Author Archives: Murtaza Razvi
2nd November, 2011
Bhasha dam and heritage sites
AS a result of the construction of a dam at Diamer Bhasha on the Karakoram Highway, a 160km-long lake will form on the Indus river,…
AS a result of the construction of a dam at Diamer Bhasha on the Karakoram Highway, a 160km-long lake will form on the Indus river,…
28th October, 2011
Courage had her face
If courage had a face, it would be Begum Nusrat Bhutto’s. Truly. Hollow posthumous titles and the din of tribute showered on the lady only…
If courage had a face, it would be Begum Nusrat Bhutto’s. Truly. Hollow posthumous titles and the din of tribute showered on the lady only…
7th October, 2011
Price of peace
The new nexus is now complete: while the US, Afghanistan and India will fight the Taliban, Pakistan would look for making peace with the Islamist…
The new nexus is now complete: while the US, Afghanistan and India will fight the Taliban, Pakistan would look for making peace with the Islamist…
30th September, 2011
APC: Behind closed doors
Yesterday’s All Parties Conference (APC) called by the government to address national security concerns after the US accused Pakistan of aiding its opponent, terrorist groups…
Yesterday’s All Parties Conference (APC) called by the government to address national security concerns after the US accused Pakistan of aiding its opponent, terrorist groups…
23rd September, 2011
Death of traditional qawwali?
‘Sar-i-Lamakaan se talab hui’, crooned the Sabri Brothers at their best. Yes, he’s been summoned by the Lamakaan, ‘One with no fixed abode’.…
‘Sar-i-Lamakaan se talab hui’, crooned the Sabri Brothers at their best. Yes, he’s been summoned by the Lamakaan, ‘One with no fixed abode’.…
19th September, 2011
‘Bomb, bomb phata’
These are precisely the lyrics of an Ali Azmat song that’s been sailing high on the video charts. Why? Because they reflect fear based on…
These are precisely the lyrics of an Ali Azmat song that’s been sailing high on the video charts. Why? Because they reflect fear based on…
16th September, 2011
Charity begins at home
When calamity strikes our part of the world, it strikes with a vengeance. Even the forces of nature have no mercy left for a land…
When calamity strikes our part of the world, it strikes with a vengeance. Even the forces of nature have no mercy left for a land…
9th September, 2011
All power to the Khadim-i-Aala
The Khadim-i-Aala, Punjab’s yellow cab scheme is amazing. It is amazing because it will provide self-employment to thousands of people who will win the right…
The Khadim-i-Aala, Punjab’s yellow cab scheme is amazing. It is amazing because it will provide self-employment to thousands of people who will win the right…
2nd September, 2011
Disorderly conduct
Just when Sindh’s former, firebrand, minister Zulfikar Mirza was proudly revealing to the media in Badin the other day that during his tenure as a…
Just when Sindh’s former, firebrand, minister Zulfikar Mirza was proudly revealing to the media in Badin the other day that during his tenure as a…
26th August, 2011
Lahore in free fall?
His father died for a value system he held dear, and which negated all bigotry and religious extremism. Shahbaz Taseer is now punished for being…
His father died for a value system he held dear, and which negated all bigotry and religious extremism. Shahbaz Taseer is now punished for being…
26th August, 2011
Have you ever helped an artist?
In her short write-up which appeared in Dawn’s Independence Day special edition, artist and art educationist Salima Hashmi raised a very important question: ‘When was…
In her short write-up which appeared in Dawn’s Independence Day special edition, artist and art educationist Salima Hashmi raised a very important question: ‘When was…
19th August, 2011
Bulleh knows not who he is
Well, he isn’t the only one. There’s a whole nation that suffers the trauma minus that humble self-abnegation of Bulleh Shah, and Shah Husain before…
Well, he isn’t the only one. There’s a whole nation that suffers the trauma minus that humble self-abnegation of Bulleh Shah, and Shah Husain before…
14th August, 2011
Make it a priority, please
This Independence Day I am going to talk about the need to create awareness for soliciting a more humane public behaviour, and sensitising the treatment…
This Independence Day I am going to talk about the need to create awareness for soliciting a more humane public behaviour, and sensitising the treatment…
12th August, 2011
Bless Bakistan
Last year it was Ramazan Kareem, instead of Ramazan Mubarak, and this year roza and Ramazan are the ‘bad’ words. We’re told it…
Last year it was Ramazan Kareem, instead of Ramazan Mubarak, and this year roza and Ramazan are the ‘bad’ words. We’re told it…
5th August, 2011
What a state to be in
As a Dawn report suggests, the US is considering pressuring Pakistan into halting its nuclear weapons production programme and it has won the support for…
As a Dawn report suggests, the US is considering pressuring Pakistan into halting its nuclear weapons production programme and it has won the support for…
27th July, 2011
Salaam Norway
Hats off to the Norwegian democracy; just tells you that the noisy, vengeful Anglo-Saxon version that we are so accustomed to seeing in action isn’t…
Hats off to the Norwegian democracy; just tells you that the noisy, vengeful Anglo-Saxon version that we are so accustomed to seeing in action isn’t…
13th July, 2011
The roguish in the PPP
Let’s get it right: it’s not just the military-mullah alliance (or the US and India) that pulls Pakistan down. There are also those who bury…
Let’s get it right: it’s not just the military-mullah alliance (or the US and India) that pulls Pakistan down. There are also those who bury…
6th July, 2011
Which way forward?
On the American drone attacks and possible military incursions into Pakistan, like the operation to get bin Laden, I am reminded of an incident narrated…
On the American drone attacks and possible military incursions into Pakistan, like the operation to get bin Laden, I am reminded of an incident narrated…
29th June, 2011
Have mercy on Karachi
Many say that the MQM’s parting of ways with the PPP-led government spells doom for Karachi. The city has been the scene of what appear…
Many say that the MQM’s parting of ways with the PPP-led government spells doom for Karachi. The city has been the scene of what appear…
22nd June, 2011
The naked truth
Middle-aged Shahnaz Bibi’s ordeal at the hands of her village’s tough guys makes hers the most read story on the BBC World website. Earlier…
Middle-aged Shahnaz Bibi’s ordeal at the hands of her village’s tough guys makes hers the most read story on the BBC World website. Earlier…
