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Crime against yourself The act of killing yourself deliberately is not to be taken lightly. It is a serious issue. In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in suicide cases in Pakistan...		It’s basically a cry for help Suicide is depression’s extreme complication, says Professor Dr Musarrat Hussain. It happens when a person completely loses hope and pessimism takes the better of him...
Two women’s rights Bhabhi Nazeeran talked to me on telephone; she sobbed, and said, “Your friend is getting married.” Surprised, I said, “But, Bhabhi all my friends are married!” Bhabhi Nazeeran said, “He is marrying for the second time.”...		Commercializing marriage “IT is the best of times, it is the worst of times, it is the age of wisdom, it is the age of foolishness.” Pardon me for copying from Dickens’s immortal...
Immigration insults AS the aeroplane began its descent to Toronto’s Pearson International airport, my heart started to pound with excitement and fear. I was wondering what lay ahead for me in a country where I was now going to live all my life, hoping to build a promising future....		The godless lover These are the words of the poet whose very being was and still is surrounded by controversies. Ask any sane person (literate or otherwise) who is Ghalib? And you will get to hear what a ‘great Urdu poet of the subcontinent’...
Gorakh’s natural beauty THE authorities concerned seem to be showing a renewed interest in Gorakh, a scenic hill station, which augurs well for those who intend to visit the spot. It also hints at the fact that the road to Gorakh will at last be completed....		A town dotted with temples ABOUT 12 kilometres south of Chakawal lies the historical town of Bhaun, formerly known as Bhavan. It is famous for its awe-inspiring temples, grand gurdawaras, splendid shrines and havelis with exquisite...
Dumping it the right way IN good old times, particularly in the pre-industrialization era, people used to set their garbage bins on fire in order to get rid of them completely. In those days garbage usually contained stuff made of paper...		HOT SEAT In the small state of Loharu, India, 120 miles from Delhi, that had its own small army, laws and police. Where the rich grassy glades covered the hills and valleys, surrounding the fort of great nobles; was born Prince Jamiluddin Aali....
Sedna’s sojourn IT is a question so simple that it should be part of the primary school curriculum. In fact, not many of us even think to give it a second thought. But, now that the question is here, not many of us know exactly what a planet is....		CHAPTER FROM HISTORY: The Somanatha controversy ONE of the fascinating features of history is that often political and social interests bring back those events and personalities which have already been forgotten and disappeared into the past. However,...
POINT OF VIEW: A rich stock of strange experiences THE new authenticated edition of Tazkara-i-Ghausiyah brought out by Sang-i-Meel reminds me of a tradition of prose writing in Urdu with peculiarities of its own. It had emanated from an oral...		It’s Olympics time again Come August 13, the Greek metropolis of Athens will be the centre of attention for billions around the world. And with hundreds of countries and thousands of athletes vying for Olympic glory, it would be a shame if you aren’t one of them....
The saint in a white coat One of the job requirements of a cricket umpire is that he should be a saint. His decision is not only final but has to be accepted, smiling and keeping a...		THROUGH THE COVERS: Setting low standards SURELY the better team won the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka was not just the better team on the day of the final, but was the most consistent of all the participating...
Keeping fingers crossed “Four wins out of five matches is more than satisfactory and if I was a school teacher I would give this team 70 out of 100. We beat India by a...		Whose mosque is it anyway? Frequently on Fridays, around noon, my pastime is to count the faithful heads stride towards the mosque. I feel no compunction to follow them inside. Detached and depersonalized howsoever this activity is for someone like me — a stationed onlooker in a parked car...
Problem solving The long drive to sector I/11 ended when our taxi stopped in front of a red and yellow shamiana in a huge ground in Afghan abadi. The place certainly looked like...		Copyright crime I HAVE committed a crime. Not once, not twice but so many times that I have forgotten the count. My crime: copyright violation....
Inside a beauty salon With the reference to the article Inside a beauty salon (July 4), beauty salons are making today’s girls flesh-stars. Whatever be the occasion, nikkah, rukhsati or any other party, makeover is...		NEWSMAKER September 11, 2001 has come to be one of the most significant dates in modern times. The world is a different place since that fateful day. And it wasn’t any different for Lady Liberty, that stood and watched, just miles away as planes smashed into the World Trade Centre....