Saadat Hasan Manto, Pakistan's Controversial Hero.

There is a sudden, shocking moment in Manto that sets the tone for the new, highly raved about film based on the iconic writer Saadat Hasan Manto. Played by the director and actor Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, he is reading out Khol Do, one of his most well-known short stories, at a literary salon in Lahore. The reading, accompanied by visuals depicting the story almost as a flashback, ends and the audience - Lahore's literati, seated on the edge of their seats - look slightly stunned before they offer up responses that range from the diplomatic to the outraged.

That shock perhaps defines how one looks at the life and times of Manto in Pakistan today. Audiences applaud, but after a second's hesitation, when the film ends. It is this hesitation - the guarded response to a risque piece of art, the self-censorship that dominates journalism, the fear of the mob - which shows that Pakistan today is still more like the literary salon than the egotistic writer calmly and confidently confronting a wrenching tale. And perhaps this is why Manto's ego is justified; where others hesitated, Manto's pencil leaped forward.

"He is a great icon - literary, cultural, even a political, humanistic figure," says critic Asif Farrukhi, who has written extensively about Manto. "He is a very contemporary writer. And he is a kind of mentor - the way he sort of fought with the establishment, stayed true to his ideals and experience, and refused to sell his soul to the devil, which I admire."

A Visit to the welcoming Dani People of Indonesia

The thatched-roof homes of Wesagalep lay at cloud level, high above the Baliem Valley in Papua, the Indonesian side of the island of New Guinea. They are built on about six terraced levels of the mountain, with startling views of the valley and down to the rushing river below.

The views, and the opportunity to spend a night with the Dani people who live there, are reason enough to endure the rugged four-hour hike from the village of Tangma, the closest you can get by vehicle.

But by chance, my temporary travel companion, a 27-year-old Indonesian-speaking Romanian named Cristian, had arrived with me at the village the day before a pig-slaughtering ceremony. The reason was sad — the death of a 30-year-old village member — but we had been told that no matter what, if we found ourselves invited to a Dani ceremony, we should accept.

History of Khana Kaba

Written By: Samana Siddique

The small, cubed building known as the Kaba may not rival skyscrapers in height or mansions in width, but its impact on history and human beings is unmatched. The Kaba is the building towards which Muslims face five times a day, everyday, in prayer. This has been the case since the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) over 1400 years ago.

The Size of the Kaba.

The current height of the Kaba is 39 feet, 6 inches and total size comes to 627 square feet. The inside room of the Kaba is 13X9 meters. The Kaba's walls are one meter wide. The floor inside is 2.2 meters higher than the place where people perform Tawaf.

The ceiling and roof are two levels made out of wood. They were reconstructed with teak which is capped with stainless steel. The walls are all made of stone. The stones inside are unpolished, while the ones outside are polished.

This small building has been constructed and reconstructed by Prophets Adam, Ibrahim, Ismail and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). No other building has had this honor. Yet, not very much is known about the details of this small but significant building.

Karimabad, Pakistan's beautiful valley with moderate people

Visitors to this stunningly beautiful valley of Karimabad, towered over by five snow-capped mountains, sometimes feel as if they are standing at the edge of the earth — or, maybe, at the middle of it.

Either way, they often don’t feel as if they are in Pakistan, a country that struggles with poverty, pollution, Islamist militancy and a lackluster education system, especially for women.

Once a hardscrabble Himalayan town where residents barely had enough to eat, Karimabad, in the Hunza Valley, is now one of Pakistan’s most idyllic spots — an oasis of tolerance, security and good schools. That standard of living can be traced to residents’ moderate interpretation of Islam as well as the considerable support from one of the world’s largest charities.

Many parents in the valley say that if they had to choose, they would send their daughters to school over their sons. Nearly all families own at least a small plot of land. Residents say they cannot remember the last murder in the valley. And unlike in other parts of Pakistan, streams are not polluted with plastic bags, human waste and decaying appliances.

How to write a Dissertation or Research Report.

Everyone's dissertation/project is different and the advice given here does not necessarily apply to everyone. Check with your supervisor or department if you are unsure about any aspect of the process of writing up your work.

The completed work

This hand-out assumes that you will end up with at least five chapters:

• Chapter 1: Introduction 
• Chapter 2: Literature review 
• Chapter 3: Methodology 
• Chapter 4: Results and discussion 
• Chapter 5: Conclusion 

At the end of the whole work there should be a full bibliography or reference list, depending on the requirements of your department. Any appendices should come after the full bibliography/references.

The longest chapters will be the Literature review and Methodology. The Introduction and Conclusion chapters will be short.

