The hashtag ‘Ahmedi’ has been trending in Pakistan again, after Attock Assistant Commissioner Jannat Hussain Nekokara was forced to apologise for speaking about equal treatment of minorities, including that of Ahmedis. This has led to another debate on social media regarding the treatment of this sect within Pakistan. So we at ProperGaanda decided to look into some […]
Ever so often you come across a movie trailer and it makes you wonder how relatable yet absolutely uncommon a topic it hits upon. Pinky Memsaab, starring Hajra Yamin and Kiran Malik in the lead is one such movie, the trailer of which has been released just yesterday. It is a collaborative production by VOX […]
In a plus one for the often obscure beauty of democracy in Pakistan, the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) has filed a reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar. The reference against Justice Nisar has been filed for his remarks and actions that are “unbecoming of a judge”. The WAF claims that instead […]
The by-elections yesterday yielded some interesting results all the while re-creating the fervent partisan atmosphere that the country was embroiled in during the General Elections just months ago. The by-elections were held in constituencies where seats were vacated owing to the candidates winning more than one seat in the July elections. For instance, the elections […]
Finance Minister, Asad Umar has said that Pakistan is ready to share details of the debt related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The decision to approach the IMF for a bailout package was finalized after consultations with friendly countries, he noted. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad […]
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chief, Justice Javed Iqbal and Chief Justice Pakistan, Saqib Nisar have taken notice of and ordered action against the officials who brought Punjab University administration members to the court in handcuffs. Punjab University ex-vice chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran and four other former administration officials were arrested on Thursday over allegations of corruption, […]
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has been operating on a comprehensive 100-day plan, which they introduced in May 2018, well before the General Elections. Since being sworn in on August 18, Imran Khan has had to face a myriad of challenges, some which have had to do with the promises of the 100-day plan. Critics have been keeping a […]
October 12th 2018 marks Amitabh Bachchan 76th birthday. Since facing backlash for refraining from making comments on the whole Tanushree Datta and Nana Patekar debacle, the veteran actor has finally addressed the matter. In an interview, he spoke to his fans about various personal questions to celebrate his birthday. During this conversation, he addressed the […]
Just over 24 hours ago, Faisal Edhi, the son of Abdus Sattar Edhi became a part of the alleged culprits of harassment. Another well-known comedian, Junaid Akram also had claims made against him. In the wake of this, comedian Shehzad Ghias has emerged on the right side of things. In a Facebook update, he posted […]
Something quite unexpected has surfaced in the capital of Sindh. A situation that has called into question the very sanity of our police personnel in Karachi. It is a state of affairs threatening to shake the status quo. The Karachi Police chief has urged cops not to ask a man and a woman to furbish […]
Ex-premier and the very much still disqualified Nawaz Sharif is all set to resume political activity following the arrest of his little brother Shahbaz Sharif a few days ago. According to Dawn, Nawaz Sharif will be presiding over an ’emergency meeting’ of PML-N’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) today. The decision to hold the meeting comes […]
At a time when the glitzy glamour of the advertising industry is bombarding us with a constant dose of consumerism, we do tend to crave simpler times. The marketing industry today is highly competitive and the stimuli all the way from television screens to the massive billboards are all too nerve wracking. To take a break […]
2018 so far has not been the year of the Sharifs. Neither has 2017 for that matter. From Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification in 2017 to the consequent arrest and jailing of him and daughter Maryam Nawaz in a NAB corruption case, all the way to Shahbaz Sharif’s latest arrest, things have been more than shaky for the […]
An incident in Peshawar University has given rise to the occasional debate on the revival of student unions in Pakistan. Banned in 1984 under the Zia regime, student unions faced a state-sponsored crackdown and one of the many harrowing effects of this policy culminated in the unfortunate incident that unfolded yesterday in Peshawar. A clash between protesting […]
The Beaconhouse School System in Pakistan is under fire – a Twitter fire that is. Why? Because the Twitterati has taken offense to the content of Pakistan Studies course being taught at their institutions under the name of The Educators. Here are the several contentions being raised. #BoycottBeaconHouse Is it a Pakistani school system or […]
The first lady of Pakistan gave her first interview to Hum News a day ago. Anchored by Nadeem Malik, the interview saw Bushra Bibi discuss a wide range of things including the PM Imran Khan’s personal habits to her own personality. Repeating the narrative of austerity, Bushra Bibi discussed at length how simple Imran Khan […]
