Owais Mughal

Just like rest of the world, Harry Potter’s seventh book, titled as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows got launched in Pakistan today amid fanfare. Considering the diminishing trend of reading printed books worldwide, it is a positive sign to see the type of demand this book has created among Pakistani muggles.

Big bookstores all over Pakistan arranged launching ceremonies and theme decorations to go with the launch.

However, in an increasing sign of a divided society, a bomb scare laid rest to one such ceremony at Park Towers Mall in Karachi. The book will now be sold at this venue unceremoniously. While we are talking of a divided society, Shoaib Mansoor‘s movie which was discussed at ATP a few days ago also got released yesterday.

Going back to Harry Potter series, the suggested retail price of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Pakistan is about Rs 2000 (US $33).

Adil Najam

The news is in. The Supreme Court of Pakistan just reinstated Iftikhar Chaudhry as the Chief Justice of Pakistan by throwing out the Presidential reference against him. The Supreme Court has today showed its mettle, just as the lawyers of Pakistan have been showing their mettle for the last many months. One feels proud of both today. (READ TEXT OF SUPREME COURT’S SHORT ORDER HERE).

Whether you agree with the verdict or not, the decision from the Supreme Court today is clearly historic. Not because of what it means for Iftikhar Chaudhry (reinstatement as Chief Justice) or for Pervez Musharraf (his reference against the CJ has been thrown out). It is historic because of what it means – and what one hopes it will mean – for the Justice system in Pakistan. Although many have made it about one of these things.

This case was never just about Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry nor just about gen. Pervez Musharraf. This was always about something bigger. It was about the rule of law. The dignity of law. About sanctity of the judicial system. About respect for institutions. About Pakistanis being essentially democratic at heart. About constitutionalism. And about the importance of process. Once hopes that this decision will be seen not only as a reinstatement of the Chief Justice but as a symbol of the sanctity of all of the above.

Owais Mughal

I proudly own a copy of Hafeez Inayatullah‘s famous book khaana pakaana (cooking meals). This book was frist published in 1987 with a circulation of 25000 and then that was it. It never got published again. That is why it is too precious to own a copy of it in 2007.

I had an earlier post on this book in September 2006 which laboriously taught us on how to cook mouth watering Omelets in Pakistani Style. Today I am back with another set of 3 jaw-breaking, tongue stinging recipe’s from this book. The greatest thing about Ms Hafeez’s book is that it not only teaches you how to cook food but also gives you an insight on life’s philosophy, man-woman relationship, politics of in-laws etc. It also causes the readers to laugh involuntarily at every other sentence and that is why the book is so popular. For example here is an excerpt from the book’s preface which sheds light on the reason as to why Ms Hafeez decided to write this book.