, I sometimes have no time left to cook. That's when a quick stir-fry recipe comes to the rescue! This recipe is one of my favourites; juicy chicken chunks combined with crunchy roasted peanuts and fresh vegetables. Truly healthy and delicious! Ingredients: - One chicken breast, diced - 1 small bell pepper, diced - 1/2 yellow bell pepper (optional, just for colour) - 1 small sized zucchini - 1 carrot - Green chillies sliced diagonally (as required) - Red chilli flakes, for taste - 1/2 cup peanuts - 1/2 chicken stock cube - 2 tbsp corn flour - 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste For the marinade: - 2 tbsp soy sauce - freshly crushed peppercorns - 1 chopped green chilli - salt, for taste Method: 1. Marinate the chicken in the above mentioned ingredients. Leave it for 30 minutes. 2. Then, in a wok, heat around three tbsp oil, add ginger garlic paste and wait till it starts to get golden. Add the chicken and fry. Once the chicken is almost done (you can tell by the moisture drying up), add the carrots, followed by the zucchini and bell peppers after an interval of about one minute each. 3. Add 1 1/2 cup of water with half a chicken cube and the sliced green chillies. Remember, you can add as many or as little as you like. It depends on how hot you can handle it! 4. Once it starts to boil, thicken it with corn flour dissolved in six tbsp water. Add it gradually and stir it constantly. Note: Check the seasoning. Add two tbsp soy sauce for a rich coloured sauce. You can also squeeze half a lemon and add it to the seasoning for a kick! Meanwhile, roast the peanuts in one tbsp oil till they turn goldenish-brown . Sprinkle the peanuts on top and add some red chilli flakes. Voila! You are done. Serve with boiled rice or fried noodles and enjoy! Happy cooking to all you busy people out there! PHOTOS: NIDA WAQAR Follow Nida on Twitter @Nidolicious

 1. Ehteshamuddin: The theatre actor and director, who has also tried his hand at television, is definitely the highlight of Chambaili. He is a perfect fit for his role at Musa, the idealist journalist-poet who leads his friends to stand up against an influential politician and his son. 2. Dialogues: Extremely well-written lines, particularly for Ehteshamuddin, are really the icing on the cake. The Urdu is crisp and clear, unlike the terrible language we hear on TV nowadays. There is no mixing with English, neither is there the Bollywood influence. The dialogues are so good that they manage to make an impression even with Shahzad Nawaz’s sub-par acting. 3. Pro-democracy: Although the film is certainly a little soft on the military and its role in Pakistani politics, I would disagree that Chambaili is anti-democracy. In fact, in its essence, the film is thoroughly pro-democracy as it urges the viewers to do nothing more than exercise a civic, political duty: vote. 4. Message of pluralism: The main analogy in the film is Prophet Moses (RA) and Pharaoh and one of the main characters is quite clearly Shia. In the end, the new president specifically addresses all Pakistanis, who are shown praying in a church, a gurudwara as well as a Hindu temple. Secondly, on the wall where Maira Khan’s character has put up framed pictures of all the revolutionaries of the world, Gandhi’s photograph is prominently displayed. 5. No preaching: Overall, Chambaili is a great, great film that successfully transmits a very strong message without being preachy. The film manages to be patriotic without being jingoistic. 6. Clever making: Full credit to producers Shahzad Nawaz and Abdullah Kadwani, and director Ismail Jilani for the brilliant idea of setting the film in a mythical country called Mulk-e-Khudadad (Country given by God). The country has an uncanny resemblance to Pakistan, but since it isn’t Pakistan, the makers were able to say everything and anything about the country. 7. Kiran: The character, played by Maira Khan, is one of my favourite parts about the film. She is known as a true, strong idealist who says it as it is and refuses to back down when her brothers/male family members are contemplating calling off their strike. She is the one who stands up for what’s right and is the epitome of the strength of a woman. Through her character, the film reaches out to women in a way that few other films do – even in Bollywood. 8. A well-integrated plot: For a film that touches upon such a vast number of issues, Chambaili is very well-paced and all the issues weave in coherently to form a strong plot, without making the film a drag. 9. It’s a Pakistani product through and through: Have you ever complained about why Pakistanis cannot make good films? Well, here’s your chance to be part of something that could spell the revival of indigenous Pakistani cinema. 10. Better than what else is available:  Aashiqui 2 and Oblivion are just bad, bad films. Your money will be better spent on Chambaili. PHOTOS: https://www.facebook.com/Chambaili Read more by Zainab here or follow her on twitter @zainabimam 