A disturbing video posted by Al Jazeera shows how social conditions of fear-mongering and religious bigotry on the other side of the Pakistan-India border aren’t much different. The video shows a police officer recording inside a moving car with a young girl held back in the car. Next to her is a female constable. The […]
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi met with United States President Donald Trump in New York yesterday, where the diplomat is representing Pakistan at the 73rd UN General Assembly session. According to reports, the meeting was smooth sailing with Qureshi noting that the attitude of the US president was favorable. Talking to the PTV, Qureshi said that […]
Journalist Cyril Almeida has found himself in grave trouble with the authorities in regards to an impending case of treason against him. According to a tweet he put out last night, he has been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) and a non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued in his name. It is being […]
The escalation of India Pakistan relations in the last 32 hours has had everyone on edge. There has been another development following a crossfire of disturbing diplomatic exchanges between both the civil governments and the armed forces of both countries. This time, however, it gives Pakistan a good edge. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in […]
It’s been a rocky 24 hours for diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. Since the Modi government backtracked on an intended meeting between Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and India’s Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, things let’s just say have been like a brewing storm. Imran Khan […]
Dissent is patriotic. It is a phrase that has become synonymous with all the resistance movements such as the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, which demands better of the establishment. It has also come to denote the work of journalists who continue to work under state sponsored crackdowns on media, which limits the nature of material available […]
Citing “unclean intentions” on Pakistan’s side as the reason, Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, has confirmed the cancellation of talks between India and Pakistan’s foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United National General Assembly (UNGA). Kumar in a short speech addressed some concerns related to Imran Khan’s conduct in a few […]
In a twist of events, which were somewhat speculatively expected, father-daughter duo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have been released from Adiala Jail. The Islamabad High Court suspended the years-long sentences a day ago – sentences that were awarded to Nawaz and Maryam merely months before the General Elections 2018. After just 66 days in […]
It has been almost a month since Imran Khan was sworn in as Prime Minister of Naya Pakistan and the premier has done little to undo his image as a master of backtracking from what he says in public to what he follows in practice. The fire created by the controversy surrounding the appointment of […]
Prime Minister Imran has vowed to give citizenship to thousands of Afghan refugees born in Pakistan. Khan believes that the inability of previous governments to grant refugees citizenship is what forced them to resort to petty criminality and becoming a part of the labor black market. This development comes as a contrasted change to the […]
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is has tightened its reigns with the anti-encroachment drive against illegal dwellings and buildings in Pakistan. Just a day ago, this the Enforcement Directorate and the Municipal Administration Directorates (DMA) of CDA carried out joint operations at Faizabad against an inter-city bus service and demolished four rooms, two canteen cabins, […]
In an interesting foreign relations development, Saudi Arabia has expressed solidarity with Pakistan for the implementation of a prosperous Naya Pakistan. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Tuesday evening met Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa in Mina and conveyed his wishes and support for the newly elected Pakistani government, the military’s […]
Mohammad Jibran Nasir is one of those very few people who are on the right side of patriotism and nationalism. The lawyer recently ran in the elections as well to prove that any ordinary citizen can use their voice for the right reasons. It was a great show of hope, which didn’t end with the […]
Academic and youth activist Ammar Ali Jan took to Facebook to reveal the following details about his friend Sanaullah Aman’s missing family in Sindh. Ammar Ali Jan has given us some serious food for thought with his words. With the foundation’s of Naya Pakistan in place, we have to be very careful of what we […]
Twitterati is on a roll again, this time with quirky responses to a pressing question posed by journalist Cyril Almeida. As Imran Khan’s first address as Prime Minister was underway, Almedia posted the following question: What’s on the back of the paper he’s holding? — cyril almeida (@cyalm) August 19, 2018 There is no shortage […]
PTI MPA Dr. Imran Ali Shah has been the subject of much debate around VIP culture, bureaucratic privilege and the state of justice in Naya Pakistan. A day ago a disturbing video emerged showing the lawmaker beating another man quite ruthlessly. He defended his actions by saying that man he beat, Mr. Dawood Chauhan, had […]
A video showing PTI lawmaker Dr.Imran Ali Shah beating up a citizen in Karachi quickly went viral on social media a day ago. The party issued a show-cause notice to Shah yesterday, urging him to give his side of the story within 24 hours. So many things have lapsed since the video went viral today […]