Some students find that they need to include additional chapters. For example, a student writing about a specific industry may need to provide a separate chapter on that industry for context setting before discussing the specifics of the research work. You may also be asked to include an Abstract. You will probably want to acknowledge those who helped you or participated in your research. And do not forget to address ethical issues.

Do you know?

Written By: Maham Shahbaz

You know I saw footsteps in the sky, did you come to meet me today too and found out that I was still mad at you so you went back or are you still here waiting outside my window. Do you watch me as I sleep? Is that why I'm not having nightmares for so long? You know I hate screaming. You know, don't you?

You know I love collecting happy memories. When you are giving everyone something to make good memories out of please don't forget to give me some. You know how i get when I'm mad at someone and my ego gets in the way and I don't ask no matter how much I need to. You know how I hate to beg. You know, don't you?

When you are picking out your favorite people please remember to pick me too because I would be lost if you won't. You know how I hold onto you, not strongly but I try and whether I hold on or not I know you hold me. You know, don't you?

You know how clumsy I am. I trip over flat surfaces but you always seem to find a comparatively soft place for me to land on or you send someone to give me more balance. Now that I'm falling, for a really long time, are you planning on sending someone? You know how I'm afraid of heights. You know, don't you?

You know how I love the rain but this is a storm and my umbrella isn't opening and I'm afraid of thunder. Are you mad at me that you're not stopping this storm? Do you want me to feel hopeless for my own good? You know I will understand if you just tell me. You know, don't you?

You know I'm scared of being alone. Then why did you lead me to this alley at this time of night when you are nowhere in sight? Do you want me to feel alone so that I will realize that at the end of the day only you will be there for me? I will follow you  anywhere. You know, don't you?

You know I like things that shine like the night sky. Is that why you gave me this shining star? You know I love it a little too much, you know I got happy. Then why did you tell me that this star isn't my star? Why did you give me someone else's star? You know that made me cry and I don't like that very much. You know, don't you?

You know everything about me. You created me didn't you? But you chose to make me ignorant towards understanding the bigger truth. You know I know, don't you?

Story of the Purest Heart

My childhood was totally opposite to what a normal childhood is. Actually if I am being very honest I don't even know what a normal childhood is, my perception though is that a good or normal childhood is when you have your parents around, you get to do stupid things and people laugh at them, you get what you ask for, you smile and your mistakes are mostly ignored because you are just a kid.

Therefore kids have always attracted me. When I see them smile, when I see them do silly cute things, when they speak adorable words, In short everything about them excites me. This is the reason that I have always been close to kids. I see my lost childhood in them. Based on my experiences I also felt that kids get attached to me quickly.

-----------------------------------------------------

Life in England is as tough as it gets, you barely get time to do anything especially if you are a university student but part time student jobs are an easy way of earning money and who doesn't like some cash in their pockets? Everyone does and I was no exception. So my first few jobs were just for the sake of it, working at TESCO was really boring, McDonald's was a good experience but when you can only smell food and can't eat it gets tough. Debenhams felt like I was at a girl dominated store. There was one thing common about all these jobs, they were tiring.

One day while going through the newspaper over the weekend I came across this advertisement regarding a babysitter, of course with a handsome money. All the thoughts of being around kids came flowing back so I decided to apply for the job and fortunately got it as well. Another reason for applying was also to avoid the tiring routines of the previous job.

-----------------------------------------------------

This kid was almost three years old and such a cute little adorable thing. We got along really well from the beginning for several obvious reasons. I played with him along with all his favorite toys, made him food, used to read him stories, watch cartoons together and so many other things which were part of my job description but also because I allowed him to do all the things his parents stopped him from, used to take him out for a walk whenever he wanted, brought him chocolates which I told him to hide under his bed so his parents won't see.

I loved it when he slept in my lap while I told him stories that made no sense. Usually at night he would wrap his arms around my neck, or lay over me and sleep. It was one of the best feelings ever. As most kids of these days are, they love cellphones and he was no exception. We took so many selfies together and he used to throw my phone away and laugh and also broke my phone twice but that didn't matter to me as long as he was smiling.

In almost two months we got extremely close. He wouldn't eat most of the times without me, he would not sleep without me and last January when I had to take some time off due to my semester exams he had high fever for days. Natural it was, for a kid whose parents aren't home most of the times. I would be lying if I say I didn't miss being around him, watching him do everything.

-----------------------------------------------------

All these times with kids and observing everything they do and how they do it had taught me a lot about life. I noticed that they are never afraid of trying new things and especially do things you stop them from because of their curiosity. They will love or hate you from their heart no matter what they will make it obvious. They have the power to make you smile or laugh anytime they want even if you are not in the best of moods. They will notice everything so carefully and can easily tell if someone is feeling good or bad. They forgive and forget within not time. 

