Who cares about Pakistan’s Anna Hazare?
The success of the Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare and the defeat of his Pakistani counterpart Jehangir Akhtar in their almost similar missions perhaps reflect the nature of politics and how it is perceived in both countries. The 75-year-old Indian shot to fame, thanks largely to the power of the Indian media, when he undertook a much hyped fast. That, more or less, brought the Indian government to its knees and made it agree to move a bill in parliament to establish the office of an ombudsman (Lokpal). However, in Pakistan, the story was quite different with the fasting Akhtar largely ...
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Anna Hazare, you are not welcome in Pakistan
Not long ago, international media saw the rise of a new star; a man who vowed to reincarnate the principles of Gandhi, who is respected universally for his passion for peace and non-violent political activism. Well, we too were happy to see, despite the mudslinging that Ziaul Haq and his prodigal children did towards Gandhi, a man who would strive for peace. We hoped his anti-graft movement would come to Pakistan as well. Moreover, we prayed that the Pak-India border would be adorned with flowers and candles rather than barbed wires. However, today all of my hopes suddenly evaporated when I ...
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Anna Hazare: Fasting for change
Fasting in Pakistan is reserved for the month of Ramazan whereas in India, it has taken on the shape of a non-violent movement under the leadership of Anna Hazare. Carrying on with the legacy that Mohandas Gandhi left behind, Anna aims to pressurise the Indian government to enact strong anti-corruption laws by issuing the threat of a fast unto death. The “Gandhian” or the “crusader” as he has come to be known is a 74-year-old veteran who follows closely the words of Gandhi: “Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today.” His successful attempts at ...
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Fasting in times of load shedding
Past Shab-e-Barat, brace yourself for the month of fasting. Actually, Shab-e-Barat is a festival in name only. Its real significance is to usher in Ramazan. The halvas you are treated to, point to the imminence of thirty testing days followed by thirty rewarding evenings. The mandatory fast, requiring that one neither eat a morsel nor take a sip of drink for a whole day, is a test in itself. It’s a vivid reminder of the nature of hunger and thirst. It is only at the end of a day of fasting that one fully appreciates food and drink as God’s great ...
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Fast five: Sheer adrenalin
If this movie has to be described in two words, “sheer adrenalin” would be appropriate. Two hours and 10 minutes of a thrilling ride is what viewers should expect before hitting the theatres. Fast Five is all about heart-stopping action sequences, nerve wrecking suspense, signature car race scenes along with a bit of an emotional appeal. Writer Chris Morgan and director Justin Lin, the brains behind the mind blowing production, start exactly where Fast & Furious ended. Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is busted out while he is being transferred to prison, after which crew decides to go their separate ways ...
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Agha Hasan Abedi: the man who dared to dream big
Agha Hasan Abedi was one of the finest minds this country has ever produced. He was an exemplary patriot and a legendary banker. In the mess that exists today, the youth of Pakistan desperately needs inspiring personalities to look up to. I cannot think of a better person to quote. He proved that politics is not the only form of service to the nation. He suffered through various scandals towards the end of his life, but no one can deny his contributions towards building a stronger Pakistan. It is a shame we let our youth forget a man like Agha Hasan ...
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