The Mafia Good one and timely.

The Fundo Chic? Mantilives: [apparently he wants us all to look like Irfan Pathan`s parents.]

LOL. Well as long as he dosn`t want us to look like himself. However, seriously, I do think he sounds more educated than the rest.

The Fundo Chic? I have respect for people like Dr. Israr but none for these fashionable new preachers. This is a timely article NFP, something I am sure you will have a problem with in Pakistani print media.

Faith No More Fantastic article Shandana. Perhaps your best in a long time. :)

Catch 22 1/2 Strange that you say that films Society Girl contributed to symbolism used by reactionaries against Bhutto because Society Girl is considered a classic by our so-called liberal Paki film fans, especially those open-minded Karafilm people.

Spirits and Sauces Flipen! NFP, cant make up your mind about gays and homophobes, liberals and Islamists, now can you?

Pigeon’s Meat A nice little one. Light but largely readable. Well done.

Here We Go Again NFP:
Can`t disagree with much of your analysis, however it has become your habit of using incidents such as these to grind your personal axe against extremists who do not represent the mejority of Pakistanis. When you say:
````Today, most Pakistanis, educated and otherwise, may cringe with disgust when a jihadi fucke#r rips innocent people apart with a bomb in the name of Allah and Islam, but I have yet to see a lot of Pakistanis marching in protest against these terrible jihadi outfits, like they do, against, say, women marathon runners, or supposed Christian blasphemers? ``

This is a sweeping statement. And:
``The persecution complex has become both a vicious trap and as well as a convenient justification. A trap that makes them feel guilty, isolated and torn from the insides, and a justification with which they can face this guilt and isolation without going crazy, or (god forbid(!)), actually end up thinking something like, hey, maybe, secularism may actually be our way out of this?``

It is so simple to say this, but how can you expect the country to suddenly become secular?

Mistaken Identity Interesting. Strange it is moreso for women than men who are more into WWF. Nice parody piece, if I can say so.

Chickens are Coming Home to Roost Now, aren`t we all excited here?

The Ground Beneath Pakistan’s Feet Nadeem, excellent read, but over the weeks most of these channels have done well to bring the real situation on ground. Fine in this chaotic and hectic times for Pakistan`s electronic media there will be cranks like ARY, but don`t we have the freedom now to simply switch the channel?

Scream Beautifully written. Very powerful and not that late.

Ashiana-e-Ali Nice polite and heartwarming. Rather beautifully put.

Fleshened Bones Re: # 18
Your point being? Never mind and that ``lahol`` should confirm the fact that you are an honourable man.

A Whiter Shade of Green That Ankahi event you mentioned is so true. Halfway through the serial Javed Shaikh, Behroz Sanwari and all the other male actors suddenly start appearing in shalwar-kameez. Mazay ki baat hai, only that fat guy they make fun off is in shirt and trousers. I saw Ankhai`s DVD but I do remember Nawaz Sharief`s orders to make all actresses wear a dupata over their heads. What was the point of all these directives of the Zia and Nawaz governments you have mentioned? Islam? Hardly, because you are right how this Islam failed to stop heroin addiction, corruption and violence in Pakistan.

Who Tarnished the Image of Pakistan? It is clear that only Pakistanis are to be blamed in such a context just like the Saudis. Very easy to blame economic factors that lead to men becoming fanatics but hasn`t our government policies of socalled Islamization to be blamed equally?