-----------------------------------------------------

Things were not going well for me. My health went from bad to worse during April. I hadn't told anyone because of some reasons but whenever I went to babysit him, he would look at me curiously as I sit on the sofa or lay on the bed trying to ease the pain. Later on he'd just hug me for long and say nothing while I just closed my eyes pretending to be normal. When nothing worked he would try and do all the things on which I used to laugh previously, in short he tried his best to make me feel normal.

I skipped a couple of weeks and didn't go to work. On the very last day at the end of May when I went to visit his place to tell his parents that I won't be able to continue my job as I was gonna have a surgery, he just would not let me go maybe sensing that something was odd about my visit. After waiting for him to go somewhere and I can leave when I reached the front door, there he was standing with his hands wide open and crying, wanting me to take him in his arms. 

The hard time it was for me, this made me really sad. He did let me go after a lot of convincing and promises. I made him promise that he will sleep on time and would not cry at all because I will be back in no time. In my heart though I kinda told myself it was the last time I was ever gonna see him.

---------------------------------------------------- 

June was tough for me for so many reasons but the surgery went successful. For the first few days I could barely remember anything and felt so weak. Couple of weeks went by and I started to feel normal, I moved to my aunt's place from the hospital. Things felt better one day worse the other and it was the toughest phase of my life which brought a lot of struggle. There were days when I would give up all the hope.

Then one day, on my birthday to be precise, he visited me with his parents. They told me he didn't cry much this time and slept on time and that he kept on saying that he wanted to meet you so here he is.

-----------------------------------------------------

I can still recall that moment, two of his favorite toys in his hands. He came running towards me on the bed and literally jumped over me and tried hugging me. His hands were wrapped around my arm and he just would not let go. He said nothing, did nothing just stayed there for a good long time.

For once, even I didn't have anything to say. As I moved my hands in his hair I just wished that more people, more of us grown ups can be like this kid. We have temporary emotions, we forget all the good people and the good things in our lives easily, kids don't. He was there for me, many of the people I expected to be there, weren't. It was the best example.

Next thing I noticed, he had a chocolate in his hand, the same one I brought him sometime back. 

'Keep it under the bed' he said. 'No one will know I gave it to you.'

Then, he hugged me again. 

I smiled. After such a long time. I genuinely smiled. Because I knew at that very moment, I have finally found the purest of hearts. At least until he doesn't grow old and become one of like us. 

Persistence and Self Satisfaction

Two things that changed my perception of life before 2013. My troubled messed up life which I almost lost and the thing that people were all the same, things were all the same, saying didn't mean doing and doing was considered tough, also people being the most negative about the most positive things.

Also I wanted to change the world so two years ago I made a deal with myself that if I am able to do the following things I can take the next big step in life towards doing something big someday and the things I challenged myself to complete for two years were as follows.

Take a new fresh start and keep my life and problems just to myself.
I will do what I will say and no matter what I will prove it.
If I make a promise I will keep it no matter how much it costs me.
No matter how much someone hates, I shall always be nice and respectful.
Will put others above me and I won't be selfish in anything.
Find as many good people in this world.
I can die for Pakistan and I will do everything to tell the world it is the best country.
Spread positivism instead of negativism.

These two years have been the most important, most interesting, most enjoyable and most horrible for different reasons but on an individual level they have opened me eyes about so many things including people and life.

Human as I am, might have failed in a few things here and there since two years is a big time but I can safely say I have been able to fulfill whatever I had to and have learned so much.

These have taught me to be patient, be it with people or life or anything that goes on, you have to be patient and success comes to only those who are patient. Over these two years whenever I was patient I achieved whatever I wanted and whenever I was impatient everything messed up.

I have learnt that if you be nice to people they will at least try to be nice with you on your face, well in the times when people have forgotten to be nice, I guess this is still something good? Or maybe not. I have been a victim of this but I still feel if you be good to people they have no choice left but to be good with you, even if it is for sometime or artificial.

I have also learnt that there is so much negativity among Pakistanis, so much that they even find negativity in the positive things. No matter I tried or not, no matter what anyone said or didn't it is something that is ever growing and there are no chances of it decreasing. We as a society are on a downhill road for the foreseeable future there is no way we are gonna slow it down.

Safe to say, I have tried my best to tell people what a beautiful country Pakistan is and this is the best part, I have been able to change perceptions of so many people and I am so happy about it, but this is the worst part as well, because to prove my own country good the biggest hurdle were the people of Pakistan. They love to hate each other, their own country.

About promises, I have kept most of my promises and it has cost me everything literally, all the hard work of  two years but it is alright, I at least have stayed true to my words and commitment and everyday I wake up it brings a smile on my face and I know I can stay true to my words most of the times.