CIE result day; we have all been there and if asked can still recount the nerve wrecking anxiety in vivid detail. Official CIE results came out a day ago and students awaiting their O-Level and A-Level results were left wondering whether they will be celebrating Jashn-e-Azadi. No, we are not talking about independence day here. […]
As 14th August celebrations draw to a close today there are several still high on the celebrations from today. A very important tradition in our Independence Day celebrations is listening to patriotic jingles and watching hair raising movies that remind us of out duty to our homeland. One such classic is the movie Jinnah, starring […]
Pakistanis have used Twitter a lot these past days to advance political and social agendas. Independence day today is no different. Tweets from common everyday people and influentials like politicians, celebrities and journalists, have served up some serious food for thought today. They encapsulate thoughts and ideas we must ponder and act upon, not just […]
Women are always the misplaced subjects of a nation’s honor. But what is it about a pregnant woman, in particular, that riles up the ghairat of people in India and Pakistan alike? Accomplished Indian Tennis player and one of Pakistan’s many national bhabi’s, Sania Mirza, recently graced the cover of Brunch magazine. Mirza, the wife of […]
The ‘diplomatic balla’, quite literally, was exchanged between Pakistan and India as Imran Khan (official) met with Indian High Commissioner, Ajay Bisaria in Banigala a day ago. The two talked about the resumption of talks between India-Pakistan and Bisaria also gave a bat to Khan, which was signed by members of the Indian Cricket Team. Khan also expressed concerns over the human rights […]
Indian MP, Naramalli Sivaprasad, walked into Parliament wearing an Adolf Hitler Costume yesterday. The costume was to lodge a protest against what he believes to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘broken promises’. This is not the first time Sivaprasad has lodged a protest using a unique avatar. He has previously shown up in parliament dressed […]
The first episode of Coke Studio Season 11 was aired yesterday, with four tracks to offer to the eagerly waiting audience. Revolutionizing the music scene, however, is the track ‘Baalkada’, featuring the vocal powerhouses Naghma and Lucky. It is the first time transgenders have appeared on Coke Studio, or perhaps any such music show of […]
Veteran Indian Actor, Shabana Azmi, in a recent interview said that artists of both countries have to play the peacemakers in Indo-Pak relations. She said that it is important for cultural exchange to be kept alive between the two countries. “War is not an option”, she says. Azmi has urged that more films be produced on […]
A statue of John A. MacDonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada will be removed from the entrance of Victoria Hall in Vancouver this Saturday. The reason being that the statue is a symbolic reminder of the colonial atrocities against Canada’s First Nations People. They were the subject of aggressive assimilation when they were put […]
Yemen’s Al Masirah TV citing Health Ministry figures stated that the Saudi-led coalition airstrike in Yemen yesterday killed at least 50 people and wounded 77. A harrowingly high amount of those dead are children, who were killed in the attack which targetted the Dahyan market in the Saada Province of Yemen. The place is the stronghold of the Houthi […]
The Pakistan Cricket Board Awards on Wednesday night highlighted one name in particular. That of female cricketer Diana Baig, who was the recipient of the best emerging player and best bowler in the domestic circuit for her 18 wickets. Diana Baig receiving her award for the best cricketer (women) in emerging cricketer of the year […]
A disturbing video has emerged online, which finds Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at the center of a controversy yet again. The video shows passengers screaming in the plane, demanding that the doors of the plane be opened. Flight PK 750 Paris to Islamabad was scheduled to depart from Paris at 9 pm on Friday 3 […]
It is good to see that television has started moving away from the typical ‘saas-bahu‘ dramas and is actually churning out content related to social awareness as well. We saw many such dramas, like Udaari, which dealt with child abuse. Another was Khuda Mera Bhi Hai, which dealt with the topic of transgenders finding a normal […]
In the ongoing mess of foreign relations between Ottawa and Riyadh, the latest comment has come from Canada’s southern giant, the U.S itself. The Kingdom has been under international scrutiny for jailing rights activists including the Badawi Family, since July. Two days ago, KSA began adopting an aggressive foreign policy towards Canada for the intolerable […]
Qutb Rind, a Sindhi artist was brutally murdered in Lahore a couple of days ago. His family is now claiming that he was murdered under a false charge of blasphemy. Some details of the case however are not adding up. Rind was murdered by his landlord following an altercation regarding the rent on the day […]
People from all walks of life have taken to the street in Dhaka, Bangladesh to protest the death of two students on 29th July, who were run over by a speeding bus. The protests have picked up pace over the past week with throngs of people demanding better road safety and a bettered transport system. Teens […]
In the first-ever public interview of the Osama bin-Laden’s family conducted by The Guardian, several interesting aspects of his family life came forward. Speaking with the interviewees was Alia Ghanem, Osama bin Laden’s mother and his two younger half-brothers, Hassan and Ahmad. Here are 7 interesting things that surfaced during the course of this groundbreaking […]
