Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

Five ... and counting ON October 12, 1999, he had “moved as a last resort to save the country”, and he is still at it — saving the country — even after five years of uninterrupted and absolute rule in uniform. The quote above is from President General Pervez Musharraf’s midnight address to the nation on the day he took over the reins of the country after dismissing the elected government...		Govt skating on thin ice THROWN out of power — and then out of the country along with 17 other members of his family — Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif rules out the possibility of any deal with the present setup which he calls “unconstitutional and illegitimate”....
Improbability of dual duties GENERAL Pervez Musharaf has vociferously reiterated that come what may he would remain chief of the army staff and president of Pakistan, simultaneously. He would wear two caps; he would sit in two chairs; and would sleep on two beds at the same time. I do not have the slightest intention to comment upon his decision. He is the supreme ruler of Pakistan. If he so desires, he can put on a dark tan shoe on one foot and black shoe on the other....		Sharifs were intolerant THE government’s chief spokesman, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, says he is perhaps the first information minister of the country in the last five decades who keeps himself well-informed, adding that he participates in policy-making discussions with top military and civilian authorities, something which was not the norm during his association with...
Dictatorship and cronyism go together THE struggle of Pakistan People’s Party has always been for democracy in the country and against the establishment’s unconstitutional efforts to stifle it, says Asif Ali Zardari, who has been behind bars for God knows how many years....		Sending pictures, online THE wedding season is right around the corner and I am quite sure, preparations must now be entering their final phase. The menu must already have been finalized. So must have...
A fairyland in stone DURING a recent visit to the United States, I had the good fortune of visiting one of the most amazing places in the world. So much so, that I am quite sure that it must be on one of the natural wonders of the world, list. For seeing is after all believing....		Preventing cavities Dental infections are a distressing experience for a child, as well for the parents. These infections in children are usually related to untreated dental caries. The first indication of an infection is usually oral or dental pain — often spontaneous. The offending tooth will often hurt during the night. Any ...
The visa saga “I AM the son-in-law of America,” he declared and grinned. I was sitting on a rickety wobbly wooden bench underneath a tree which was providing me a sunny shade — sunny...		Benevolent banyans WHY the importance of banyan trees is being ignored in Pakistan is beyond any sane person’s imagination. Of course, other new-looking plants and trees add a lot to our general environment, but we must also try and preserve these old tropical trees that have aerial roots....
The reign of Akbar — II THE emperor, due to his various royal preoccupations, could not pay much attention to the fluctuations in currency and depended on his officials for the same. But when the news of...		Every inch a poet LAST week I had the good luck to participate in a function held in memory of a poet who is admired for his poetry and adored for his idiosyncracies. I’m referring...
Hot Seat IT’S very simple to be happy; but it’s very difficult to be simple. Plus it is more difficult to make others happy being simple. Well he has completely been up to...		A national burden HOLDING of the National Games once every two years by the four provincial Olympic associations; Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan, on the basis of rotation has become a heavy financial burden on the hosts. ...
A class act DR JEHANGIR Khan and my brother Nasir played cricket for the Indian Gymkhana at Osterley Park in Surrey. They were both students then and there was bound to have been some...		Cross-talk continues WITH Pakistan winning its match against Sri Lanka quite convincingly, it is indeed politically incorrect to talk of the team not doing too well. With the authorities even praising the team...
Sitting on missile silos WHEN the wind howled, the front doors banged to and fro, sending the jagged glass crackling and cringing ghoulishly. The windows, paneless and peripatetic after being abandoned to the elements, some three decades ago, hung on to their hinges, refusing to let go. Walking past, as the sun weakened, the shadows would stand sentinel, sending haunting chills...		Mind your language AMONGST the many urges found in our nation like the urge to cheat, pollute, sneeze and blurb (to other people’s faces), the urge to express our thoughts in English is overtaking all other urges with breakneck speed. We think that this will enable us to climb the social ladder and increase our respect in the country and abroad. With these lofty intentions...
Bantering with bankers WHEN Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, a reputed banker and a man of letters, was asked to name his favourite fragrance, the humorist instantly replied: “The fragrance of new currency notes is most...		A mission impossible? WITH reference to the article, A mission impossible? (August 22) what I want to ask is why the ruling parties in Pakistan, including the Muslim League, are running the country with...
MOSAIC: WHO designation for CPSP THE World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the library of the College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan, Karachi — considered one of the biggest medical libraries in Pakistan as far as...		Newsmaker WITH a lethal combination of beauty, brains and tons of talent, Aishwarya Rai has conquered the world. First she wins the Miss World title, then she proves herself as an actress to become the queen of Bollywood — going on to win a number of best actress awards — then she graces the cover of Time. And...