People hmm, I don't know what to say here. In short I have been able to find so many good people so many people who are literally gems. Overall people are good as well from the heart they are good but the element of hate and jealously, while pleasing others lets them down.

About my life, well .. talk about it some other time let's keep it mysterious for a wee bit longer.

So many things that I loved I had to give up, I had to change myself and it was really really hard. Also had to push so many people away because the way life is, can't let anyone get close to me. It kills me sometimes, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Hope just is that things will get better.

Overall I must say doing the right things these days is considered a crime, trying to spread positivism and being nice is considered pretending, Defending your religion and country is considered old fashioned, forgiving is considered a weakness.

It feels like a spiritual journey, or in my case it was, for me. There is a long long way to go so many more hurdles, so many more experiences, so much more learning, but then what matters is self satisfaction and believe me I have had loads of it.

Walking through Life

There was something about today that I wanted to enjoy, so instead of thinking about the day and waiting for it to end I decided to go out for a walk at night. People were around but it was so quiet and peaceful. Dark, yes but the cool breeze was blowing and I could smell rain. It was close to perfect? Or maybe it was a day after ages when I felt I could be normal again.

I woke up with a strange dream that I was in Pakistan finally and someone told me I am totally safe there now, and was showing me all the good things around and also telling me I can eat everything I want and go anywhere I want freely, it felt so nice, it really did. Maybe that is the reason I felt so happy today. Too bad it was a dream, maybe someday it will come true? I miss Pakistan so much and I can't express that enough.

These past few days have been good, one of the toughest phase of my life, at least the first chapter of it has been completed. Surely it means these are the signs of good things to come? Or maybe I am speaking too early.

One thing is for sure these are going to be an interesting few months now, life is changing, times are changing and probably priorities are changing as well. It kinda feels nice though, something different and new to look forward to and the unpredictability factor still there.

It has taken a lot of strength and stamina for me to act normal and stay the same and this has drained me a lot, there were times when I really wanted to not literally end my life but well bang my head somewhere for sure.

Cricket is usually the thing I look forward to, to make or break my mood but since doctors asked me not to watch cricket I have been avoiding it just so that I can watch the Pakistan vs Zimbabwe series. Well that can't be high risk? That for sure won't be mouth watering or nail biting? Few easy wins for Pakistan will do the world of good to me.

One year in the United Kingdom completes as well, happening year to say the least. Overall it has been a wonderful experience, everything and everyone is so nice and peaceful. What a learning curve for me, also has turned me into a photographer.

Also, starting NHS advised dieting plan from tomorrow, at least this way I am going to eat something? And something is better than nothing and I have been eating literally nothing over the past few months still I have gained weight, talk about injustice, this demands for a .. Pizza.

Guess who has started part time job again? Yes, me. Guess where? Yes. With kids and that too cute ones. I can totally kidnap a few of them they are so adorable.

Still on summer vacations though, it will be 4 month long vacations and I haven't loved a university more than mine because of the number of vacations they give. 4 months of summer vacations. 3 weeks of Christmas, 3 weeks of Easter and here you have a total of 6 months of vacations and this does not include Saturdays or Sundays.

Traveling to Scotland once again next week and maybe will spend my Eid there as well, not the worst place to spend your Eid.

Few more months before I don't have to take the burden of someone else on me, and also to see who is what and who is worth and I am gonna make sure I avail this time.

The day is ending, hopefully the time will stop? No it won't but maybe tomorrow will be same? or maybe even better? or worse? Safe bet is worst but then, this is the element of surprise that keeps you going, spurs you to explore people and places and motivates you to walk through this life one day at a time. 

Humans of New York in Pakistan (Part 14)

Imagine that every time you have a lapse in judgment, it gets printed in newspapers around the world: every time you lose patience with your children, every time you scream at someone in traffic, every time you drink too much and do something you regret. Each time you slip up, everyone hears about it. The world is never notified about the 99.99% of the time that you are a completely normal, productive, law-abiding citizen. The world only learns about you when things go wrong. Now imagine what the world would think of you.

It’s not that terrorism, patriarchy, and violence aren’t real problems in Pakistan. They exist and the country is battling these issues every single day. Pakistanis are very much aware of the extremism in their midst. The problem is that so many people seem to only be aware of that extremism. Because just as in the hypothetical example above—the other 99.99% of life just doesn’t make the news. When there’s only room in the newspaper for a single column about Pakistan, it’s going to be filled with the most compelling story. And unfortunately, that tends to be the most violent story.