Yet another misogynistic political maneuver came forward as Aamir Liaquat put up a tasteless tweet featuring Senator Sherry Rehman and MMA Owais Norani. The tweet was swiftly deleted, but not before copies were made and circulated in the digital world. Imran Khan gave ticket to low life Amir Liaquat in Karachi and he won through rigging. […]
PML-N is under fire yet again as Talal Chaudhry just got disqualified from contesting elections for five years. He has served as the Minister of State for Interior, in Abbasi’s cabinet from August 2017 to May 2018. He was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, from June 2013 to May 2018. Chaudhry had […]
The very much expected diplomatic phonecall between Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s to be Prime Minister, Imran Khan took place yesterday. Modi congratulated Khan on his party’s victory in the General Elections. The state heads also discussed the much-needed discourse of regional peace. In the phone call, Modi “reiterated his vision of peace […]
PTI’s Jahangir Tareen has been on a much-highlighted quest to urge independent candidates to join the party. The aim behind this was to gain a hold of Punjab, where PML-N currently stands as a majority. Both PML-N and PTI have been on their respective expeditions to earn the favor of independent candidates to join partisan […]
It is rumored that Imran Khan might be putting an end to politically endorsed sports bodies. And, his first target apparently is Najam Sethi, the current chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Sethi was appointed by Nawaz Sharif but he was allegedly appointed on political grounds, which is a norm Imran Khan wishes to get […]
The first vote was cast at 8.08am in Faisalabad. The second vote was reportedly cast in Lahore in NA-131. Thousands of voters have already swarmed the streets of Pakistan amidst tight security. An unprecedented 370,000 troops are stationed at the polling stations countrywide to provide security to the voters. Much to the amusement of the […]
Comedian Shehzad Ghias said the following about Election Day today. His following words are certainly pondering over no matter the results today: Go out and vote tomorrow everyone. Personally, I’d prefer you vote for people like Jibran Nasir, Ammar Rashid NA-53 or Ismat Raza Shahjahan NA-54 Islamabad but it is your right, go and exercise it. […]
It was reported by Dawn News that Junaid Safdar, son of Maryam Nawaz and #CaptSafdar will launch his political career soon by addressing several corner meetings while in Pakistan. Last Junaid was in the news, he was arrested following a brawl with PTI workers following the emotional departure of his mother and grandfather, NawazSharif for […]
Jawad Ahmad, the melodious voice behind the hit tunes “Bin Tere Kya Hai Jeena” and “Ucchayan Majajan Aali”, is venturing into politics in the upcoming General Elections. He formed his political party, the Pakistan Barabari Party, with the sole agenda of catering to the middle and lower class people. Equality in principle and in action is the central tenet […]
Yesterday, another citizen striving for change was charged with blasphemy allegations by the self-proclaimed zealots of piety in the country. Muhammad Jibran Nasir, while at a corner meeting in Karachi’s Delhi Colony, was reprimanded by a group of religious extremists for not denouncing Qadianis and Ahmadis as non-Muslims. Check out the video, below. https://www.facebook.com/MohammadJibranNasir/videos/954784841383056/ Jibran […]
Karachi’s biggest constituency, NA-247, will have an interesting competition between several key players. Candidates to look out for include both party affiliates and an independent one. The earlier constituencies of NA-250 and NA-249 have been amalgamated to form NA-247. Key parties include Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Pak Sarzameen Party. […]
Today, another blow to humanity was served as elitism took the life of an innocent premature baby. A Facebook user, Sheheryar Sheikh revealed the following harrowing incident that took place a day ago: So let’s unpack the incident: A lower class couple seeks medical assistance from someone who has vowed to save lives. They are […]
In the insane public debacle that was Nawaz and Maryam’s homecoming, there have been too many updates to keep track of. These past 24 hours, Twitter has played a critical role in shaping public sentiment. Whether it is creating unwarranted fear through uncorroborated claims or dropping in snippets of thought-provoking questions, Twitter has provided all. While spreading the fake […]
Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz were affirmatively arrested a few hours ago at Islamabad Airport. Amidst great political tension and speculations, the emotional vulnerabilities of a father, daughter, and their entire family were publicly thrashed. Accountability is of paramount importance and justice must be served, however, putting forth a dirty narrative at a family’s […]
Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz are set to arrive in Pakistan later today to face the music. The father-daughter duo are both facing jail time of 10 and 7 years respectively in the recently announced Avenfield verdict. The next few hours will be crucial for both national security and the state of […]
Khadija, the victim of a brutal stabbing was denied justice by our courts when the accused was acquitted of all charges yesterday. Law student, Khadija Siddiqi, was brutally stabbed by her classmate, Shah Hussain on May 3, 2016. Khadija was stabbed 23 times and sustained critical injuries when a helmet wearing suspect attacked her as […]
