Author: Hafeez Khan
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25 YEARS LATER, IT IS PTI’S CHOICE TO DO OR DIE
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Early February 1997 the air still had the wintry chill in Saidu Sharif, the capital of Swat. It was the scene of the last political rally by PTI Chairman Imran Khan before the elections. I was accompanying him. We had chosen this venue because out of the multiple seats that…
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ACCOUTABILITY WITHOUT RESULTS IS A TRAVESTY
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Recently I was sitting with my friend Raja Munawar, Member Senate Punjab University. Although he is younger than me our association goes back decades. I feel so blessed to have friends who have my back, whether we are together or oceans apart. He is one of them. I have often…
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RAMADAN REFLECTIONS: STOP TRAMPLING “HUQOOQ UL IBAD”
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan We all witnessed mayhem on TV across the country and I saw some firsthand. It was senseless, brutal defiance of authority leading to the breakdown of law and order. I was crossing a roundabout and saw a small group of teens wielding sticks, lighting fires, beating up people and breaking…
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UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PM IK IN 2ND AWAKENING Part 2 of 2.
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan I was invited to friend’s farmhouse for dinner. The guests included close friends and I got introduced to some new people. The weather was changing; sitting outside cold and warm air were hugging each with firewood providing warmth and ambiance. Suddenly I saw a motorcade enter the gates. Expensive SUV’s…
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UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PM IK IN 2ND AWAKENING Part 1
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan PDM’s threat has dissipated for now. Chances of their resurrection at the same level are slim and at least not until the end of the year. It is an opportunity for Prime Minister Imran Khan to play catch up and come out swinging. The onset of COVID for PM IK…
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SOLUTION LIES IN CONVICTIONS NOT ACCUSATIONS
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Living in Lahore is a unique experience. We have are two competing elements in our airspace; pollution in our air, and accusations on our airwaves. One wonders which one is more harmful. One damages the body the other hurts the mind. Yet Lahoris go about life in their merry ways…
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WHAT MATTERS IS HOW GOOD YOU ARE, NOT HOW BAD THEY WERE
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Punjabis have a unique way of expressing. It can be fairly annoying at times. I will share a personal anecdote. Somebody owes me a serious amount of money in Canada. He always portrayed himself as “younger brother” who loved me to bits, full Punjabi style. One day I sat him…
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LOVE FLIES OUT THE WINDOW ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan The high stakes battle for senate control concluded last night. It was like watching the final episode of an extremely engaging serial that could have had multiple endings. Tensions ran high among the contenders and their backers, clutching at every straw that could help them prevail. The results for Chairman…
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WIN OR LOSE, I WILL FIGHT TILL THE LAST BALL
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan “A picture is worth a thousand words”. In a video gone viral it is interesting to watch the Returning Officer in Senate elections get up and kowtow to PML(N)’s Ayaz Sadiq and Shahbaz Sharif. He could only offer a sideways move while sitting for PM Imran Khan. Shows who EC…
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GRANDE FINALE – ZARDARI VS PM IMRAN KHAN
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Growing up in the sixties, spending winters in Lyallpur was part of the family routine; we used to move there from Abbottabad. From the strict regime of Irish Priests of Burn Hall to pure rustic scene of Sant Singh Wala on the outskirts of the City used to be like…