Category: Articles
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THE SOCIAL DEBACLE WE FACE
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Growing up in Abbottabad, each year we would spend our winter holidays with my grandfather in Lahore or Lyallpur farms depending on his location. Dr. Sardar Ali was a family friend. His medical practice in Baghbanpura, Lahore was in proximity of my uncle Dr. Abdul Rasheed Khan’s clinic. My cousins…
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PTI NEEDS TO WALK THE TALK FOR COMMON MAN
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan When we joined the New Campus in late sixties, Punjab University had a vibrant rowing club. The boats were shifted from River Ravi to the canal running through the heart of the Campus. The equipment was reserved for the team and discipline was strictly imposed. Not for long when the…
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PAK US RELATIONS IN BIDEN ERA
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan I remember playing weekend cricket in Abbottabad as a kid. One of our playmates used to walk off with the wickets if he got out. A spoiler who could not accept defeat. President Trump reminds me of him. Despite putting up a strong resistance and getting more votes than 2016…
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WILL COVID DECIDE THE NEXT US PRESIDENCY?
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Americans tend to trust their leaders. They are not naive, however the institutions built over centuries have taken root leading to this tendency. President Trump realized that quickly after his surprise victory in 2016. As a crafty business man he had manipulated the system in his favor all his adult…
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WILL US ELECTIONS IMPACT PAKISTANIS?
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Lebron James is a legend in Basketball. He has dominated this extremely popular sport in North America for 16 years. He has accumulated a fortune and is an icon for the younger generation. What sets him apart is that he is a star with a conscience. Black people make up…
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DESPERATE NAWAZ ENTERS UNCHARTED TERRITORY
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Gujranwala was an interesting show. PML(N) has deep roots there since Zia Ul Haq coupled with “Butt Baradari”. It suited them well. It exploded the myth of PDM as the event unfolded. After Maryam’s speech, the stadium started to empty while Bilawal spoke. Maulana (slot machine) Fazal spoke to empty…
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WHAT IS FUELLING NAWAZ’S BLUSTER?
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Lahore has a unique culture amongst its traditional families in and around the walled city. Blunt and down to earth they enjoy the coziness of shared common walls. Since moving to Lahore I had many friends from this area. In this joint family system sometimes a member would adopt a…
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TRUMP’S LIES TAKE USA TO NEW LOWS
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan Fifties and sixties were an era of Hollywood classics dominated by Cowboy movies. The stories revolved around good versus evil. Upright underdog standing up to the big bad greedy rich. These action, drama and exciting flicks impacted the young. Good prevailed over evil. It shaped behaviors and promoted a value…
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FIFTY YEARS OF SPILT AFGHAN BLOOD Part 2
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan It was approaching dusk when we reached the Mujahid camp in Attock. Our hosts had arranged a tour of the facility. It was a Spartan tent city serving as a base for training and recovery for groups returning after four to six weeks in combat zone. We talked to a…
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FIFTY YEARS OF SPILT AFGHAN BLOOD Part 1
STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan It was early 70’s and my friend, late Ajmal Malik, had landed a job with the information department in Peshawar. A brilliant mind, he was a successful journalist and a carefree loving soul. We communicated via booking trunk calls thanks to Ajmal’s access to official phones. We chatted regularly reminiscing…