It has been easy to lose track of what is going on in parts of Sindh after this year’s monsoon season. Media attention has not been consistent, and there has been so much else happening in Pakistan, and internationally, that commands attention. But as of October 26, 2011, the situation on the ground continues to…Read more Assessing the Damage of the Sindh Floods
“The Guy who Liveblogged the Osama Raid Without Knowing It”
By now, everyone has heard the news of Osama bin Laden’s apparent death in Pakistan at the hands of US special forces. Of course, besides the official story that the US stormed in, had a fire fight, Al-Qaeda’s number one man was killed and no Americans or civilians were hurt, there was a man in…Read more “The Guy who Liveblogged the Osama Raid Without Knowing It”
Powerless
It is not normal protocol for World Bank vice presidents to make presentations. But this was a special occasion: it was March 2005 and Pakistan’s new-found prosperity was at risk. So as General Musharraf sat to listen at the Presidency in Islamabad, Praful Patel, vice president of South Asia for the World Bank, and not…Read more Powerless
Death Becomes Her
Vienna is known for its opera, stunning architecture and apple strudel. But there is a lot more, including catacombs, remnants of the plague and a town square under a cloud of guilt. Vienna reeks of death. It may be a subtle reek, but it's an old, lingering one. Taking in the first hints…Read more Death Becomes Her
Manifesto of Hope
In her bold, posthumously published book, Benazir Bhutto sets the record straight on Islam and democracy, laying out a path for a reconciliation, not a clash, of civilisations. Benazir Bhutto was not universally loved. Seen as a democratic champion of the downtrodden to some, she was a sly and corrupt opportunist to others. But…Read more Manifesto of Hope
Maximum Exposure
A political assassination keeps Pakistan front and centre on the world stage until the final day of 2007. And the international television coverage is worse than ever. If there were any doubts that 2007 was globally ‘The Year of Pakistan,’ then Benazir Bhutto's death on December 27, 2007, erased them in one fell swoop.…Read more Maximum Exposure
TV’s Prime Time
But how long will it last? In a corner of the room is a 29-inch television playing MTV Pakistan. The channel is just a couple of weeks young and screams out energy, creativity and youth in the spacious office marked by large, aging exposed wood beams and a worn-out Persian rug. In fact, in…Read more TV’s Prime Time
Publicity Stunt?
General Musharraf's state visit to the US ends up being a promotional tour for his memoirs. But not everyone is buying what he’s selling. He was cool and relaxed in a baby blue shirt, deep blue tie and navy jacket. His hair was expertly blow-dried. As the TV cameras zoomed in, President Pervez Musharraf…Read more Publicity Stunt?
Minimizing Migraine Madness
Many can sense its impending arrival. Light becomes whiter, more intense. Words on the page disappear behind blind spots and zigzagging lines. It’s the lightning that signals the coming mental maelstrom – the migraine. Even though only 20% of migraine sufferers experience visual disturbances or aura that can precede a migraine, a full 100%…Read more Minimizing Migraine Madness