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The bio-terrorism threat Serious concerns about the possible use of microbes as weapons of terror have heightened markedly over the past five years....		Human isolation Industrial and scientific developments of the past century have made the life radically different from what it had been over the centuries....
In the line of fire “Better to be uncomfortable and alive than comfortable and dead.” This is a quote from a superintendent of police. After two police officers were shot in an otherwise peaceful suburb of...		A merry Christmas for non-Christians Farrokh Captain is a liberal businessman with a Catholic taste for ideas, arts and making friends. He is a Parsi, but has many Muslim and Christian friends. Though hurt in a...
A wonderful friendship Perhaps it was good luck or a moment of rare inspiration that Pakistan had been one of the first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China. When I went to...		Winter by proxy Traditionally, the onset of the winter season is eagerly heralded by the sonorous calls of the vendors pushing their carts laden with gajjak, roasted peanuts and little pyramids of assorted dry...
A girl is born Female infanticide has been prevalent since the days of ignorance in pre-Islamic Arabia as women have, unfortunately, always been considered as unwanted ‘beasts of burden’. It is still being practised in...		The concept of effigy-burning Burning of effigies of undesirable to hated people is a widely-indulged pastime in Pakistan. One has seen the spectacle ever since one can remember. It is the expression of emotions, catharsis,...
Turkish delight With a jerk, flight EK219 made its final approach to Ataturk Internat-ional Airport, waking most of the passengers with a start in the early hours of a warm summer day....		Washed away Erosion, set into motion by the angry waters of the Hub River in the last ten years, has eaten up an entire colony and more than three hundred acres of land....
Lonely in America Darn, you’re a Pakistani! To top it, you’re a man, 40, without a Green Card. The combo can’t get any deadlier than this in today’s jingoistic climate. Who cares if you...		Death of a life She loved fragrances, flowers, books, poetry and literature. She pranced after colourful butterflies and lived in the world of idyllic happiness and perpetual bliss. Nothing could dampen her will and high...
One Unit: a dark chapter Many years back, when I wrote an obituary of a political leader who manipulated a forced resolution by the then Sindh Assembly in favour of One Unit in 1954, many friends...		Promotion of subcontinental music We have a rich heritage of classical music, comparable with any other field of human excellence, and it’s preservation is of vital importance to our national identity....
Feminist movement and Urdu literature Feminist consciousness is emerging as a spirit of the age and has become a global trend. No doubt, in the beginning it was an individual trend, but it has now become...		CHAPTERS FROM HISTORY: Begging in history Everyday, we come across countless beggars who harass us and use all sorts of methods to get alms. However, the phenomenon of begging is not new. We find it throughout history...
POINT OF VIEW: Reinterpreting Mir Anis THE 200th birth anniversary celebrations of Mir Anis have begun. The function in Karachi, arranged by Mohammadi Education and Publications, may be deemed as its inaugural ceremony. Preparations are afoot for...		An eye-opener for the sighted The Pakistan blind cricketers set an eye-catching example for the sighted cricketers of the country after winning laurels through team spirit and exhibiting tremendous skills to win the second blind Cricket...
A shrinking talent pool THERE can be little doubt that the recent triangular series arranged by the Pakistan Hockey Federation was a commendable effort. It actually showcased the hockey talent that is available in the...		THROUGH THE COVERS: Concentrating on the basics HAVING discussed the Australians last week, it is only logical that we shall now have a look at the South Africans who have given a good showing in their recent assignment...
Crying for care Situated in one of the best locales — Bagh-i-Jinnah (Frere Hall), the KMC’s over-a-century-old Liaquat Hall Library is of much interest to readers and researchers. Still, it is an under-utilized facility,...		NEWSMAKER DR Michael Guillen, a physicist and freelance journalist, last week made headlines around the world when, brought in by Clonaid to verify its successful cloning of a human...