Less than a week is left for the elections. Although this may seem too good to be true, but this grand event in our history is actually happening! Voting is our duty and is imperative but the question arises, who will I vote for? Pondering long over this conundrum, I drew a picture of how to categorise the average voter below: The reluctant fundamentalist: Here’s the simple man, who can’t stand the idea of multiple components of parliamentary democracy. Though his knowledge of the religion may be poor, his grasp on the principles of fiqh and Shariah may be very minimal, he is ready to follow anyone who claims to be the righteous and in the blessed path towards the promised glory hence very easy to be convinced with some strong words of God. This category of individuals is most likely to either cast their vote of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam–Fazl (JUI-F)  or will simply cast no vote because democracy is a conspiracy of the ‘fair skinned’ upon us. The wronged: Filled with nationalistic pride, here’s a group of individuals who feel they have always been wronged by every regime and can never be satisfied. Determined to set things right, they’ll vote for parties keeping their nationalistic interests. They see parties like Balochistan National Party (BNP)/ Awami National Party (ANP) as their path towards their promised destiny. The nostalgic: These individuals are generally older than 40, have seen the country’s major eras although mostly through an array of generals. They have seen the dynamo of real change turn once; this experience had been short lived but has impacted them tremendously. Another tendency of these individuals is to be captivated by legacies and absorbed perpetually in tragedies with further glancing into what the picture looks like in present. Nostalgic people can never get over Bhutto and they will always vote for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The tunnel visionaries: They are the modern conformists who are educated, have rational reasoning yet choose to conform to cultural norms rather than trying a new ideology. These individuals envision phenomenal progress in the country if their party wins. Every time they argue about the capability of their party they quote all the development that has happened in their vicinity (mainly restricted to one province). Ardently, they blame constant interruption of the military as a hurdle in their party pathway- otherwise today Pakistan would have been Sweden! Tunnel visionary fail to see anything beyond the highways because that’s what tunnel vision does, it keeps a horse focused on the road. Oblivious to the bigger picture of course, they conveniently ignore foreign policy and sectarian issues. These individuals will vote for Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N.) The avengers: Born and raised in the age of Cartoon Network and later the internet, the avengers are set to make this country a better place. With their new found vigour, their talent in social media and the ability to argue tenaciously, all they need is a hero. Like a baby, avengers demand change! With their lack of reading on social sciences and politics, they try filling the gap of their knowledge by the material available on the internet in the form of blogs, fan pages and memes. The average avenger is an adventure loving dreamer, mostly stays optimistic about the future and in this optimism, ignores most technical aspects of politics. Mesmerised by the power of hero personality cult, the avengers don’t exactly know what their revolution will look like, but are sure it will be as bad as a natural disaster. The avengers will vote for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). The privileged: These are the blessed individuals who either have family in bureaucracy, military or will be technocratic. They think they are the real citizens, with their foreign degrees, their good table manners and command of language. Often these individuals look at the country as a big mess simply because the average population failed to evolve as well as they have managed to. Fond of playing the blame game, they’ll find everyone possible to be blamed for the short comings of their party even though their party has been in power for a good decade or more. They strongly believe in a democracy system where only the educated and that too the highly educated has the right to vote. These politically, morally and existentially aware, elite classes of individuals will vote for Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) or Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q). With these basic categories, one thing can be said for sure, these elections will surely be very interesting. It’s hard to determine which category is going to dominate as there is an overlap in these categories as well which skews general prediction. Now it’s time I decide which category I fall in!

I grew up watching this cooking show called “Yan Can Cook” and as a young kid I was always mesmerised by how easy and enjoyable the man made cooking look. How many of you still remember his knife skills? Absolutely fantastic, right? He could easily give a contestant of Master Chef a real run for their money. It’s safe to say I became addicted to learning how to cook just like Yan from very early on. I have been trying to cook my favourite Chinese dishes one by one, and the one that always turns out right every time is my Orange Chicken, found at almost all Chinese restaurants. Tender, chewy, crispy, citrusy, sweet, tangy and spicy all in one - it's a real treat for the taste-buds! This batter fried chicken is coated in a sweet orange-flavoured caramelised chili sauce and what makes this recipe stand out is the combination of both, the orange and lemon juice. Without further ado, I present to you my version of Orange Chicken. Ingredients: For the chicken:

• 2 pounds of boneless skin less chicken breasts cut into two inch cubes
• 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp pepper
• 1 egg (beaten)
• Oil for deep frying