And those are important stories. Those are the types of stories that expose corruption, stop genocide, and alert the world to emerging threats. It’s right for those stories to be told. But when those stories are all that we hear, it’s so easy to imagine a world that’s far scarier than it really is. You lose sight of the 99.99% of the world that’s not scary at all. And living in fear can be a dangerous thing. Because if we’re afraid of each other, we’ll never be able to work together to solve our common problems. - Brandon Stanton.

Humans of New York in Pakistan (Part 13)

I want to conclude the Pakistan series by spotlighting a very special change agent who is working to eradicate one of the nation’s most pressing social ills. Over 20,000 brick kilns operate in Pakistan, supported by millions of workers, and the system is largely underpinned by an extremely close cousin of slavery—bonded labor. Throughout rural Pakistan, illiterate and desperate laborers are tricked into accepting small loans in exchange for agreeing to work at brick kilns for a small period of time. But due to predatory terms, their debt balloons, growing larger as time goes on, with no possibility of repayment, until these laborers are condemned to work for the rest of their lives for no compensation. If the laborer dies, the debt is passed on to his or her children. The practice is illegal. But due to the extreme power and wealth of brick kiln owners, the law is often unenforced in rural areas. It is estimated that well over one million men, women, and children are trapped in this modern feudalist system. (Lahore, Pakistan)

Meet Syeda Ghulam Fatima. Described as a modern day Harriet Tubman, Fatima has devoted her life to ending bonded labor. She has been shot, electrocuted, and beaten numerous times for her activism. Quite literally, she places herself between the workers and their owners. The organization she leads, the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, is small but determined. It is working to set up Freedom Centers throughout rural Pakistan so that every bonded laborer has access to advocacy and legal aid. Fatima operates on a very small budget. So as we learn her story over the next few days, anyone wishing to help empower Fatima can donate to Bonded Labour Liberation Front here: https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/let-s-help-fatima-end-bonded-labor

“Bricks are the primary unit of construction across Pakistan. They are cheaper than concrete so almost everything is made with brick-- especially in rural areas. There are 20,000 brick kilns across the country. We estimate that an average of 40 families work on each of these kilns and that each family is required to make 1000 bricks per day. That means 4.5 million people are living in slavery conditions. And so many of these workers are young children. Often they work all day and are denied education. They work in isolated areas, shielded from the eyes of society and hidden from the protection of the constitution. The laws don’t reach the kilns, so the workers live in constant fear of violence and retribution. The kiln owners are so rich and powerful. Their profits represent nearly 3% of Pakistan’s GDP. They put their friends and relatives in the legislature. They bribe and intimidate the police. It is very dangerous to speak out against them. I’ve been attacked and threatened so many times that I no longer fear death.” 

“I was walking to court to attend a hearing against a kiln owner when suddenly I was surrounded by a group of men. Everyone ran away except for my brother and me. The men told me that I better drop the case. I told them I would not. Then they knocked me to the ground, pulled back my leg, and shot me in the knee. Afterwards they did the same to my brother. We thought we were dead. I was taken to the public hospital but was turned away. Politicians from the local ruling party had forbidden the doctors from treating me. The assailants were never prosecuted. I had to sell my house to afford treatment at a private hospital. But the brick kiln workers came together to try to help me pay for my treatment. Despite their poverty, they gave 5 to 10 rupees at a time. And they lined up to donate their blood.”

“I was born into the brick kilns. I started working at the age of 12. The work never ended. We’re expected to make 1,000 bricks per day. We work from 5 AM to dusk. I tried to organize the workers recently to demand fair wages. We held meetings at night, but one of the workers informed on us. The owners called me to the office and beat me. They made the other workers join in. Then they took off all my clothes and tied me to a tree. I begged them not to do it. They left me there for hours. I tried to escape at night. I padlocked my family in the house and I ran into the fields. I came straight to Fatima. Before we could return for my family, the police had helped the owners break into my house. And my daughters were paraded naked in the streets.”

“My sister fell ill and her medical bills cost 30,000 rupees. My father wasn’t getting his salary on time, so we had no options. I took a loan from the brick kiln and agreed to work for them until it was paid off. Other members of my family did the same. We thought it would only take three months. But when I went to leave, they told me I owed them 90,000 rupees. I couldn’t believe it. They told me I couldn’t leave. It’s like quicksand. They only pay you 200 rupees per 1000 bricks, and it all goes to them, and the debt keeps growing. We are supposed to work from dawn to dusk for six days a week, but we never get the 7th day off. They tell me I owe them 900,000 rupees now. There is no hope for me. Every year they have a market. The brick kiln owners get together and they sell us to each other. Just ten days ago my entire family was sold for 2.2 million rupees.”

