Author Archives: Hajrah Mumtaz
3rd December, 2012
Weapon of choice
CALL it a weapon, a tool, or gloss things over by referring to it as a menace, the fact is it changed Pakistan’s social fabric.
CALL it a weapon, a tool, or gloss things over by referring to it as a menace, the fact is it changed Pakistan’s social fabric.
19th November, 2012
Sins of omission
THE digital age has obviously thrown up a range of new challenges regarding security and privacy. The distinction between public and private lives grows increasingly blurred, and the opportunities to link up or cross-reference information about people also expand.
THE digital age has obviously thrown up a range of new challenges regarding security and privacy. The distinction between public and private lives grows increasingly blurred, and the opportunities to link up or cross-reference information about people also expand.
12th November, 2012
Slowly going forward?
IF I were to assert that this country presents a difficult — rapidly going on to awful — terrain to navigate, many readers would probably agree.
IF I were to assert that this country presents a difficult — rapidly going on to awful — terrain to navigate, many readers would probably agree.
5th November, 2012
From fiction to fact
MOST cities are interesting enough but very few are iconic. And there are some cities that, because of the manner in which history played out or it was chronicled or by just happenstance, are as iconic when they’re
MOST cities are interesting enough but very few are iconic. And there are some cities that, because of the manner in which history played out or it was chronicled or by just happenstance, are as iconic when they’re
22nd October, 2012
Being silenced
THE rate at which certain traditional technologies are being rendered obsolete would, just a few years ago, have been thought impossible. But in many ways, it seems that the future is already upon us.
THE rate at which certain traditional technologies are being rendered obsolete would, just a few years ago, have been thought impossible. But in many ways, it seems that the future is already upon us.
15th October, 2012
Living on a prayer
WHAT does it take to create consensus against extremism in Pakistan?
WHAT does it take to create consensus against extremism in Pakistan?
8th October, 2012
Time to think
MOSTLY, what people know is what they are told; controlling the narrative amounts to near perfect control. In this bald statement lies wisdom for the knowing.
MOSTLY, what people know is what they are told; controlling the narrative amounts to near perfect control. In this bald statement lies wisdom for the knowing.
1st October, 2012
Keeping the faith
NOT so long ago, the radio was in the news for all the wrong reasons. That was the medium chosen by the militant leader Fazlullah, who became known as Mullah Radio, to spread his messages of hatred and divisiveness.
NOT so long ago, the radio was in the news for all the wrong reasons. That was the medium chosen by the militant leader Fazlullah, who became known as Mullah Radio, to spread his messages of hatred and divisiveness.
24th September, 2012
Regulatory contortions
THAT old subject, decency in the media, is back in the news.
THAT old subject, decency in the media, is back in the news.
17th September, 2012
Domestic sensitivities
A FAIR part of planet blogosphere is currently echoing with fury against an offensive, mischief-making film, the production of which seems to be even shadier than its content.
A FAIR part of planet blogosphere is currently echoing with fury against an offensive, mischief-making film, the production of which seems to be even shadier than its content.
10th September, 2012
Progressive regression
“IT’S funny in a non-haha way” a friend remarked, “our parents had the sixties; we grew up with Zia; and our children have the Taliban.”
“IT’S funny in a non-haha way” a friend remarked, “our parents had the sixties; we grew up with Zia; and our children have the Taliban.”
3rd September, 2012
Doing good — after death
OFTEN, while reflecting upon the world, one comes to the conclusion that many problems would be relatively easy to fix if only people would be more flexible about changing their minds.
OFTEN, while reflecting upon the world, one comes to the conclusion that many problems would be relatively easy to fix if only people would be more flexible about changing their minds.
27th August, 2012
Living in the moment
THERE was a time, not too long past, when photography was a relatively expensive hobby, especially here in Pakistan.
THERE was a time, not too long past, when photography was a relatively expensive hobby, especially here in Pakistan.
20th August, 2012
Getting it wrong
THIS year Dr No, the first film in the 007 franchise, turns 50. Meanwhile, the world gears up to greet Skyfall, the 23rd of a phenomenon.
THIS year Dr No, the first film in the 007 franchise, turns 50. Meanwhile, the world gears up to greet Skyfall, the 23rd of a phenomenon.
13th August, 2012
The children of men
THERE’S a three-year-old I know who uses mealtime as a weapon of blackmail.
THERE’S a three-year-old I know who uses mealtime as a weapon of blackmail.
30th July, 2012
Welcome to the circus
IN terms of entertainment value, this country’s media industry must surely hold its own against the best and the brightest.
IN terms of entertainment value, this country’s media industry must surely hold its own against the best and the brightest.
23rd July, 2012
The two Pakistans
THE world of Pakistani officialdom is no place for the faint-hearted.
THE world of Pakistani officialdom is no place for the faint-hearted.
16th July, 2012
A self-defeating argument
BY deed and in words, the right in Pakistan has demonstrated often enough that it is opposed to cultural expression through performance-based media such as film, theatre, dance and television.
BY deed and in words, the right in Pakistan has demonstrated often enough that it is opposed to cultural expression through performance-based media such as film, theatre, dance and television.
9th July, 2012
A tedious track
AT a hair and makeup salon in Islamabad recently, conversation amongst the women present — mainly strangers — turned to the usual favourites.
AT a hair and makeup salon in Islamabad recently, conversation amongst the women present — mainly strangers — turned to the usual favourites.
2nd July, 2012
The Pakistani minefield
THE recent attack on the Aaj TV office in Karachi is another stark reminder of the manner and speed at which the ability to speak and report relatively freely is being eroded in Pakistan.
THE recent attack on the Aaj TV office in Karachi is another stark reminder of the manner and speed at which the ability to speak and report relatively freely is being eroded in Pakistan.
