At least two of my contacts’ status messages yesterday on Facebook were relating to the cold weather. These friends were obviously based outside of Pakistan, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous all the same. Karachi’s winters are well known to arrive late and leave early, but after last year’s experience, when temperatures sometimes went down into single figures*, even well into late January and early February, I some how, for whatever naive reason, expected the winter to arrive on time this year.

Yet here we are now, barely days from December, still sitting in office with the split turned on. Admittedly, it has been really arid off late, and does get some what chilly in the evenings and at early dawn, but the days are still distinctly warm with the mercury steadily keeping up in the 30s (the forecasts on my Google home page today read: Monday: Clear; 33 | 17, Tuesday: Clear; 33 | 17, Wednesday: Mostly Sunny; 32 | 19).
(more…)

Sometimes one forgets how breathtakingly beautiful our Karachi really is.

Originally uploaded by Raja Islam

I share with you a very common sight seen across on the streets of Karachi, a Tullah (policeman) talking to a motorcycle wala for some sort of violation. On this occasion it is quite apparent that the motorcycle guy was in violation, if he got a ticket or not I cant tell you. But what actually compelled me to take this pictures was that moments earlier another motorcycle quite simply whizzed right past this group making the same wrong turn and both cops simply did not take notice lest even try to stop, leaving this poor chap quite visibly irritated. Lo n behold after taking this picture and while uploading it here I notice that I have also captured another motorcycle in the distance going the wrong way on Shahrai Faisal and that too on top of the foot path.

This is indeed a normal day in Karachi

Ever wondered how foreigners visiting or transiting Karachi think about the airport? I always thought the new airport terminal was awesome. Turns out, not everyone thinks the same way. This website contains the reviews of Karachi Airport by passengers who landed here. It’s a good time kill, if nothing else.

Unless something actually fell on this car, it looks like it flipped. Apart from the caved in roof, the wind screens (front and back), rear view and side view mirrors were all missing.

First off, the funny part: All the journalists arrested (and later released) in Karachi yesterday have been charged with “rioting, creating [a] law and order situation, encounter, kidnapping and attempt to murder.” ATTEMPT TO MURDER!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Attempt to murder what? Musharraf’s hegemony? HELL yeah, baby! :-P

Okay, here’s what happened yesterday:
(more…)

or Combined Arrests, was the outcome of a rally of the Karachi Union of Journalists outside press club yesterday afteroon. A number of journalists were ‘laathi charged’ and arrested after the protest for freedom of the press turned ugly. During the event, our very own Urooj Zia was also present where she was subsequently arrested and taken to jail for a couple of hours. Post arrest, she reports having a ‘rocking time of partying and raising hell’ till her release (details later). We are very proud of having her aboard as an author and a blogger, and support her initiative to be on the front lines. at least she’s there for what she believes in.

As usual, i have both sides of the story told to me and not wanting to believe either (as i believe the truth always hides in a third plane) i’ll present both.

Side 1: The Journalists present
They were protesting, chanting slogans and in general being a peaceful bunch and raising hell, when the police just went beserk on them and started beating up everyone present. Then they arrested around 10 prominent figures after which all other journalists present gave themselves up for arrests in a show of unity.

Side 2: Other sources
The journalists were protesting with placards and slogans and were told to remain in their cordoned off area. Some elements among them (who were subsequently the first to be arrested) decided that this was just too peaceful and not newsworthy and decided to up the stakes. First by jeering and bullying the security personnel, then by trying to break the barriers in which they were contained in, and third, when all else failed, deciding to turn the protest into a march. When they were not allowed to do that, the rouge element proceeded to start stoning the security officials after which all hell broke loose and lathi charge started, following by the arrest of the initial trouble makers. That is when others in the group gave themselves up for arrest as a show of unity.

Note: both sides of the story were given to me by members of the press, who were present at the front line at the time. Which ever side you choose to believe, is up to you.

A solo exhibition of sculptures by a creative young artist Nabeel Majeed opened at the Gulmohar art gallery, today.

The artist, a young Karachi School of art graduate has skillfully carved marble into figurative abstractions to be displayed in the exhibition. His work is a combination of interesting shapes, curves and concepts put together under one roof. The two sculptures one in black and another on in white titled mother and child, both of them carved into a drop shape form within which the mother holds firmly her child are absolutely beautiful, besides his carving on flat marble slabs too are highly inspirational.
(more…)

The candle light vigil which was announced at Geo offices in Karachi to basically condemn the shutting down of the two popular media channels was truly amazing. The vigil itself started off at around 7pm but I am told the crowd was present there well before the specified time, when I reached there it was truly an amazing sight in the entire lane you could only see candles lit with quite a few heavy speakers blarring the signature Geo song Jeenay Do.

There were approximately well over 1500 people present most honding some sort of placard denocning the martial law but practiclaly everyone had a candle and sang the song Jeenay Do. There were a number of large TV screens showing the live feed from Geo which was being streamed via the internet. The best part of the vigil was when the Geo Musharraf-lookalike took to the stage and had some fun with the crowd with some unique imitations of the dictator. It was good to see people coming out to raise their voice against the censorship of the media.

I am sure many of the readers here may not be in approval with GEO and its attitude of sensationalization but despite all the short comings its important still to have a free media, thats my personal opinion and many may disagree.