* Photo illustrations by Nadeem F. Paracha
Nadeem F. Paracha is a cultural critic and senior columnist for Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.com.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Nadeem F. Paracha is a cultural critic and senior columnist for Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.com. He is also the author of two books on the social history of Pakistan, End of the Past and The Pakistan Anti-Hero.
He tweets @NadeemfParacha
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Comments (92) Closed
Nasah
Oct 20, 2011 01:39pm
I like most -- Hey Hameeda your nose is showing -- is that Hameeda?
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Omar Ahmed Khan
Oct 20, 2011 01:54pm
This guy is ALWAYS on a roll!! Kudos, NFP. You've done it AGAIN!
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Sanity
Oct 20, 2011 01:56pm
:D
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Saad Hassan
Oct 20, 2011 01:59pm
Though these are meant to be light hearted take on the current state of the land of the pure, sadly some of these are actually true. The Al Huda reunion picture takes the cake though, it's hilarious !
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Sam
Oct 20, 2011 02:13pm
lol... good one NFP..
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Ursilla
Oct 20, 2011 02:41pm
NFP is not of this world.
Loved the Al-Huda and Ali Zion Azmat ones. 'Occupy the Food Street' was also spot on! :D
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ranga
Oct 20, 2011 02:51pm
Your are one fantastic writer Sir
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mustafa hussain
Oct 20, 2011 03:15pm
NFP! Your wit and the sense of humour are superb. If there is any award for critical journalism in Pakistan, you deserve it. Whatever you create, either prose or a pictorial, provides new perspectives for looking at unpleasant reality.
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Thuy
Oct 20, 2011 03:37pm
NFP... The Perez Hilton of Pakistan Journalism!!!
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Moazam Maqsood
Oct 20, 2011 03:46pm
Please do not disgrace Parda...If we are allowed to make fun of Hameeda...She is also allowed to hide herself...Please do not disrespect others
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Imran Ali Sherwani
Oct 20, 2011 04:10pm
As a writer u are doing great job. keep it high world deserve writers like you. God bless you.
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Ejaz Ali
Oct 20, 2011 04:17pm
Dude this compilation really hits the spot. Yup those Hindu ducks are pretty slippery ha ha ha ha ha ha.
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chocolate
Oct 20, 2011 04:25pm
its awsome.. loved Alhuda and junaid jamshed ones...LOL cant stop laughing at junaid jamshed autumn collection
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yawar
Oct 20, 2011 04:26pm
But how do you know it's Hameeda?
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Amjad Cheema
Oct 20, 2011 04:44pm
Simply awsome!
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Umesh
Oct 20, 2011 04:48pm
What is disrespectful in showing some people in burkha and saying that even they couldn't recognize each other? It is a very real possibility. Don't tell us that you can identify the right person in a group of burkhas just by looking at them.
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Hindu Duck !
Oct 20, 2011 05:08pm
Gee - Thanks
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G.A.
Oct 20, 2011 05:13pm
I don't understand why Al-Huda had to hire an expensive Saudi fashion designer when Junaid Jamshed could've done this for much cheaper using Pakistan's natural resources.
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Shah
Oct 20, 2011 05:16pm
NFP, all the depictions are good except one in which you tried to make fun of Parda. I might disagree with you on that. As a liberal and open minded Pakistani, i feel that it is the right of every woman to choose what she wants too. You can blame the main culprits of those mandrasas who tried to occupy Islamabad a few years ago. As far as these little girls are concern so please i would humbly request you not to make fun of them. These little girls have not seen the world. I feel sorry for them. At one end of the stick they are being brain washed by some Mullahs and on the other end people like you make fun out of it. Rest is awesome.....
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rohail
Oct 20, 2011 05:33pm
LOL!
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Surya
Oct 20, 2011 05:37pm
NFP,
Hilarious!
On a tangential note, I am afraid you are touching some raw nerves.. and that scares me! On both sides of the border, we need more people like you.
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zaid yousafzai
Oct 20, 2011 05:38pm
NFP you are a genious.
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Kafir
Oct 20, 2011 05:42pm
LOL
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Waqar
Oct 20, 2011 05:43pm
Shah, each one of the people mocked here can claim they are good and have a right of doing and saying what they say or do. This is satire, bro. NFP is a ruthless satirist. Tell me, why dont we react when someone mocks Meera or a modernly dressed woman? Is it okay to laugh then?
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Anshu
Oct 20, 2011 05:56pm
THIS IS AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man.. how do you get these ideas.
NFP .. as usual.. great job.
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zeeshan
Oct 20, 2011 06:08pm
it is to much... why are you making fun of Parda.
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noureen
Oct 20, 2011 06:24pm
Yes, he should have made fun of women who do not do the parda.. That would have made you laugh, right?
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Agha Ata
Oct 20, 2011 06:36pm
Because many purda observers have made it a fun. Look at Abdul Aziz Ghazi, Khateeb of Lal Masjid.