IK: the initials unbeknown to none. The initials represent the complacent bearing and exuding the confidence of a face that gives permanence to a hope that is nearly extinguished. The hope of Naya Pakistan. The young ambitious PTI activists might run amok if we claim that the tiny flicker of hope is actually diminishing. The […]
It’s thought-provoking how the extraordinary can be found in the ordinary and how so much good can come out of pain and suffering. Billions of people all over the world, so many suffering from the terrible disease of cancer. Yet, one person out of those billions is being talked about all over. Ali Banat, from […]
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research analysis division of The Economist Group, has made several predictions about the political atmosphere of Pakistan following the general elections. The main prediction perhaps won’t sit well with opposition parties, as the EIU predicts that PML-N will reign supreme this time around as well. Several other predictions were made […]
Charanjeet Singh, a Sikh community leader, and human rights activist was shot in broad daylight in Peshawar yesterday. It is undeniably another blow to minority communities in Pakistan. The assailants shot Singh in the Scheme Chowk, Budhbir area of Peshawar, where Singh was sitting at his shop. The attackers fled the scene immediately. How and why a […]
It is 2018 and it is upsetting, to say the least, that Polio is still crippling children in our country. Just a day ago, the second case of this year was reported in Balochistan. According to Dawn News an 18- month-old girl, Bibi Farzana, has been diagnosed with the virus that usually results in paralysis […]
In a first for academic diplomacy, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has managed to conduct a course titled, “Beyond India and Pakistan: Changing the foundation of South Asian history”. The aim of the course is to explore how people from both sides of the border comprehend their histories. But it isn’t just about […]
The National Assembly passed a bill today to pave the way for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This is a feat for Pakistan Tehreek -i- Insaf, who have been pushing for the move for a while now. This notion is also an integral part of their 100 […]
A day ago, PTI held a special event to announce its ‘100 Days Agenda’ should the party come to power after the general elections. And within 24 hours, the opposition parties and their supporters have gone on a tirade, lambasting the potentially unrealistic targets set in the agenda. PML-N has taken center stage in criticizing the […]
Amidst great anticipation, Imran Khan has unveiled a strategic agenda for PTI’s first 100 days should the party succeed in the upcoming general elections. As political parties gear up a for a grueling few months, PTI has put a rather ambitious foot forward. The agenda was prepared by PTI’s Policy Unit of their Election Management Cell and […]
Pakistani exchange student, Sabika Sheikh, was amongst the ten killed in the deadly Santa Fe shooting two days ago. A 17-year-old armed gunman shot several classmates and threw pipe bombs Friday morning in a deadly rampage through a school just outside of Houston. The suspect, Dimitrios Pagourtzis, was booked into the Galveston County Jail on capital murder charges. […]
Col Sohail Abid embraced martyrdom during an operation against terrorists in Balochistan’s Killi Almas area on May 16. Col Sohail intercepted and killed a ‘high-value target’ of the banned militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi during a gunfire exchange between the security forces and the terrorists. A total of three terrorists were killed in the operation, who were reportedly […]
The Orange Line Metro Train conducted its first trial run in Lahore yesterday. It was a much-anticipated project spearheaded by the Punjab Government. A single train within the 27-kilometer rail line has the capacity to carry 1,000 people, out of which 200 can be seated while 800 can commute while standing. Punjab Chief Minister, Shehbaz […]
The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict took a deadly turn on Monday as Israeli snipers opened fire on Palestinian protestors along the Gaza Strip. The harrowing attack reportedly claimed 58 lives and injured thousands of others. What is most disturbing is that the root cause of this violent eruption sat oceans away, safe and secure, in the confinements […]
The Pashtun Long March reached Karachi despite immense opposition and various attempts in stopping the leader, Manzoor Pashteen, from reaching the venue. The Pashtun’s have been rallying for their civil rights for a long time and their peaceful protest continues to face a media blackout. An official NOC was also issued for the protesters to rally […]
The Benazir Income Support Programme and Nestlé collaborated to introduce the Rural Livelihood Program on Friday. The programme is aimed at generating employment for rural women in sales jobs for Nestlé products. It is a commendable effort in introducing rural women to take part in the daily operations of a multinational company. BISP and Nestlé […]
It is the age of the startup culture. Of course, this isn’t to say that any and every business wasn’t a startup at one point. To say that it is the ‘age of startup culture’ is to define the atmosphere that is increasingly assisting youngsters to set up their own businesses. It is a break […]
