Prime Minister Jamali stands stubbornly defiant as the sword of Damocles lowers over his head. The portly Baloch tribal chieftain is not ready to go down without a fight. "I have stopped taking lessons from anyone. My schooldays are over," he retorted as Islamabad buzzed with the rumours of an in-house change...............detail

After months of bloody confrontation and the loss of more than 120 lives, the Pakistan army and pro-Taliban Islamic militants in South Waziristan finally made peace with each other in late April. The unwritten agreement which silenced the guns and restored peace in the Wana valley is still holding .........detail

"Baba, what is kari?" a young girl asks her father. He ponders over how best he can explain this barbaric ritual that involves killing women in the name of 'honour' to his young daughter, and wonders where she has heard the term. He presumes she has read of it in newspapers, where such incidents are regularly reported.......detail

With yet another long, scorching summer ahead, fashionistas face their annual sartorial dilemma: how to combine style with comfort? Designer Sara Shahid, of Sublime in Lahore, provides the perfect solution with her summer line of tunics and blouses. Gauzy chiffons, diaphanous georgettes and flowing silks cool the senses, while a vibrant colour palette of fuchsia, lime-greens et al add a touch of glamour.....detail

I have been so disgusted with the quality of films produced that I do not wish to star in them. What message are we conveying to society with this kind of vulgar work? Who is watching the films that our heroines are busy acting in? In the last two years, judges have had a hard time nominating movies for awards. That shows the sorry state of affairs of our film industry. ......detail

Will India welcome China's growing interest in SAARC? Ideally, yes. It helps New Delhi's recent initiatives to remain in close contact with Beijing. The context of Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to China last June is too fresh to be forgotten. To the Chinese leadership, the idea to get closer to South Asia's regional grouping appears to be geographically logical, if not for any other consideratio..........detail