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#MeToo: I am older, wiser and more determined than the little girl who was...
The first time it happened, I was seven. An imam in our neighbourhood mosque held me, taking my hand, wrapping my fingers (they were still tiny) around his genitals, then massaging it. I was so small I...
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Irfan Bhai and his solar eclipse
“I really need to beat Amir’s high score,” I said to myself as I played another round of Temple Run, not realising my battery had drained down to 5%. My phone got warmer and the LED light on my screen...
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After Verna and Arth 2, Rangreza’s colourful and gripping trailer has left us...
This month, a lot of Pakistani potential blockbusters have released their trailers one after the other. First it was Shoaib Mansoor’s Verna, then Shaan Shahid’s Arth 2, and now the colourful trailer of...
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Because I own Karachi
Standing somewhere in the middle of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, I guess my attire gave it away and they all greeted me with a seemingly customary “jeevay, jeevay Pakistan!” Towards the end of my trip, the...
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Happy Children’s Day, Pakistan! BTW, child sexual abuse increased by 10%...
Child abuse is one of the most prevalent social issues in Pakistan. A 2017 report suggests that there has been a 10% increase in cases since last year alone. The issue is only made worse by the fact...
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With its fresh talent and catchy music, Maan Jao Naa seems like a complete...
In the last decade or so, we have seen Pakistani cinema seemingly thriving, with TV actors shifting to the larger screen, and directors and producers experimenting with new and innovative ideas as...
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RIP Masood Ahmad Barkati – the unsung hero of my generation, the voice of...
It pained my heart to read that Masood Ahmed Barkati, the renowned author of children’s literature and the editor of the Urdu magazine Hamdard Naunihal, is no more among us. The last three generations...
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From Donut Burger to Waffle Chicken, 6 inventions at Karachi Eat 2018 that...
Karachi Eat 2018 started and came to an end with a lot of hype, by being bigger than ever with over 100 food brands selling mouth-watering edibles. The event turned out to be the most hyped and crowded...
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#PashtunLongMarch: How many more Naqeebullahs have to die before we stop...
Nobody could have guessed that the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud – an aspiring and flamboyant model hailing from South Waziristan – would result in an unprecedented and unyielding protest...
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I am stationary, and Karachi is movement
Day 1 If I stared at the world around me, a few things would stare back. The clouds dancing in the iridescently blue sky, the sun shining in its eternal glow; maybe even the trees that stood amidst the...
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Karachi’s traffic making you pull your hair out? Here are 10 tips to make...
Anyone who has had the luxury of experiencing the traffic in Karachi, will understand when I say there is a certain wisdom hidden in the chaos on the streets. Ultimately, if you’re super agile and a...
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To the women of Pakistan: Get out there, march and reclaim your space!
For this year’s International Women’s Day, Pakistani women from Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad have decided to stick it out together, get out on the streets of their respective cities, and march to...
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We all know what divides India and Pakistan, but do you know what unites them?
When it comes to India and Pakistan, one comes across an array of academicians and scholars in western campuses with piles of research on the Kashmir problem, Siachen and Sir Creek. But one hardly...
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Pakistan, Bahadurabad, PIB – how many MQMs need to fail before the party...
Life is a system to cycles; it ebbs and flows. To sound more dramatic, everything that rises must fall, or in the words of George RR Martin, “Valar Morghulis” – all men must die. Men, or mankind...
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Does Karachi belong to Imran Khan?
Ever since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced his intention to contest elections from Karachi, there has been rigorous debate on whether this is the right decision or not, and...
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What will it take for Karachi’s 20 million citizens to feel safe?
On the topic of Karachi’s security, Allah Dino Khawaja, the Inspector General (IG) of the Sindh Police, recently stressed on the need to design a comprehensive strategy to curb street crimes. It is a...
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As PSL comes home and the stakes run high, who will join Islamabad United in...
It is not easy for Pakistanis to make peace with the fact that a majority of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches are being held out of Pakistan. However, this is a bullet they need to bite with a...
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In PSL’s ultimate showdown, the mind says Islamabad United, but the heart...
For three consecutive seasons, I have supported Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). And for three consecutive seasons, my sibling has supported Islamabad United. Throughout every...
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When PSL came to Karachi, and the city felt alive again
Not too long ago, the city of Karachi was the hub of fear. Residents constantly feared for the law and order situation, and people would think twice before stepping out at night. The festive nature...
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The city of Sufism, saints and nirvana – Multan has more to offer than you think
Earlier this year, I took a trip to Multan that was meant to be an official excursion, and yet somehow proved to be a bit of a life changer. As I waited to board my flight, I “checked in” on my...
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