The way forward for Pakistan cricket
All the rumours of sacking Misbah as captain have been laid to rest after Pakistan’s victory in the Asia Cup. The fear of Pakistan going downhill after the ODI series lost against England is no more there. Pakistan cricket has been stable, and for once the cricket season ended on a high note with not much to worry about. But what’s next for Pakistan? There are still many unanswered questions like: Who will be the next captain for Pakistan? Which new bowlers will have a future in the team? For how long can we persist with spinners as our main weapon? Who is the right ...
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Maybe you should resign Mr Vice Chancellor
It was the last thing we were expecting; after last year’s deadly blast in which ten students were injured the we hoped their thirst for violence would be satiated. But the beatings, clashes and stoning just wasn’t enough -they were still not satisfied. Being a student at the University of Karachi, we, the students, are used to certain disruptions, but that day in December when while we got ready to leave our respective houses for a scheduled exam, the news even came to us as a shock. The news of a blast at Karachi University crashed down on us with a burst of ...
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Dear Google, you have failed me!
Dear Google, It pains me immensely to say this but you have let me down in my utmost time of need. I always thought there was not a question in this world that would return unanswered from your domain. I always relied on you for the smallest of queries, recommendations and confirmations, and I must admit that it had been so far, so good. Be it a school research assignment on Alaska, finding some economic or cricket statistics, or checking online for symptoms that my kid would be down with, or even looking up the answer to some radio contest question, ...
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An American in Lahore: Pakistan saved me
About a year and a half ago, I made the decision to move to Pakistan. Since then, perhaps the most popular question my local friends ask is, “Were you scared to come to Pakistan, because you thought we were all terrorists like the Western media portrays us?” Honestly, no, I was not, and I did not. Even before coming to Pakistan, I found the notion that all 180 million people residing in Pakistan, the sixth most populous nation in the world, were terrorists or had extremist tendencies completely ridiculous. I figured that, as in every country, Pakistan had people from ...
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Down with Valentine’s Day!
It’s that dreaded day of the year again, unknown to none, prohibited by many and celebrated by most; Valentine’s Day. Pagan rituals and worshipping “Christianized” idols are probably at their peak right now. A commercial excuse for public displays of affection and then the hateful price hike in the market on ultimate necessities like flowers and chocolates? I’m so glad there are groups on Facebook that addressed this rising concern like: Sorry, Valentines Day I am Muslim Let’s boycott Valentine’s Day and Jihad against Biddah. A post on Jihad against Biddah asks pertinent questions like: Will u b my valentine on d DAY OF JUDGEMENT ...
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Serena Williams isn’t going anywhere yet
Several times in her illustrious career, tennis powerhouse Serena Williams has been written off and declared to have lost her focus on the sport. Being the great champion (with 13 grand slam singles titles) that she is, she has always managed to shut her detractors up by letting her game do the talking. But the question that now arises is, for how long? Being an avid follower of miss Williams, I hear several snide remarks. Some directed at her unorthodox appearance which, honestly speaking, do not even deserve a reply. While others, the relatively smarter ones, attempt to deride her fiery temper and occasionally ...
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MV Suez’s return: Why did it take 10 months?
In an overwhelming and emotional sight, the sailors of MV Suez finally returned to their respective countries after the drama that unfolded in the wake of the crew’s abduction by Somali pirates last year. The crew seemed to weather all storms – from long drawn negotiations to the ship being attacked more than once after it was released. And as if that was not enough, the rescue mission threatened to snowball into a diplomatic row with what was described as ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ by Indian naval ship INS Godavari. However, as the high strung episode comes to an end, serious questions need ...
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Vacation 101: Plan your trip
Hey folks, it’s that time of the year when the temperatures turn to all time highs, hair turns frizzy, moods decline before 9am and you feel that your face and the inner thoughts you are masking underneath, will be awash with a tidal wave of perspiration. With schools shutting down for the annual break and the office conversation turning to “so where are you headed off this year?” it is time to plan your escape to a brief sojourn in to a land unknown! Sounds exotic and exciting but most of us are guilty of having our holidays on repeat – ...
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Coke Studio 4, Episode 1: What to expect!
Last summer, the nation’s hopes and dreams were obliterated in a cataclysmic event that shook the very foundations of what it meant to be Pakistani. There were cries and screams of outrage as people took to the streets with their pick-axes and Facebook comments, desperately trying to cope with the crippling grief that, gasp! “Coke Studio 2 was so much better than Coke Studio 3.” The predicted mass suicides were averted only through the joyous brandishing of Arif Lohar’s magic chimta. I think one of the good things to come out of the massive overreaction from last year has been the lack ...
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13 worrying facts about Pakistan and terrorism
1. Abbottabad is a military town that is home to three Pakistan Army regiments and thousands of military personnel and that is dotted with military buildings. The land mostly is owned by the Pakistan Army and retired army officers. 2. The house Osama lived in was 800 yards from the gate of the Kakul Military Academy, an army run institution where top officers train. The compound, which is worth $1 million, was surrounded by 12 to 18 feet high walls topped with barbed wire. 3. The map of the regions shows sections of nearby land marked as “restricted area,” indicating that ...
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