Seeing is Not Believing

In the ever-evolving landscape of synthetic media, where reality blurs with the artificial, the age-old adage “seeing is believing” takes center stage and rather new dimensions. At a recent AI conference by CPA, a panelist challenged this notion, asserting that 'seeing is not believing.' This paradox unfolds in the poignant stories of individuals who find …

Of women’s plight and climate catastrophe in Pakistan

“As long as women are bound by poverty and as long as they are looked down upon, human rights will lack substance.” Nelson Mandela Women constitute 48.5% of our population yet they are 14 times more likely than men to suffer during natural disasters The ongoing climate catastrophe in Pakistan has left women worse off.   …

Of sunset, twilight and tea

Take her by her arm, hold her silky hand tight lead her to the rooftop, sit under the twilight waiting for the dusk to embrace the ambiance; the green pastures; the mud-houses in the distance; the grazing cattle roaming about the grassy lands; the crows and sparrows flying past to their comfy abode; the twilight …

I am. I am. I am.

*of an independent woman* Submerged in impossible dreams and long-coveted desires, I shudder, and to consciousness I myself stir, with breaking off of slumber, I tear my heart apart. Being unapologetically myself, flaunting frizzy locks resting on a winning face quietly next to shiny eyes, I let my inner demons lose, out to conquer all …

Of Graduation Speech — Hubert H. Humphrey fellow 2021

https://www.facebook.com/danishalibhutto/videos/10215272458963746/? Transcript of the commencement speech Good evening everyone! Thank you for being with us on our Graduation in such an unprecedented time. We are glad to have you.  I am honored to represent the class of twenty twenty-one. I learned about this fellowship in 2015 at a very early stage of my career. I …

Of a stranger woman of beauty

BACKSTORY: A friend went to a wedding in his village and saw someone very charming. He tried to write about her but couldn’t finish. This is what he sent me. A friend’s WhatsApp Chat He wanted me to finish the depiction. Despite me warning him that I kill the boys in my stories, he insisted. …

Of hanging and castrating the rapists

The unfortunate and horrendous Lahore Motorway incident a day earlier is nauseating and all the public outrage against it is understandable. Sentiment so strong that we call for extreme solutions like “Publicly Hang the Rapists” or “Castrate them” and demand the Government to legislate accordingly. Senate Standing Committee endorsed the public hanging as a form …

Of sunset, twilight and tea

of sunset, twilight and tea...

Of the Perfect Sense and COVID19

I recall watching a movie which talks about “The Perfect Sense.” The new Corona Virus (#COVID19) pandemic badly knocks down the notion of perfect sense. The Perfect Sense revolves around a viral epidemic that causes people to lose their sensory perceptions, one at a time. Each loss is preceded by an outburst of an intense …

Nostalgia is a bitch

The Greek word for "return"is nostos, as Milan puts it.and Algos might be "suffering"caused by an unappeased yearning to return.to all the places we’ve never known… nostalgia is a bitch.some damned crazy witch… Time passes like a melancholy smilewhen bidding someone a good-bye.the moments go bylike a handwaving from a trainan onlooker wants to be …