*1,000 rupees = $10 

“My sister’s kidneys were failing. We tried to raise the money to save her. We sold our cattle. We sold our property. We sold everything we had. When we ran out of options, I took a 5,000 rupee loan from the brick kiln. I thought I could pay it back by working for 15 or 20 days. But when I thought it was time to leave, the kiln owners did the accounts. They told me: ‘You lived in our house. You ate our food. You owe 11,000 now. If you have 11,000 rupees, you can go. Otherwise get back to work.’ They worked me harder. I never saw my wages. If I wanted to stop, they beat me. A few months later, my grandfather died. I asked for a few days off to arrange his funeral. ‘You owe 30,000 rupees now,’ they told me. ‘If you have 30,000 rupees, you can leave. Otherwise get back to work.’ Now I owe 350,000 rupees. And my sister died a long time ago. There’s no way out. Soon my debt will pass on to the next generation.”

Yesterday 40,000 people donated over $1,000,000 in fewer than 12 hours to help Fatima end bonded labor. The fundraiser currently sits at almost $1,400,000. There were no perks offered. No ‘reward levels.’ This was motivated by nothing more than genuine compassion and a desire to empower a woman who’s devoted her life to freeing people trapped in modern slavery. Thank you so much. Fatima has prepared a statement that I will post shortly.

I want to conclude this series with a story that will show you the character of the person you’ve just empowered. This is one of thousands of anecdotes that reveal a person who is more committed to humanity than to her own safety or comfort:

Recently a family trapped in bonded labor got in touch with Fatima. They told her that they could not escape their owners, and that the girls in the family were being sexually abused by the owners. Fatima immediately jumped in her car and drove to the kiln in the middle of the night. She told the family to run. The owners woke up and began to fire guns. The family reached the car, but the youngest girl—only four years old--- had fallen down and been captured.

For three months the child was missing. Fatima went to court and begged for intervention, but the police kept insisting that they’d searched the kiln, and no child could be found. “I couldn’t sleep,” explains Fatima. “Every night I laid in bed and could think about nothing but this young girl in the hands of her brutalizers. I stayed awake all night thinking about how I could rescue her.”

Fatima recruited several other laborers to help her. Dressed in rags, they went to the kiln and pretended to be workers. They spent several days searching. They couldn’t find the girl anywhere. But from the owner’s house, they heard constant crying. They went back to the court and demanded that the house be investigated. The girl was found. But for weeks, she would not eat, talk, or cry. Fatima eventually learned that every time the girl would cry for food, the owner would beat her. 

Life's Constant

Life changes, it sure does. Time flies, it sure does. People come and go? They sure do. 

It is so true in case of my life, tough, a lot of sacrifices, keeping a distance from people, loads of hiding and keeping stuff to myself and ample lots of mysteriousness. There are several other reasons too but the summary is that I have never had someone around me for long.

It is amazing therefore, that our friendship has lasted this long. Eight years. That's no joke for a person like me. And that's enough about me. Let's talk about you.

From the chubby cheeked girl who used to type like small and big flies drawn, to the mature lovely girl you are now, it has been a worth while journey knowing you.

From our lame school days in the past, to our tough university days now it has been a wonderful ride.

You have been around from my tough days, good days, bad days, worst days, best days, normal days, weird days all types of days and I can't thank you enough and I shall never been able to.

You have been there when I needed someone around, when the times were tough, when I didn't have time to make an assignment, when I wanted give a presentation to gain confidence, when I wanted someone to read something, when I wanted someone to listen to me, when I wanted someone to trust me, when I wanted someone to take my frustration out, when I wanted someone to guide me, and I can't be more blessed. 

You are a wonderful person in any case. Such a good human, such a good personality, such a delicate heart, such a cute way of saying the dumbest of things in complete seriousness, such manners, such decency, such honestly, such beauty, such patience and humbleness and so many other superlatives. 

Thank you for tolerating, thank you for being my bestest friend ever, thank you for being the only constant in my life, actually thank you for everything, and this is an understatement.

Loads love, you mean so much, please stay the same and never ever change. 

The Unthinkable.

Written by: Anonymous. 

It's the eighth day and that girl still whirls around my mind. I don't know how to put it but that incident is not going to leave me and it haunts me every day. Literally, every night I have nightmares and some nights, I won't sleep.

It was around 10 o' clock of the night when me and my sister got free and got out of the clinic to make our way home but in the way we had to stop to collect the valuables from my sister's office which we left there. We decided to walk because it was only a-five-minute walk. As we took a turn we came around the road where Maisonette hotel is located. It was quiet and dark. We felt unsafe and therefore we started reciting Quranic verses. There was a car parked right in front of the hotel and a driver was talking to someone on the phone and after seconds he cut it and walked towards the car. He opened the passenger door and said ''ready ho? Chalo bahir niklo.'' I passed that car from an inch away. He helped a girl out who was poorly drugged and was stumbling and from what I saw couldn't walk without a support. She was taken into that hotel. Next thing I know, we were walking fast, hands in hands and reciting kalmas. I was shocked and shivering and I just couldn't do anything about it. I felt hopeless. I saw that girl from two feet away. I just couldn't do anything. We were alone on that street and I felt so scared. I was almost crying.