• 1½ cup chicken broth (can dissolve chicken cubes in ½ cup of water also)
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 table spoon of orange marmalade
• ½ tablespoon orange zest (optional if not available)
• 2½ tablespoons soy sauce
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• ⅓ cup rice vinegar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 red chilies, broken up and seeds discarded (or ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes)
• 3 tablespoons corn flour
• ¼ cup water
• ½ teaspoon sesame oil
• ¼ cup green onions, chopped (I used some coriander since I was all out of spring onion)
• 1 tsp vegetable oil

1. Combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken in egg mixture and shake in flour mixture to coat. Deep fry chicken in batches at 375 degrees in a deep fryer (or use a wok) until completely cooked.
2. Heat a teaspoon of vegetable oil over medium heat in a large saucepan. Sauté the ginger and garlic for 30 seconds. Add all remaining ingredients, except for the green onions and corn flour. Bring the sauce to a boil. Combine three tablespoons of corn flour with 1/4 cup of water and mix thoroughly. Slowly stir corn starch mixture into sauce until it thickens. Decrease the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
3. Add the chicken pieces and green onions to the sauce, stir to coat, and bring the sauce to a low simmer and cook for five minutes.

Looking at the current state-of-affairs in Pakistan, it is safe to say that Decepticon-like humans are creating havoc in the political sphere. Their weapons and actions have made peace a scarce concept. In addition, the May 11 elections are expected to bring change in Pakistan. If peace needs to prevail in the country then, in my opinion, Optimus Prime should become the president of Pakistan. My vote is for him not because he is a thirty-two feet tall robot who transforms into a truck, equipped with cool weapons. It isn't even because he has a deep voice. I wish him to be president because of the following ten reasons: 1. He doesn’t need the presidency Optimus Prime can easily live in a warehouse or in a parking lot - He doesn’t need the presidency. This way, Pakistan can save millions of rupees on a daily basis that easily go away on the maintenance of the presidency. Moreover, since Optiums doesn’t have an ego problem, he won’t need the tons of servants and maids either, which will save plenty more and raise the country’s treasury. 2. He is a true leader Even if he is made of metal and has a spark instead of a heart, he is more of a leader than any of his human counterparts. He will be with his nation in times of crisis and won’t be going on foreign tours, leaving his nation behind in a state of emergency and distress. 3. He is unmarried He is a machine and is on a mission to save the world from the evil grasps of the Decepticons. He isn’t married and never will be, so he will certainly not do anything to get sympathy votes. I know you are smiling right now! 4. He is from the Autobots, not from some lame party with a silly manifesto He is a loyal leader of the Autobot. He has loyal followers who will never switch sides. His manifesto isn’t only confined to a region, but spreads around the entire universe; to save every planet from the malevolent clutches of the Decepticons. 5. He doesn’t need a protocol If Optimus Prime were to become Pakistan’s president, then he will save billions of rupees politicians so easily spend on their security protocol. Optimus Prime and the Autobots do not need protocol. Why should they? They are all equipped with an Energon Sword, Ion Blaster, Barrage Cannon, Energon Hooks, Battle Blades, Laser Rifle and all sorts of cool weapons. 6. He doesn’t laugh Optimus Prime is always serious and talks to the point; in short, no dilly dallying and no excuses. He doesn’t talk trash, nor does he make fake promises. He doesn’t laugh either, so whatever he says is accepted with credibility and respect. 7. He will fight along with the people Instead of living within the boundaries of his presidency and hiding behind guards, Optimus loves to fight. He never lets go of a chance to enter the battlefield and kick Decepticon-butt. 8. He never says the irritating word You know what that irritating word is? Whenever our politicians are asked a question, they always reply saying “Dekhain jee!” which continuously frustrates the viewers. Optiums will never utter that word. He will always come straight to the point and give suggestions to solve the issues at hand. 9. He will give new Autobots to Pakistan Optimus can also provide a new fleet of Autobots to Pakistan’s armed forces. Who knows how many Autobots are hiding in plain sight in museums and military compounds of the country. Optimus can use his spark and the shrapnel from the Cube to give them life, which will add the needed strength to the country’s military. 10. He will make the system efficient Since Optimus Prime and the Autobots don’t sleep, they can work round the clock with their human support in Pakistan and can make things right. Only an efficient, dedicated, and resolute machine can solve the many issues boiling up in all sectors of the country. Optimus Prime, with his intimidating but just leadership style will definitely bring fear to the hearts of those who are stealing Pakistan’s dignity as we speak. My vote is for Optimus Prime. Who are you supporting? Read more by Omar here or follow him on Twitter @omariftikhar

