Deconstructing the PTI troll
Posted by admin on Dec 21, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is the talk of the town. Naysayers have several objections – some which are fair, some not quite. One particular complaint, however, is a unique piece of criticism leveled against the party: that of the PTI troll, someone we all know and despise.
When criticising the PTI on public forums, especially Twitter, a commenter is often subjected to harsh language and offensive speech by ‘supporters’...
A lover, a teen militant, a human being
Posted by admin on Dec 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment
I had just taken my matriculation exams when I volunteered for a first aid camp. However, this wasn’t just any first aid camp – it was located in the war-torn area of the Kurram Agency. In 2007, the situation was much the same as today; the area was under siege and conflict was on the rise between the Taliban and the security forces.
The nights were cold but the reality that I came face to face with there...
Double standards and the infallible military hierarchy
Posted by admin on Dec 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment
US President Harry Truman famously placed a sign on his desk in the Oval Office that said “The buck stops here”.
Thousands of miles away and some 60 years later, the only message on anyone’s desk appears to be “The buck stops anywhere but here”.
Memogate has been an embarrassment for the sitting government, even though the credibility of the memo seems to be shrinking day by day. Meanwhile, the ever-reliable...
The tough New Yorkers of Lahore
Posted by admin on Dec 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment
I moved to Lahore from my home town of Faisalabad, to pursue higher education at the Government College University. Although I didn’t know it then, Lahore was to be my home for a very long time.
My MBA years flew by when I lived in the university hostel. My needs were simple; I wanted nothing more than the 15 x 15 cubicle that I shared with a room-mate. There were no air-conditioners in the summer, no heaters...
KP politics: Of name changes and one-line manifestos
Posted by admin on Dec 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Walking out from parliament is one of the oldest forms of expressing dissent or dissatisfaction with the government. However, on December 9, there was a walkout in parliament over an issue of immeasurable proportions. No, not drone strikes. No, not memogate or Ghulam Nabi Fai. No, not Zardari’s health or Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif’s exchange of dirty laundry and certainly not pictures of Veena Malik. This was much...
An entrepreneur in the making at Sunday bazaar
Posted by admin on Dec 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment
For as long as I can remember I have been a regular visitor at Sunday bazaar. I love to see the interesting mix of people, some haggling, some in awe of the vast variety of goods on offer, some merely strolling through.This Sunday was no different. I woke up bright and early and decided to hit the bazaar.
I think I was a little too eager – stalls were being set up when I arrived.
“No problem,” I thought...
Is my blood not good enough for you?
Posted by admin on Dec 11, 2011 | Leave a Comment
I was casually walking in the Ibn Batuta Mall with a friend when I saw the Dubai Blood Donation Centre kiosk. The moment I saw it, I decided that I had to donate blood. A couple of girls sat behind the desk with hundreds of forms, while other volunteers walked around asking people to donate blood.
My friend had to look after his daughter, so he decided to wait and watch while I went to donate blood. I walked towards...
Why thank the Taliban, minister?
Posted by admin on Dec 09, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Every Pakistani was thankful that Ashura passed off without incident and gave full credit to security agencies for employing stringent measures on the solemn occasion.
Contrary to this, talking to journalists later, Interior Minister Rehman Malik thanked the Taliban for the merciful act of not carrying out any terror acts during Muharram. The statement not only stunned his compatriots, it also exposed the real reason...
Islamabad diary: ‘Neto, Zadari’ rhetoric and nothing else to say
Posted by admin on Dec 07, 2011 | Leave a Comment
The first thing you notice at a rally organised by religious parties is that they are not very good at spellings. Placards at the Jamaatud Dawa protest at Aabpara on Friday were long on enthusiasm but short on literacy. They demanded that “Neto” must go, vociferously “condomed” its attack and called on “Zadari” to resign.
Their synchronised singing wasn’t much better. Chants against the US would have been...
For the disabled, inclusive education is a must
Posted by admin on Dec 05, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Like many other days, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was also observed on Saturday with government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working for physically challenged persons holding walks and seminars. This year the emphasis was on inclusive education systems and a discrimination-free, level playing field for such persons.
Speakers at these functions demanded that the authorities should provide...
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