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Is Hamza Ali Abbasi the only one brave enough to broach the ‘Ahmadi question’...
Pakistan has a complicated relationship with one of its most bankable stars, Hamza Ali Abbasi. For we might love putting him in the line of fire for his over-emphatic, often ill-informed, posts on...
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Dear PEMRA, why can’t Hamza Ali Abbasi talk about the plight of Ahmadis...
Pakistan is the land of topsy-turvy, where the righteous are punished and the wrongdoers thrive. In what is a thoroughly perplexing decision, The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)...
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Why should Abbasi apologise for standing up for minorities?
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) latest directive – asking Aaj News to apologise for airing ‘controversial’ and ‘sectarian’ views during a Ramazan transmission reeks of...
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Do we deserve to ‘celebrate’ Eidul Fitr this year?
“Chand nazar agaya! Ramazan Kareem! Kal se rozay shuroo.” (We can see the moon! Ramazan Kareem! Fasting begins tomorrow) Some spend the night before in prayer. Others clink glasses and prepare for the...
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Dear Facebook, stop censoring Kashmir
As a Pakistani writer of Kashmiri descent, it may not be entirely possible for me to speak without prejudice; but what’s one humble blogger’s bias against an iron curtain drawn over Kashmir by powers...
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Guys, we can no longer have an opinion on chicken handi
Liberals in Pakistan watched with envy as Hamza Ali Abbasi pretended his account got banned every time he wanted attention to further his political career. It is undeniable that Mark Zuckerberg...
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The faults in PEMRA’s decisions
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulation Authority – or PEMRA as we know it – is the body that aims to regulate and monitor content released in Pakistan on television and broadcasting networks. This is...
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The Night Of is the best wake-up call our TV industry needs
HBO’s The Night Of proved to be the most important summer show on television. The very transformation of the co-lead Riz Ahmed’s Nasir Khan as a clean-cut kid turned drug mule is a perfect example of...
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Thank God for Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan!
Thank God for Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, their powers are unlimited! Now that they are back in Pakistan, India is safe and the Indian actors whose jobs they took or whose films (see Ajay Devgn) might...
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Presenting, Pakistan’s Social Media Awards for 2016!
Nobody does crazy like Pakistan. In 2016, the world lost their collective cool and Pakistan was put on the crazy back burner. But that does not mean we didn’t have our moments. It is time to...
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The good, the bad and the ugly of Pakistani dramas in 2016
This year’s Pakistani dramaverse was filled with a lot of unlikely hits and misses. While some storylines I expected to be worth the wait were substandard, there were many others that performed...
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When Pakistan took one step forward and two steps back
In my living memory, I have seen many years in which Pakistan faced terrible setbacks. Memories of 2007, when former President General (Retired) Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency and then Benazir...
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For how long will you keep defending Imran Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi?
Currently, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan, or rather the demigod for the impressionable PTI fans, is under fire for uttering “phatheechar” comments about foreign players. I...
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When “bhai sahab, cigarette hai?” became the anthem of the PSL Final
Like most cricket fans excitedly preparing for the return of international cricket back home, I was also looking forward to going to the National Stadium to watch the final of the Pakistan Super League...
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Dear Nadia Jamil, you cannot support Meesha Shafi and stand by Ali Zafar at...
Every Pakistani is familiar with Nadia Jamil. Her Twitter bio describes her as an activist, amongst many other roles, and thus far her activism on social issues, particularly child sexual abuse, has...
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Can Reham Khan’s book kill Imran Khan’s dream to be a leader?
The misguided attempt by Reham Khan to sully Imran Khan’s reputation by way of her autobiographical tell-all book, has caused a sensation on both social and broadcast media. After all, an exposé by a...
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Will lightning strike twice for Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2?
Jawani Phir Nahi Ani was a massive hit at the box office and became the highest grossing movie in Pakistan’s history. An adventure-comedy directed by Nadeem Baig, the movie starred Humayun Saeed, Hamza...
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Parwaaz Hai Junoon will ensure every Pakistani is an emotional, patriotic...
Parwaaz Hai Junoon has been making rounds and creating buzz since its first teaser was released to the public. From what is evident through the recently released trailer, the film looks like a fresh...
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Almost there, but not quite: Parwaaz Hai Junoon could not soar as high as it...
Haseeb Hassan’s Parwaaz Hai Junoon has been in the limelight for quite a while now. Ever since the trailer was released, the obvious patriotism of the film moved even the hardest of souls, but that was...
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In conversation with Hamza Ali Abbasi: “It is shameful if you are not...
Actors may be good at what they do, but only a few stand out, and one such actor is none other than Hamza Ali Abbasi. He walks in his own truth, and exudes passion in his craft. There is no denying his...
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