Highlights of the January 2006 issue
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Up the Blind Alley
By Anwar Sajidi
For Balochistan, the year 2005 ended on much the same note on which it began – another military operation. But while the action in Dera Bugti in late January 2005 came after a long build-up involving the rape of lady doctor Shazia Khalid in Sui and the resultant rebel attacks on gas installations, the latest operation against the reported fararis or rebel camps in the adjacent Kohlu district has ostensibly materialised overnight. In both cases, however, the clash between the government and the rebel forces has led to civilian casualties and population displacement.
Survival Instinct
By Syed Shoaib Hasan
The earthquake that destroyed the land of Kashmir has given its people a chance to make a political comebackTrust has always been a scarce commodity in Kashmir. And not surprisingly. Since the Partition, incessant warfare has wreaked havoc, leaving thousands dead and scarring the once idyllic valley and its people forever. But it seems that the people have finally had enough. Indeed, in the aftermath of the October 8 earthquake, it is more than the region’s topography that has changed.
The last time India came to Pakistan for a Test series in 2004, it was their first visit in almost 15 years. Then India were the better team, boasting some of the best batsmen in the game while Pakistan were a team in transition.
If the world doesn’t revolve around them, it should. They’re attractive and innovative, arrogant and ambitious. Young Pakistanis are the masters of their universe. They don’t think twice because they know it’s alright.
Dream Come true
By Syed Shoaib Hasan
For much of Pakistan’s history, living beyond one’s means was a sure-fire method of getting into trouble. Not any more. Now, the spanking new car or stereo system, art deco coffee table and Mediterranean cruise can all be had without any of the guilt that borrowing from parents entails. Just pop into your friendly neighbourhood bank that will readily give you the means to acquire all the things you used to dream about. Payback is at your convenience and, better still, you can always return for more. Welcome to the world of consumer banking and leasing which have revolutionised spending in Pakistan and created a generation that knows what it wants and how to get it.
Maliha is constantly reminded by her parents that her elder sister excelled academically while maintaining a roaring social life. Despite the 17-year-old’s above average grades, her parents expect her to emulate her sister’s extraordinary achievements. The constant criticism has led Maliha to feel inadequate and anxious and for several months now she has been on medication for depression.
The piracy crackdown that threw an ungainly spanner in the Rainbow Centre works seems to have been a short-term publicity stunt. Still, film fans have had cause to complain. Pirated DVDs now make their way to Laraib Music centre all the way from Malaysia rather than Saddar and cost up to 120 rupees, even after a discount, while the availability of Hollywood blockbusters is frequently delayed. Of course, the piracy paranoia has worked in favour of movie buffs as film distributors have leapt at the opportunity of importing big-budget films, including War of the Worlds, Red Eye, Doom, The Legend of Zorro and King Kong, within days of their international release. As a result, couch potatoes in Karachi have had to find a new resource by which to invigorate their late evening small-screen sessions.