Pervaiz Munir Alvi

Our sixth grade teacher meant business when on the very first day of the school he informed us that no talking or horsing around would be allowed in the classroom. To further enforce the discipline he also declared that no one will be allowed to sit next to his friends but in the order of his assigned role number. “Not fair”, we cried. I was particularly upset because I got to sit behind this sissy little thing named Iqbal no body wanted to be friends with. Iqbal was a very shy and quiet boy and it soon became obvious to all of us that he could be easily harassed and picked upon. Class bullies will push him around while the rest of us will tease him mercilessly. Sitting behind him at first grudgingly I must add, I also discovered that when poked in his side he would jump up like a jack-in-the-box. Not that I liked him, but for that quality of his alone I started calling him ‘Jack in the Box’, a name that he did not seem to mind.

The year passed very quickly. Our seventh grade classroom was relatively large and airy and being on the second floor, we could fly paper planes on to the court yard below. But one thing was missing; Iqbal did not return to the school that year. In the beginning we all noticed his absence but soon he was forgotten and everybody found other preoccupations.

Owais Mughal

This photo was posted in the daily Dawn on October 18, 2007. It announces 2006 Monsoon season ‘Sukh-chain’ tree plantation in Islamabad. The only thing is that nobody has heard of ‘Moon Soon’ season. Have you?

Our other Pinglish Series posts: here, here, here, and here.

by JayJay

The life of a Pakistani woman is not easy. It is not a hidden fact that she is subjected to discrimination and harassment, within and without the so-called sanctuary of her home. However, harassment and bullying becomes more intense and blatant when she steps out of her home for work or education. From catcalls to verbal innuendo to physical harassment, she has to endure it all, mostly at the hands of strangers, on the streets and on public transport. This harassment does not stop, or rather become more palpable in many cases, at her place of work. The act of harassing women, with sexual tones and motives, by fellow employees or supervisors/managers is referred to sexual harassment. Wikipedia defines sexual harassment as:

Harassment or unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. It includes a range of behavior from mild transgressions and annoyances to serious abuses, which can even involve forced sexual activity. Sexual harassment is considered a form of illegal discrimination in many countries, and is a form of abuse (sexual and psychological) and bullying.