Previously part of PML-N, several lawmakers who formed the Junoobi Punjab Suba Mahaz (JPSM), officially merged into the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) yesterday. They will now contest the 2018 general elections under the PTI banner. JPSM has merged with PTI. We extend our wishes to our new members! #PTISweepingPunjab pic.twitter.com/QhYAdjP2Yw — Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) May 9, 2018 […]
In the latest news from the hub of jalsas i.e. Pakistan, there has been a clash between PPP and PTI over their venue for the upcoming rallies on May 12. Both parties had announced to hold their jalsas at Hakim Said Ground in Karachi. Owing to this, an altercation ensued between supporters of the two parties […]
The two-day Quetta Literary Festival (QLF) is currently underway at the Balochistan University of Information Technology & Management Sciences (BUITEMS). Literary festivals have become a central element of the cultural milieu of the major cities such as Lahore and Karachi. But other than these big cities, not much is heard from other smaller, yet important […]
The assassination attempt on Interior Minister, Ahsan Iqbal, has created an air of tension right before the general elections. Ahsan Iqbal was shot and wounded in his left shoulder in Narowal, Punjab. He was attending a provincial assembly meeting in the city. Police identified the shooter as Abid Hussain, a 21-year-old local from Neelum Village. Initial reports […]
After PTI and PML-N’s massive rallies, PPP has also come out with their first power charged show in the shape of their Quetta jalsa. The Pakistan People’s Party held its rally in Balochistan, the long-neglected province of the country. PPP also managed to draw a large crowd at the Hockey Ground in Quetta. PPP Chairman, […]
PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah is once again in the public eye for all the wrong reasons. Sanaullah currently faces intense criticism over his questionable remarks on the women present at the PTI jalsa earlier this week. Crossing all bounds of respect and decency, the lawmaker called into question the crowd favorite concept of ”ghairat”, when criticising […]
Just two days following PTI’s massive jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan, PML-N held their own grand show in Sahiwal yesterday. With political players getting ready for the battle of the jalsas in anticipation of the upcoming general elections, it really is a matter of who gives the best speeches and who draws the most energetic crowd. Because […]
In a refreshing step forward from holding mainstream sports series, Pakistan starting tomorrow is set to host the first Super Kabaddi League in the country. The Super Kabaddi League will take place from 2-10 May, with over sixteen international players from seven countries and 116 national players reportedly set to take part in the league. Franchised […]
In a grand show of political zealousness, PTI had a successful Jalsa at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore. In what is being called a big power show before the elections, Imran Khan gave a powerful speech about the direction he envisions for Pakistan’s development. A massive crowd of die-hard PTI supporters listened fervently to the speech. During the jalsa, […]
The outgoing government that has about a month left in its tenure, announced the sixth full-term budget for the fiscal year 2018-19. In an unprecedented turn of events, a new Finance Minister, Miftah Ismail was appointed just a few hours before the budget was announced. Opposition party members outrightly expressed their discontent with the budget […]
PML-N was served another blow with foreign minister Khawaja Asif being disqualified as a parliament member by a special three-member bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) today. The bench maintained that Khawaja Asif has failed to disclose his UAE Iqama and his employment at a company there. IHC ruled that Asif has “deliberately and willfully […]
News has surfaced that Karachi will soon lose Do Darya to upscale developments by Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Do Darya is a food street along Karachi’s coastline. It is a means of local entertainment, as well as a profitable tourist attraction. Do Darya’s land is reportedly on lease from DHA, which is set to expire […]
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) continues to face a media blackout. Amidst the state’s fear of it potentially carrying an anti-Pakistan and Pashtun nationalist message, a new wave of crackdown has begun with state organs using tactics to directly deter the long march. The government’s central claim is that the PTM could be potentially destabilizing […]
A day after Meesha Shafi leveled allegations of sexual harassment against Ali Zafar, several other women have come forward making claims against the singer. This new information has created a ripple effect with many women and men speaking out against sexual harassment in any shape or form. It has also raised questions over what constitutes […]
In the latest development in possible decisions that impact General Elections 2018, Imran Khan announced that PTI has taken action against 20 party MPA’s. Khan accused them of “participating in horsetrading” by “selling their votes” in last month’s senate elections. جس طرح عمران خان نے آج پارٹی ارکان کے خلاف نام لے کر ایکشن لیا […]
A week ago the Khalid Bajwa sexual harassment scandal divided public opinion as to the narrative of perpetrators in powerful positions. Some stood by Bajwa, and in turn indulged in some timeless victim shaming. Other’s supported the victims and highlighted the need for rendering an active ear to people coming out against harassers and exposing […]
