Tahir Mehdi

Three and a half Ahmadis and a Shia

I haven't met an Ahmadi since the past decade. They've cocooned themselves inside their skins and barricaded their lives inside their homes. Published 12 Mar, 2013 01:20pm
The <i>Amin</i>, the mean and the ugly

The Amin, the mean and the ugly

As no supreme guardian is midwifing the elections, Article 62 and 63 are being brandished to force the political discourse the larger-national-interest way. Published 05 Mar, 2013 07:09am
Chalo, chalo Shahbag chalo

Chalo, chalo Shahbag chalo

Challenging the conservative narrative in brave ways shall give way to a new discourse on what role religion should have in our collective national lives. Published 22 Feb, 2013 10:48am
<i>Kundli</i> for General Elections 2018

Kundli for General Elections 2018

I am attempting to fast forward to 2018, touch wood and fly back to our own time; this might bring some of our current anxieties a more realistic perspective. Published 19 Feb, 2013 12:40pm
Let us, for once, not save Pakistan

Let us, for once, not save Pakistan

Pakistan has broken the record for 'the most saved State', yet, we are being told that the poor country might need one more heroic act of saving before it goes to polls. Published 05 Feb, 2013 07:29am
Christmas in Moharram

Christmas in Moharram

Almost all of my non-Muslim friends frequently and spontaneously use mashallah, inshallah. I once asked a bishop if they found this 'un-Christian'? Published 28 Dec, 2012 02:49pm
Mosque (Pvt) Ltd

Mosque (Pvt) Ltd

Trade in faith is nothing new; in fact it may be as old as faith itself - if there are buyers and sellers, trade is bound to take place. Published 05 Sep, 2012 08:26am
The Two-Muslim theory

The Two-Muslim theory

It's a big folly to ignore how divergent the political ambitions of Muslims were in the period that ended on this day 65 years ago. Published 14 Aug, 2012 12:51pm

The mechanics of an election

THE new Chief Election Commissioner, Fakhruddin Ebrahim, is a respected gentleman who has served the country in various legal and judicial capacities for over half a century. Published 04 Aug, 2012 12:10am
The era of the topsy-turvy lota voters

The era of the topsy-turvy lota voters

The past three elections - 1997, 2002, 2008 - offer an interesting peep into how the electorate in our country is awakening to elections, democracy and politics. Published 17 Jul, 2012 04:08pm
Where does the buck stop?

Where does the buck stop?

Not only is the election expense amount set by the ECP inviting scathing criticism, but what it is going buy is also a heated debate. Published 10 Jul, 2012 04:08pm