I don't care if people say that, that girl could be there with her consent, I just know that was illegal. Something totally unacceptable is happening in our country and no one is doing anything about it. That five star hotel's owner, I wonder how does she sleep peacefully every night.. I don't understand, why those guards are standing outside the hotel? What exactly are they guarding? I am so scared now that I don't want to leave my house. It's not like I wasn't aware of all that's happening around us, but experiencing it, seeing all of it with my own eyes has just shattered me. I have tried to stay calm but I can't. Every night, I sleep with tears in my eyes that how easily our motherland is being ruined.

Mitti mein mil jaynge.

Humans of New York in Pakistan (Part 12)

“I left an abusive relationship and I have nowhere to go. I have Hepatitis C, so no one is willing to take me in. I don’t know how long I will live. I tried to give her up for adoption so that she’d have a good home. The wife of a minister told me about a place where I could drop her off. But when I got there, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.” (1/2)

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“I’m trying to help her figure out her future. I was working at the Sunday market, and she asked me for help setting up a stand of her own. She told me about her story and showed me her bruises and marks. I’m trying to help her all I can, but my means are limited. My own income is only 2500 rupees a week and I’m getting engaged next week. I’m trying to set up a committee to donate blood because she really needs it.” (2/2)

(Lahore, Pakistan)

"Our friends are trying to set us up."

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“My first daughter passed away immediately after she was born. All the reports had been fine leading up to the birth. I lost consciousness in the delivery room, and when I woke up, there was no baby. I had fear in my heart, but everyone kept giving me false assurances. They said that everything was fine, but that the baby ‘just wasn’t feeling well.’ But I knew what had happened. I never even asked to see her. Finally they told me, ‘God has taken his gift from you.’ When this one was born, the doctors had to take her away for five days. Everyone kept telling me not to worry. I thought it was happening all over again.”

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“I’ve been getting passed over by smooth talkers my entire life. It’s just not in my nature to exaggerate my role. But there’s always that guy who waits until the boss comes around, and then starts loudly giving directions as if he was coordinating all the work.”

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“She doesn’t speak up for herself, so I’m afraid if someone harms her she wouldn’t tell me. I don’t learn about things that happen to her until they are reflected in her behavior at home. Recently I found her washing the dishes, and I asked her where she learned to do that. She told me: ‘When I visit my friend’s house, I do the dishes all the time.’”

(Lahore, Pakistan)

Humans of New York in Pakistan (Part 11)

“It seems that violence is the only lens through which ordinary people in Pakistan are viewed in the media. Even if it’s a story about a Pakistani rock band, it will be set in the context of a violent society. There’s nothing false about the perspective. Pakistan has a problem with violence. Violence is used to silence journalists, and judges, and moderate religious scholars. And it seems to be getting worse. Every time I see somebody on television speaking out in anger against extremism or corruption—I’ll say a prayer for them. And every time one of those people is murdered, those of us who aspire to be like them grow a little more afraid. So it’s not that the reports of violence are false. But they are only a small part of the truth. There’s so much other life being lived here. But there’s only so much space in international newspapers. And there’s so much news in the world. So only the most jarring stories make the cut.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“I was never educated because I began working when I was a child. I was always envious of the boys who got to wear uniforms and go to school. This is her first month of school. She comes home and tells me exactly what happened, everyday. I love it. If I’m not home for a few days, she’ll save up all her stories, then tell them to me all at once.”

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“My brother works in a camera factory. Yesterday he brought home something that projects monsters on my bedroom wall.”

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“I’m studying cardiac regeneration to help repair damaged hearts. It was widely believed that hearts cells could not be replenished, but we’ve used carbon dating to discover cells in the heart that are younger than the heart itself. So I believe it is possible.” 

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“My daughter had a hole in her heart. I prayed constantly because I never knew the moment that God would be listening. We were given medication from the doctor, and then God healed her.”

(Lahore, Pakistan)

“I lost my family home because of my gambling. I couldn’t handle the stress so I needed an escape. I used to be a body builder. My arms were this thick. I was healthier than you are. But now this is my only breakfast. It makes me numb and I sleep until the evening. It’s been about ten years. And the longer I do it, the more pain that’s waiting for me if I stop.”

(Lahore, Pakistan)

Humans of New York in Pakistan (Part 10)

"I want to be a teacher, like my mom."
"What's the key to being a good teacher?"
"Don't hit the children."

