Pakistan
Horror Stories in Pakistan
In recent times, both Pakistani cinema and TV have been experimenting with horror, trying to address the complexities of living in modern-day Pakistan, such as the rising discourse about feminism, the fear of Western influences, the evolution of the family system, and the role of religion in everyday life.
Baloch Women on the Front Lines
Two suicide bombings by educated, middle-class women have sent shockwaves across Pakistan, and mark an apparent shift in Baloch insurgents’ recruitment patterns and tactics.
Why Karachi’s Indigenous Coastal Cuisine Finds Itself on the Margins
Karachi’s popular culture, centered on its food, carries an incredible fusion of local flavors from across the subcontinent. But there isn’t a single place in the city that serves its indigenous coastal cuisine, which can only be found in the homes of the fisherfolk communities.
The Nexus of Sufi Saints and Politicians in Pakistan
Pirs — custodians of centuries-old shrines of Sufi saints with followers in the millions — participate in Pakistani politics in different ways, either directly as politicians or as spiritual guides and advisers to politicians. They also employ their shrine networks to provide religious legitimacy and consolidate voter blocs for them.
In Pakistan, an Economic Crisis Keeps Life on the Edge
Pakistan — the world’s fifth most populous country — is reeling from the worst economic crisis since its formation in 1947, with backbreaking inflation, a plummeting currency and precariously low foreign reserves. It has become nearly impossible for its citizens to make ends meet.
Chaos and Uncertainty Engulf Pakistan After Imran Khan’s Dramatic Arrest
The arrest of a former prime minister is not a new phenomenon in Pakistan, but the violent and chaotic events that continue to unfold across the country after Imran Khan’s dramatic arrest earlier this week have been unprecedented.
Condemned to Death for Blasphemy in Pakistan, She Lives a Life of Poverty in Exile
In 2010, Asia Bibi became the first woman in Pakistan to be sentenced to death under the country's controversial blasphemy laws, in a case that sparked global outrage. After eight years on death row, she escaped to Canada in 2019 following her acquittal. She tells New Lines how she has since lived a life of poverty in exile.