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Agha Ata
Oct 20, 2011 06:38pm
Absolutely. I agree with you 100%. :)
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ahmed
Oct 20, 2011 07:18pm
so called satire... this is just cheap a comic...sometimes people forget sensitivity and ethics when producing such comics in the name of satire... please NFP can you ellaborate on the satire.
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Faz
Oct 20, 2011 07:31pm
Two wrongs don't make a right. One who mocks not so modestly dressed women for their wardrrobe is as wrong as who mocks women for Burqa. And as for satire , satire is one medicine that never cures.
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Ali S
Oct 20, 2011 07:34pm
This is awesome. Especially loved the dengue one.
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Shahid Ashraf
Oct 20, 2011 07:47pm
Shah, I can feel your intention is genuine but Waqar gave an excellent reply. I hope it answers your question :-)
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Ayesha
Oct 20, 2011 07:49pm
i strongly condemn the abuse of NFP against Parda.
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hans
Oct 20, 2011 08:10pm
Really/ with this kind of writers and The Dawn you are still governed by most corrupt people? Funny and bold and so true!
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GKrishnan
Oct 20, 2011 09:22pm
Abey, you meant Paris Hilton I guess.
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Irfan Hussain
Oct 20, 2011 09:45pm
It’s the first time I realised how difficult it would be to recognize other ladies in Burka…
You know there are some more fashionable Burkas available now where you can’t even see the nose or eyes – ultimate isolation from rest of the world.
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Mona
Oct 20, 2011 09:52pm
The Hameeda nose is a classic! These women can't seem to do enough to hide themselves!
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diep
Oct 20, 2011 10:02pm
awsome.... proud of you NFP
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JK
Oct 20, 2011 10:07pm
You can not hide the issues and intentions of Pegans via these rhetroics...You have your own agenda to push and we the side we have taken.. so sit tight and watch as the course of history will be changed in front us.. and God know the best....
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Hamza
Oct 20, 2011 10:13pm
Waqar , irrespective of ruthless satire , Parda is one of Islamic injunctions. Any sarcastic remarks on Parda are certainly condemnable. Being a liberal or open-minded doesn't means that you can hurt feelings of other people.
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Devendra
Oct 20, 2011 10:30pm
NFP, You ROCK. May be people (journalists) like you can bring some sanity to what is Pakistan....a country, a territory, a tribal cabal or just a mess?
May THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU!
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Amira
Oct 20, 2011 10:30pm
Loved them, especially the Foodstreet one! ;-)
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Aamir
Oct 20, 2011 10:35pm
Why, did he abuse parda? Why are we becoming so intolerant? what was wrong with those comments?
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Abbas
Oct 20, 2011 11:28pm
Satirical game is played by rule. The names you just mentioned are in the showbiz and they loved to be talked about. They pose for pictures. These purdah girls are not posing for pictures, nor they liked to be talked. Therefore, this is a totally rubbish comparison.
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Rajan
Oct 20, 2011 11:51pm
Nadeem, you are getting so popular in India too. today times of India very respectfully mentioned you as well known columnist of Pakistan and they published whole article based on your Dawn one. Good man we love you for your such an intrinsic sense of humor and perfect grammar.
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Shujaat Ayub Khan
Oct 21, 2011 12:08am
This is hilarious. Thanks Nadeem you made my day.
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Ahmad Zia
Oct 21, 2011 12:53am
This so awesome ! looooooool
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A Shah
Oct 21, 2011 01:14am
Brilliant!
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ayesha
Oct 21, 2011 01:37am
awsm except da pardha part,,i admit wat u wrote is funny bt u shdnt b making fun of something as sacred as pardha.
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rocker
Oct 21, 2011 01:07am
ROFL !
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arthur
Oct 21, 2011 01:51am
As usual. Through witty criticism, NFP fails to mock Liberals and elitists in Pakistan. Picking on just one side shows where NFP's biased mind always lies.
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Kafir2
Oct 21, 2011 02:14am
Class union was the funniest, Fareeda? :)
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G.Nabi
Oct 21, 2011 01:12am
As always, NFP spared his favourites - Mr. Zardari & Altaf Bhai
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MJKhan
Oct 21, 2011 01:26am
We can spare him- you can have him.
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N A Layak
Oct 21, 2011 03:24am
You are way ahead of your time NFP. Take care and keep safe.
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saleem
Oct 21, 2011 01:42am
that one was the most hilarious, Fareeda? :)
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saleem
Oct 21, 2011 02:04am
prada?
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roquefort
Oct 21, 2011 07:07am
Loved the burka stuff.
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Mahan
Oct 21, 2011 09:02am
Hope India had a NFP to lampoon Indian politicians and Indian hypocracies
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Ashher Siddiqui
Oct 21, 2011 09:28am
Mate Pracha, love your peice and all the previous ones except the mockery of Parda, mate Parda is one of the symbol of Islam and your are helping those who happilly makes fun of this symbol , what are you trying to prove...leave them alone
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Awais Khan
Oct 21, 2011 11:39am
This more close to the truth than any of us will admit.