Pakistan’s Swat Valley is often called the Switzerland of Pakistan. But its beauty was lost for many years to the rampages of the Taliban occupation and consequent anti-terrorism operations in the region. We barely hear the words technology and Swat in the same sentence because the provincially mismatched resources often make it seem like only […]
The decision to appoint a caretaker government was announced in January of this year. Deliberations began in March and several names have been thrown into the mix. These include candidates for a caretaker Prime Minister, as well as other members of the caretaker cabinet. While it is not mandated to carry our key policy changes, […]
With all the negative imagery in the media nowadays, the Thar developmental projects are a refreshing break of positivity. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari posted a string of tweets in which he highlighted how energy-related projects and a host of other infrastructural facilities are transforming Thar economically and therefore its population as well. The new road network & #MaiBakhtawarAirport […]
Ammar Ali Jan, a progressive academic and youth activist, announced that he was fired from Punjab University on Friday. He detailed the reasons for being fired in a social media post, which quickly went viral. It is encouraging to see so many speak up for Ammar. In solidarity with comrade Ammar Ali Jan who has […]
On January 6 this year Pakistan was reeling from the brutal rape and murder of 6-year-old Zainab Amin. Six days later, across the border, an 8-year-old girl, Asifa Bano suffered the same fate in India held Kashmir. She was kidnapped on 10 January from Kathua, some 72 km away from Jammu city. Her mother recounts […]
In a historic decision, the Supreme Court has barred PML-N Leader Nawaz Sharif from politics for life. All five members of the SC bench voted in favor of the disbarment. PTI’s Jahangir Tareen also faces the same ruling. A political decision of such magnitude will have quite a lot of political ramifications. An outpour of tweets has […]
Patari CEO and co-founder, Khalid Bajwa, just resigned amidst claims of sexual harassment by several women. Mehravar Ali took to Twitter to claim that she was harassed by him on various occasions. Another girl, Zainab, also detailed how she was harassed by Bajwa at the age of 17 when he was himself 27. The following […]
Today is another day of deafening silence on atrocities against minorities within the country. Media silence, to be specific. The Hazara community continues to stage a protest since the beginning of April in Quetta. They are condemning the target killings that their community often becomes a target of. However, while there is silence over mainstream […]
Two days ago, Afghan forces conducted airstrikes in the Northern city of Kunduz, targetting Taliban leaders at a religious school. In what turned into a harrowing display of human monstrosity, at least 59 people meeting at a compound in the Dashte Archi district, were killed. More than 150 were also wounded. While the attack was […]
It is the 3rd of April today-a date that should have very little significance in the daily scheme of things. Yet, today, Muslims across Europe and North America fear for their security and lives as some people prepare to celebrate the harrowing “Punish a Muslim Day”. For those who don’t know, more than a month […]
Easter is an important religious festival-a day Christians celebrate to commemorate the rebirth of Jesus Christ. It is also the culmination of the entire year’s worship and prayers and 40 days of fasting by the Christian brethren followed by celebration and jubilation. Culturally, it signifies a lot more. Especially in ethnically and religiously diverse countries […]
Amongst a myriad of other socio-political problems that plague Balochistan, the water crisis is one that demands immediate attention. Two days ago, the Balochistan Agriculture’s Water Management Department let go of an opportunity to sign a tender worth Rs200 million for construction of water-related projects due to the absence of the officer concerned. These would […]
The Karachi University Teachers Society (KUTS) took to the streets yesterday to protest the controversial Sindh Universities Law Amendment Bill, 2018. The amendment Bill was passed on March 9, 2018. Protesters marched from Arts Lobby to Azadi Chowk to express their dissatisfaction with the Bill. Students and teachers alike chanted various slogans including: ‘We do […]
Maternal and Child Healthcare experienced yet another major blow in Pakistan yesterday. A laborer’s wife in Raiwind gave birth to a child inside a bathroom after being denied medical attention at a Raiwind hospital yesterday. The lady was taken to the rural health center in Raiwind when she started experiencing labor pains. She was refused […]
The KP Government processed driving licenses for fifteen transgender persons in the province a day ago. This is a first for transgenders who struggle to fight for civil rights equal to those who are gender binary i.e. either male or female. This is another positive effort for greater integration of transgenders in Pakistan. Just last year, […]
The Syrian Civil War crisis is one not hidden from the world. The armed conflict between President Bashar al Assad’s government and the various opposing forces has now entered its eighth year. The conflict continues to wreak havoc in Syria with an insurmountable death count, all the while creating an international outcry against the atrocious […]
*The following views are not due to any political party affiliation. They are just some logical questions that a concerned citizen found themselves asking.* About 2 weeks ago, a PMLN lawmaker was criticised in what was deemed by social media to be the inappropriate touching of a young girl. Senator Nisar Muhammad was addressing a […]
