Author: Hafeez Khan

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan In early sixties my uncle Dr. Abdul Rasheed Khan had a medical practice in Baghbanpura, Lahore. It was located in an old Hindu house. The clinic was on the ground floor and upstairs were living quarters. During the summer holidays our family would come together to be close to our…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan The anger is palpable and frustrations are overflowing. Last few days have been a roller coaster ride. As you disembark it takes a while to get your bearings back. As the enormity of this deception and fraud sinks in, serious doubts arise about the sanity and recklessness of this ruling…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan If it was not so tragic, one would have a good laugh at the stupidity of the decisions being announced against IK. Those who enjoy performing arts would bear me out that a performance is only tantalizing when the artist reveals partially, leaving the rest to imagination. Nakedness is vulgarity.…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan “How do you get the right to decide who can or cannot rule Pakistan?” would have been my question if I had participated in the “frank discussion” with our respected all powerful Army Chief. Such impertinence may not have been permitted in this orchestrated and tightly controlled event. This PR…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Since April 2022, there is only one way to describe Pakistan; hostile. Tensions and fears have taken root in everyday life for Pakistanis. They emanate from putting food on the table, the dreaded breaking of doors by police, total uncertainty about the future and complete breakdown of governance. The psyche…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan “Chor tey kutti ral gai tey pind da ke banay ga?” a Punjabi saying that translates “when a thief and protector gang up what will be the fate of the village?”. I believe it aptly describes what is going on in our beloved country. We are witnessing extremely painful events…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Maula Jat and his nemeses Noori Nat are fictional characters in Punjabi folklore glamorized through films spanning decades. Their violent conflict has been verbalized as “Kharak”, an appropriate description of what is unfolding on our national scene. The intensity increases every day leading to an undesirable crescendo. It’s a path…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Ruthless pursuit of a goal for greater good is commendable. However, ruthlessness in achieving selfish goals by destroying all values, laws and norms of decency is despicable. That is what we are witnessing everyday; the scenes of mistreatment of Shah Mehmood Qureshi is the freshest wound. The way these depraved…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Halaku (Hulagu) Khan was a Mongol ruler who conquered most of Western Asia, laying basis for the Persian Empire in 13th century. He sacked and destroyed Baghdad thereby ending the Islamic Golden Age. According to historians,Halaku had a shock and awe strategy to soften opponents at the start of his…

STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Pakistan is in turmoil last witnessed in 1971. 16thDecember is the 52nd anniversary of surrender by Pak Army in Dhaka. Quad-e-Azam’s Pakistan was truncated within 25 years of independence. Bengalis, who were 56% of population, formed their own state. I vividly remember the pain we felt at this national humiliation.…