Yesterday, I watched the much-awaited film, Chambaili - the first in a long list of Pakistani feature films under production and probably the most hyped movie since Bol that was released two years ago. It is a shame that Pakistanis have to wait for such a long period of time between the production and release of films; that said, the movie is worth the wait. It is far superior to the films produced by our bigger and greater neighbour. Disclaimer- spoiler alert! Chambaili is like no other film. The movie revolves around the political structure of a country - it draws an underlying comparison to the current state of Pakistan, which many hope will be saved by a drastic leader. If only it was so easy in real life... Sarmad's (Ali Tahir) family is at the centre of the political drama. The movie starts with his return to Pakistan from Canada. It is through him that we are introduced to his family and his precious house. His cousin (played by Mahira Khan) is a young, hopeful and adamant woman, who believes in change and preserves posters of revolutionaries to hangs up in the house. The lead protagonists of the movie are Sarmad’s two best friends, Saif (played by Shahzad Nawaz) and Musa Azeem (played by Ehtishamuddin), a journalist. The movie does not provide a ‘warm up’ period; rather, it jumps straight into action. From the beginning of the movie we see Saif being held up in the middle of a political rally (in broad day light) that is held by the Inquilab party while driving with his soon-to-be-wife, Nida (played by Mehreen Syed). Although, some may disagree, but the scene depicted here is unrealistic and exaggerated; Nida’s reactions are over the top and comical. Furthermore, the police refuse to file an FIR against the political party that is governed by Sardar (played by Salman Peerzada), whose grandfather founded the town and had been ruling over it ever since. Although this incident hardly seems to serve as a strong enough motivation to start a political movement, after Sarmads house is ransacked by the Inquilab party, (who wants to buy it) Musa and Saif coax Sarmad into a protest outside the press club and start a hunger strike which eventually leads to the establishment of their own political party called Chambaili. The movie seems to have all its bases covered with strong elements of nationalism, twists, emotional appeal and even a full out mehndi dance; where it lacks, though, is scene and character development. The camera often jumps from one scene to another leaving the audience uninvolved. The pitfall of jumping straight into action is that the audience fails to emotionally invest in the characters. Characters appear as strangers since we do not know their history or their lives apart from the role that they play in the movie. For instance, Nida decides to walk away from Saif due to his political aspirations. Saif chooses his country over the love of his life and this should have been a strong emotional moment in the movie, but it suffers due to the lack of attention given to their relationship. Despite the quick flash backs and the love song playing in the background, the audience remains unmoved. It is only towards the intermission that the pace of the movie picks up and it is largely due to the amazing performance of Ethishamuddin as Musa Azeem that the audience gets involved in the movie. Where others have failed, Ethishamuddin shines; he has brilliantly played his character. Musa Azeem also has the most distinct voice in the movie; his hard hitting dialogues coupled with some brilliant cinematography send the audience into a whirlwind of emotions. At one point in the film, his monologue with shots of people suffering in the background surely deserves a trophy.

"Tum abhi sotay raho bhai, abhi zulm aur tum mai tumhara fasla baqi hai..." (Brother, keep sleeping; there is a distance between cruelty and you.)

“It is very important to dream.”