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“He’s my only grandchild. Every time he does anything, I enjoy it. The other day he pulled down the TV set. I didn’t even mind.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“I’ve been complaining about a good friend to my colleagues recently, and I need to stop. This is someone who’s been like a brother to me. When my pockets were empty, he stepped in to help me out. Recently he’s done some small things that bother me. And I’ve somehow allowed those small things to blind me from all the big things that he’s done in the past.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“My father was killed in a suicide bombing in 2003, while he was attending Friday prayers. We were at home. We’d prepared a lunch for him and were expecting him any minute. Suddenly our relatives began calling to ask if he’d been at the mosque. He left us a small, sweet message before he died. He said: ‘I love you all and follow what I taught you.’ The ambulance driver told us that he refused to be taken away, and that he insisted they treat other people first. We believe he was martyred. And we believe that those who are martyred never die. We think he’s still with our family and shares our concerns. Whenever I am tense or nervous, or achieve something big, I smell him. He had his own smell. I don’t know how to describe it.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“My husband passed away eight years ago. His death ruined my life. I couldn’t pay rent anymore. The people in the neighborhood tried to help me at first. Every day they would arrange two or three hundred rupees to pay my bills and send groceries to my house. But eventually their charity ran out and they told me it was time to seek help from God. Now I sleep on the floor of a relative’s house, and during the day I sit here and beg to pass the time. This is the fate God has chosen for me. When I talk about these things, my heart begins to sink. If I stay quiet, I feel OK.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

Humans of New York in Pakistan (Part 9)

"My mom is afraid of me studying abroad because she thinks I'll stand out too much. I asked her: 'How is that any different than here?'"

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“My father made this business and I took it over from him. He was a self-made man. His own father died young, so he only studied up to fifth grade. He quit school and started delivering food and tea when he was ten. Eventually he bought this small table, and grew it into a restaurant with 27 tables. He wanted us to have a better life. With all the work he put into us, I should have accomplished more. But I was responsible for my own destruction. He sent me to one of the best high schools in the city, but he was always at work. So I had no supervision and all I did was play video games. He worked so hard for me and I didn’t even study. But my son will be different. He’s going to be an important man.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

 "I know I should take him for more outings, meet his teachers, and watch him do his homework, but I'm always at the shop. And I'm too tired when I get home to do much more than sleep."

“The last business I worked for got attacked. It started with phone calls-- making threats and asking for money. My boss refused to pay. Then one day, two men on motorcycles pulled up and started shooting. The security guards ran away. My friend was shot. A few days later, the calls started again. My new business is too small to get extorted, but I still feel the effects. All my materials cost more, because the cost of extortion gets passed all the way down the supply chain.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“On her sixth birthday, two of her friends came over and brought her presents. One of the presents was big, and the other was small. The friend who’d brought the big present was laughing at the smaller present. It was so hard for me to not intervene. I was so used to telling my daughter how to act and what to say. But I decided that this time I’d sit back and see how she responded. “I like both my presents the same,” she said. And I remember feeling so proud, because I knew that what I’d been teaching her was working.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

Humans of New York in Pakistan (Part 8)

"Lyari is a tough neighborhood. There are a lot of gangs, and people are always trying to bribe young kids to do bad things. I've run this arcade for 15 years. It makes me happy to see children playing games instead of getting caught up in those things."

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“Shortly after we were married, I got tuberculosis and rashes broke out all over my body. They smelled so bad that I had to be cleaned three times a day. She always made me fresh food and made sure I had clean clothes every time I bathed. One morning, during this time, she asked me: ‘Would you do the same if I got sick?’ I promised her: ‘I’ll do even more.’ She died a few years ago from a brain tumor. She was in bed for the last three years of her life. Toward the end, she couldn’t identify people. Water from her brain would drain from her eyes. I ran home from the shop three times a day to help her go to the bathroom. I was always sure to turn her. She never had a single bedsore. In the end, the doctor told me: ‘It would not have been possible to take better care of her.’”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

"I take her everywhere I go."

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“I belong to a very conservative family, so I’ve been dealing with a lot of permission issues. There are a lot of boundaries on me. Most of the women in my family are housewives, and my father would prefer me to become a housewife as well. But I’ve been working so hard in school. I’m studying all the freaking time. These exams are so tough. I don’t want all this hard work to be wasted. I want to be a businesswoman. My mother is a housewife. She needs to ask my father for everything. When he’s not around, she tells me: ‘Do exactly what you want to do.’”

(Karachi, Pakistan)

“We lost by 47 runs yesterday. We're not in good form because our moms won’t let us practice during exam time.”

(Karachi, Pakistan)