A day following the attack on teenaged Malala Yousufzai, Dawn.com stepped out in Karachi to absorb the word on the street. And there were no surprises. From students to restaurant owners, cobblers and teachers, all of the people interviewed voiced their condemnation for the attack and questioned the government’s failure to prevent such acts of terror. “If the Taliban can speak to the media, why is it so hard for the government to catch them,” they asked. Some called the teenager from Swat their daughter and their sister. Others highlighted the importance of education and people like Malala who promote it, in this fight against terror and ignorance. - Photos by Zehra Naqvi, interview by Nadir Siddiqui /Dawn.com

Opinion

Editorial

Hardening lines
Updated 22 May, 2026

Hardening lines

Iranian suspicions about Pakistan’s close ties with Washington and Gulf states persist, while Pakistan remains uneasy over Tehran’s growing engagement with India.
Unliveable city
22 May, 2026

Unliveable city

IN Karachi, when it comes to water, it is every man and woman for themselves. A persistent shortage in available...
Glof alert
22 May, 2026

Glof alert

FOR many communities in northern Pakistan, the sound of heavy rain now carries a different meaning. It is no longer...
External woes
Updated 21 May, 2026

External woes

Relying indefinitely on remittances to offset structural economic weaknesses is not sustainable.
Political activity
21 May, 2026

Political activity

THE opposition is astir. There is talk of widespread protests this Friday over a list of dissatisfactions with the...
Seizing hope
21 May, 2026

Seizing hope

ISRAEL’S tyranny knows no bounds. After intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla that set sail last week, disturbing...