To make a failed state you can start off by looking for a newly created country. It will help if the state is initially in two parts geographically, separated by a country that has several elements living within it that openly criticise the existence of this state. It will also help if the strategic importance of one wing of this state is immense when it comes to global politics. This will make sure that it remains in the centre of major strategic decisions in the future. Once created, chances are that the leaders who led to its creation will acquire top administrative roles. Let them. The large-scale movement that went in the creation of this state will eventually have a toll on their health, so chances are that they won’t be able to resist the inevitable for long. Once they have departed, start a game of musical chairs within the government. Do not let anyone settle, as this will lead to 'stability'. Temporarily allow these civilians to figure out the best way to run the country. However, do not let them succeed. Almost a decade into existence, make the military intervene and hold the reigns for the decade ahead. And although military rule will be against the principles of the founding fathers of this state, it will get public support as the country will see an economic boom. Let the military stay, because soon after its rule is over, you will observe that one wing of the country will break away and gain independence, taking the help of the negative elements that existed between the two wings since the beginning. A new civilian leader will rise in what remains of this state. He will try to build a global alliance with countries of a similar religion as his - gathering huge crowds of people with his charisma and fiery speeches. He will gain the reputation amongst many of being a genuine leader and not just a politician. Don’t let him continue for long. Play the military card again. And just to make sure that the power of the uniform remains unopposed, hang that leader. The new military regime should use religion as a means of exerting power. It should lock up the religious principle that “there is no compulsion in religion” in some dusty old cupboard. Meanwhile, the regime should extend full support towards a war fought in a neighbouring land by one global superpower, against the other. The support should be based on the basis of -no surprises here- religion, as the military regime should allow millions of refugees with differing mindsets into its own land. What will appear as a benign influx of harmless refugees at first will turn into a catastrophe a decade or two later. Wait and watch. The side on which this state stood in this war will win. Having served his purpose, make sure that the head of state is eradicated “accidentally”. It will now be time to give the civilians another go at running the state. Allow them to do this for another decade, dismissing the elected representatives as soon as the government’s failures start to become evident. Do not allow any of the governments during this time to complete their term. If you allow it, the voters are liable not to repeat their mistakes, which might erode the purpose. While entering the new millennium, another army man should be making all the decisions of the state. The reason being that this state will yet again be needed in a front-line role in a war, this time waged against the country it was asked to support a couple of decades earlier. Now, remember the millions of benign refugees that were allowed to run in the veins of this state at that time? They will get infuriated and will cause havoc! With the purpose of this military man also fulfilled, dispose him off and let the people vote for their new leaders. The dented ideology of the population will lead it astray, and for the next five years, the elected representatives will take the country to its lowest levels of governance and security. Let this government complete its term, and with the new elections coming up, hope that the people will repeat their past mistakes when casting their votes; because if they won’t, this country will rise, not by a bloody revolution fuelled by massacres, but by a process of a slow yet steady evolution, led by genuine elected leaders who’ll truly represent the masses. It will rise far beyond your imaginations, in all fields of development, under the principles established by its religion and its founding fathers, paying tribute to the millions of sacrifices that went in its creation. However, if they do not vote wisely this time, it may prove to be a crucial blow. Let us wait and watch. Read more by Ali here or follow him on Twitter @dralirafiq  ILLUSTRATIONS: IMAAN SHEIKH

Water, flour and salt, simple ingredients? In fact, they are, but magic takes place once you mix them together. Growing up in a Pakistani home, it was natural for me to see dough being kneaded everyday to make roti. I never paid much attention to it. I didn't particularly like eating it either; it had a strong taste because of the whole-wheat flour. Once the dough was kneaded, it was portioned and rolled out with a rolling pin into large discs. Flour was applied while rolling out to avoid the roti from sticking. While all of this was happening, I was preoccupied eating rice. Most kids my age at that time preferred rice, at least I did. Rice is great, there are several kinds of rice which I've grown to adore, but today, it's about roti, our beloved flatbread. After joining culinary school, a portal into the world of food opened before my eyes. I began to appreciate all kinds of food. There are a lot of things that we don't know about food. You can never know enough about food. That's why I love it, there is always something new to learn. Since the discovery of flatbread, mankind has innovated and added their own twists to it- a healthy sign of a creative population. I see flatbread as a piece of history. Rich or poor, young or old, you will all eat the same staple food one time or another. The simplicity of the flatbread reaches a social equilibrium in Pakistan. So what happens when you mix flour with water and salt? I know it combines the ingredients, but something more is happening inside. The flour contains proteins, two kinds of proteins to be exact: Glutenin and Gliadin. When water is added to the equation, it allows these proteins in the flour to activate which form gluten structures. This requires for the dough to be kneaded for a certain period of time. Gluten structures give the dough its elasticity. It won't simply fall apart when you stretch it. The reason why roti inflates like a balloon while cooking is because the gluten structures are well developed. For some flatbreads, well-developed gluten structures aren't necessary. The salt provides flavour and it strengthens the gluten structure. Your humble everyday staple is way more interesting than you think. That's why I keep looking around the kitchen to find something that I can learn from. Writing or talking about bread always makes me hungry. I usually roll myself a fresh roti and have it with condensed milk for breakfast. It’s a better combination with paratha though. Instead of cooking my roti on a dry pan, I can put oil on the pan and guess what? It becomes a paratha. In Pakistan a girl is expected to know the art of making roti. It's about time we encourage the boys to take over the art and let the ladies relax. I live alone and refuse to buy industrialised bread (unless the time calls for desperate measures). My parents have gone past the phase in which they think I'm bonkers; they take pride in my roti making skills. It’s a great achievement for a Pakistani household. I started seeing flatbread differently; more than just something we eat. It’s about time we treat our roti with the respect it deserves. Follow Asad on Twitter @asadaamir1