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Masters, not friends FROM being one of the most sanctioned countries in the world at the turn of the century, Pakistan has, in the four years since, emerged as a ‘Major Non-Nato Ally’...		It’s more symbolic than anything else THE granting of non-Nato status to Pakistan is a goodwill gesture with little substance, says Dennis Kux, a senior US scholar and expert on Pakistan. Mr Kux, who is a former US diplomat and the author of the widely respected...
An unforgivable front THE Second World War, though won by the allied forces, left many participating countries, including Great Britain, economically drained and shattered. It gradually became impossible for Great Britain to maintain a hold on far-flung countries and territories under their domain...		A tale of two cities IRRESPECTIVE of the frequency, nature or extent of my trips to Lahore, nothing can quell the thrill and sense of pride I feel upon returning to my hometown, Karachi. Each time I walk out of the airport, I am struck with the stark contrast between the two cities. I embrace the all too familiar sights and...
To ‘sir’, with love SPOKEN by millions of countrymen everyday, ‘sir’ has permeated the very psyche of Pakistani society. Be it an office, a classroom, a small gathering or any other place, this tiny, little word or its derivatives such...		Summer of ’85 IT was the 13th of April, 1985 when I entered the lush green campus of Cadet College HasanAbdal. Little did I know on that fateful day that my whole, and that of ninety-nine other fellow’s, life would never be the same again.....
A day of fun and laughter IN Scotland it is called a gowk or cuckoo. In France, people refer it to as April fish. Whereas in England, the victim of practical jokes is called April fool. A lot of history is attached to the day that we all call April Fools’ Day...		Bloomin’ blossoms LIMITED options for outdoor excursions has forced Karachiites to the somewhat unhealthy concept of eating out on weekends as the only source of family recreation, leading to the decimation of public...
The city of smiles THE people of Bangkok call their city, the City of Smiles. And I found no reason to question this claim as I met my first dwellers of the city, the immigration officials. Also, all of them were women....		Sarwar Zuberi no more SARWAR is no more with us. She decided to leave for the heavenly abode after giving so much to the medical profession, the country and specially Karachi. She was an example to follow for scores of students and young doctors....
The coming of senior age PRESENTLY I am in a severe state of depression and melancholy and I exactly know the root cause of it. It’s not the Wana Operation, nor the smile of Condoleezza Rice, prose, poetry or my bathroom’s...		Hamlet’s inner conflict SHAKESPEAREAN tragedies show a struggle that rends the protagonist’s whole being. Macbeth is consumed by overwhelming ambition, Othello by jealousy instilled by Iago and Romeo by passion. Hamlet is the most complex character of them all. He has been described as insane...
Europe in ruins BRUTALITY, mercilessness or those who bring about them can never be forgotten. April 30 marks the 59th death anniversary of Adolf Hitler, one of the most brutal, merciless yet the most...		A breath of fresh air WRITERS from Saarc countries gathered last week in Lahore and discussed the writers’ position and role in today’s nuclearized and globalized world that we are fated to live in. It was...
Hot Seat GOING down the memory lane, Kishwer Naheed tries hard but fails to recall the name of the first film she saw on the silver screen. All she recalls is this: “The...		Something to remember MEDIA response to the electric, recently concluded series of One-Dayers, often dwelt on the cliche of “Like a Hitchcock whodunit”. Sadly, Hitchcock never produced whodunits; you always knew the villain. It is someone...
A victorious draw THE number of spectators could be counted on two hands. This, however, did not dampen the spirits of the women cricketers of Pakistan, who were playing the first ever Test match...		The better team made it big IN the final analysis, the series was won by the team that played better cricket when it mattered most. I am not talking of just the last game, mind you. It...
Pakistan has the edge ONE of the most exciting Test series is now in progress in Multan as hosts Pakistan are battling rivals India in the first of the three Tests, in Multan. Since getting the full ICC membership in 1952, Pakistan has enjoyed a healthy Test life since. However, it is its rivalry with India that has drawn crowds to the stands....		A matter of life and death HE’S dead. Gone unwept and unnoticed. Flown home. His last rites performed by men merely doing a job. Washed and packed in a wooden coffin with the bloody scar around his neck, Masood Sabir, 28, is no more. His Green Card imaging that sweet smile of success...
The great HR scam THE shocking case of a scam committed by the coordinator of the Pakistan chapter of the International Human Rights Commission, an NGO, has left several foreigners stranded in Lahore. On the pretext of organizing a human rights’ conference, the credit of devising the entire scheme goes to...		Suicide and state WITH reference to the contributions of Amar Jaleel (February 1 and February 8), he tries to hold the State responsible for suicidal acts, because “the persons who create frustrating situations or...
MOSAIC: A dangerous hobby EAR and body piercing is becomingly increasingly popular. Ear piercing is often performed in an unregulated environment by people with uncertain infection control skills, states a recent issue of the Journal...		Newsmaker WITH his smart suits, gold-rimmed glasses and winning smile, Dr Abdel Aziz Rantisi doesn’t immediately appear to be an extremist. A paediatrician by training, a long-time militant and one of the six men who founded the Palestinian organization, Hamas in 1987, Dr Abdel Aziz Rantisi...