Pakistani lawyer and social activist Asma Jahangir passed away at 66 in Lahore yesterday. A fierce human rights champion, Asma was a beacon of hope for many. She fought valiantly for implementation of much-needed civil rights in the country. Women, minorities, missing persons; all came within her sphere of empathetic efforts. Furthermore, as a promoter of democracy, […]
There is something about foreign (read: “western”) air that makes Pakistanis follow all the tiny inconvenient rules with enthusiasm. These range from forming proper queues to obeying traffic rules and regulations. Such tiny ‘inconveniences’, however, become a heavy burden as we break the very same laws in our own country. Here is a list of […]
Pakistan witnessed yet another blow to the state of free speech in the country with the attempted kidnapping of renowned journalist, Taha Siddiqui. Taha was traveling to the airport in Islamabad when about a dozen armed men stopped his cab and attempted to kidnap him. Taha, however, managed to escape with minor injuries when he […]
2017 has been a whirlwind year for Pakistan. From political protests to social media wars over an actress’s pictures, we debated quite a lot. And between it all, several fissures emerged in the national, social fabric. Here are a few of the beliefs and concepts that emerged as problematic, which we must discard as we […]
Celebratory religious events such as Eid-ul-Azha, Eid-ul-Fitr, Christmas, Diwali or Easter are always a cause of some form of debate in Pakistan. Yes, we are the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and celebrating all non-Islamic events might feel like an affront to many. But, it is Christmas today. It is a “Big Day” for many who […]
The term globalization took academia by storm starting 20th century when it came to denote the socio-political and economic interconnectedness between people globally. Academia gave the term its more sophisticated character by theorizing globalization as a series of capitalist economic interactions, typically enhanced through infrastructural and technological developments. Social forces, however, took a more simplistic […]
The ongoing protest in Pakistan by religious parties including Tehreek-e-Labbaik, Tehreek-e-Sunnat, and Tehreek-e-Khatm-e Nabuwat has created a political stalemate in the country. The religious leaders demand that Law Minister Zahid Hamid be sacked after he allegedly tried to amend clauses pertaining to Khatm-e-Nabuwat oath in the Election Bill 2017. The sit-in began on Nov 9 […]
Here is your daily dose of Digestible News covering Pakistan’s T20 win, Sexual Harassment at Islamabad Club, Fatwa for playing loud music, Modi Lashes out and more! Pakistan wins final T20 against Sri Lanka in Lahore Digestible News No. 1: Pakistan won the third and final T20 match against Sri Lanka by 36 runs […]
There is an unspoken romance between Pakistanis and Arabs from around the world; it transcends political matters of the state and has to do more with the social dynamics between the common man of the two regions. Most Pakistani’s, if not all, are utterly fascinated with the Arabian culture. The glitz and glamour of Dubai […]
Why would several prominent liberal, progressive and nationalist intellectuals, human rights and social media activists and public figures from Pakistan have to gather in London for a conference to chart out Pakistan’s future, rather than in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore? Because in Pakistan, the future of free speech is looking bleaker than ever. Last weekend, […]
Momina Mustehsan made it to BBC’s 100 Women list last week, sending social media into a frenzy as everyone began to debate whether the Pakistani singer is a suitable candidate for the esteemed list. Some claimed that she was projecting a positive image of Pakistan as the list contains accomplished women from across the world. […]
Rampant with inequality, Pakistan is unfortunately, lacking the overall provision of “roti, kapra and makaan” for her population. With a considerably large sum of people living below the poverty line, these three means of survival are a hard find. Consequently, inequity in other spheres such as hospitals and their facilities comes as no surprise. Disposal […]
*The memes in this article have been distorted on purpose. The aim of doing so is to limit the spread of such content*Continue Reading
The word ‘rape’ rings a thousand bells when it is uttered in Pakistan and we all have our definitions regarding it; our own conceptualization of the ‘victim’ and the ‘perpetrator’. However, the most infamous outlook is placing the blame on the victim. We can’t seem to rid ourselves of the detest we harbor for the […]
Classmates of a 17-year-old Pakistani student from the persecuted Christian minority beat him to death last month in Punjab’s Vehari district allegedly for drinking water from the same glass as his upper-class Muslim classmates, community members and rights activists have said, in a story that Pakistan’s mainstream media is so far completely silent about. The […]
Imagine a poor, young girl in a village. She calls herself a feminist and has organized a small group of friends to discuss the personal hygiene issues they face in the village. She passionately describes her right to the basic necessity of clean and safe sanitary products. Now imagine the discussions being covered by a […]
An Uber driver of French-African descent in NYC was ranting on about how a brown man rejected him for his daughter because of his skin. He said he wondered to himself: “WHAT! Are you white yourself? You are half white, half black.” While laughter split through the car, everyone later realized how wittily this man […]