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Reasoner
Oct 21, 2011 12:00pm
hahahaha
Wonderful job NFP :)
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Goga Nalaik
Oct 21, 2011 12:26pm
EXCELLENT
HILARIOUS
You know what ... YOU'VE MADE MY DAY
Ha ha ha
Your fan
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rk singh
Oct 21, 2011 12:27pm
dear sir, priceless... esp the one on Zaid Hamid.
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LSD
Oct 21, 2011 12:27pm
one question i want to ask from NFP why you are always talking about and relating everything to Zia and not discussing those people who made platform form him and the people after him. i am really sick of your writing all the time zia zia zia you can,t see zardari , musharaf , nawaz sharif etc tell us how to get-rid from these people or they looking perfect to you ?
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Tahir
Oct 21, 2011 12:30pm
What a yawn!
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Faizan Ahmed
Oct 21, 2011 12:45pm
the title sounds like "...meanwhile in the Hall of the Super Best Friends" from South Park.. Awesome!!
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Sam
Oct 21, 2011 02:07pm
you don't seem to understand what he is trying to tell you... why don't you start observing some kinda of parda for yourself before suggesting it for the opposite sex.
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Shabbir
Oct 21, 2011 04:05pm
Refreshing and always thinking in a progressive way
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zeeshan
Oct 21, 2011 05:35pm
wrong. i will condemn it also. if someone makes fun of women with out parda, it does not give licence to people like NFP to make fun of parda. one more thing Islam encourages the Parda. so one should not make fun of it. May Allah show us right path.
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saurabh
Oct 21, 2011 05:35pm
wow,
innovative writing -redefined, the NFP way
.
it truly reflects the theme of current pakistan
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kaf
Oct 21, 2011 05:43pm
err...which one was fareeda?
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XYZ
Oct 21, 2011 06:02pm
... and the nose isnt even showing !
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farhan
Oct 21, 2011 06:43pm
this is an open question to all so called Liberals. why are you against the stuff like Hijab or Beard? Both of these are recommend in Islam.
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Khan
Oct 21, 2011 09:35pm
Drinking alchol and eating pork is prohibited.do you know that NFP?
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Ghani Khan
Oct 22, 2011 01:23am
NFP - Always partisan. You don't miss a beat when satirizing so called right wingers, Zia, Imran & Nawaz Sharif but conveniently you maintain stony silence when it comes to Zardari & Altaf Bhai.
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Imran
Oct 22, 2011 02:37am
.........poking fun at an act of worship that these girls are doING for the Divine?
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iqbal Khan
Oct 22, 2011 05:55am
Parda is not a symbol of Islam.This is more a cultural thing.
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Mona
Oct 22, 2011 06:34am
Great! Now parda is also sacred. Next we will have a law about that.
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malik
Oct 22, 2011 06:41am
We are all biased. One way or the other. NFP is doing a wonderful job.
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conflicted
Oct 22, 2011 10:22am
Five Darth Vaderenes!!! You forgot to put in Jabba the Hutt aka Mullah Diesel :))
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Junaid
Oct 22, 2011 10:56am
What have pork and alcohol to do with this?
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ALogicalPerson
Oct 22, 2011 05:07pm
That's what I was wondering....
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G.Nabi
Oct 22, 2011 06:35pm
NFP : You missed the stalwart of PPP & confidante of Zardari , the Monticello university Ph.D , the one and only - the inimitable Dr. Babar Awan.
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Naveeda Shaikh
Oct 23, 2011 02:45pm
I wonder about the girl's statements for awhile but then I understood the profound meaning! If that is about the traditional and religious chains.
There is always something that NFP adds to our vocabs!
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chocolate
Oct 23, 2011 04:29pm
as a PPP supporter my sentiments get hurt when i see people making fun of bhuttos and moc zardari but i dont stop them from doing it as they are entitled to their opinion no matter how vague and contradictory their opinion is..and issue of parda is controversial some believe its compulsory but some say its not so there is nothing wrong in making fun of such controversial issue as he might be one of those who believe its not compulsory
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atikh
Oct 24, 2011 11:35am
Loved it! Loved it! Loved It!
All of them.
Zaid Hamid starts his invasion of India by shooting ducks across border!! LOL!!
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Zehra
Oct 24, 2011 11:14pm
A-W-E-S-O-M-E! there's a reason NFP is my fave!
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Ayesha
Oct 24, 2011 11:22pm
making fun of anybody should be stopped. if you find something wrong in somebody or group, just point out it. suppose face cover is not compulsory, even than if a woman want to hide his face, she should be allowed. she has every right to do that. no NFP has the right to make fun of that woman.
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sajawal
Oct 26, 2011 03:24pm
One day this Zaid Hamid will be a popular figure in this country and the responsibility OF HIS POPULARITY will lie on NFP.I didn't know him before I started reading blogs of NFP.
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art sultan
Oct 27, 2011 09:16am
Nadeem, this is AWESOME!! Finally, somebody seems to have a sense of humor in Pakistan.
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