Self Talk

This post was published on Global Policy Institute, London's website as a winner of students' voice in student think tank section on 17 August, 2011. A link to the original post is here . Many Middle Eastern regimes have fallen due to the recent surge in youth-driven movements for rights and democracy. This change, the so called Arab Spring, is propagating on its own terms. A recent law passed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for  punishing those who criticize the regime points to restlessness in one of the most conservative states of the world. It is increasingly clear that no regime is now secure from public protests spurred on by recent events. Pakistanis consider themselves to be very close to Middle East Arab nations, mainly due to their religious connection. In contrast to many Arab states, the Pakistani government has not been able to recognize Israel as a sovereign state due to the fear of public backlash. Such are the sentiments regarding Middle Eastern territ...

Dengue fever has hit Pakistan hard this time. The virus has been there for a couple of years now but this year the number of casualties as well as morbidity has been far more than it was in previous years. The suspected cases report a rapid decline in platelets, the component of blood that helps it coagulate. In the absence or profound decrease of platelets, blood fails to maintain balance of coagulation and bleeding starts from all mucous membranes as well as any minor cuts and bruises on the body. Intestines, mouth and urinary bladder are frequent sites of bleeding. If not countered with an adequate measure, either by replacing platelets or by a therapy which increase their numbers, mortality occurs frequently. Cases have been reported in media and public where people have benefited from use of juice of papaya leaves. I came across such a story in The Express Tribune where a man has recounted his brush with the deadly virus and its consequences. I we...

Dr Mirza’s sudden outburst in anger has taken everyone by surprise. Despite his previous outburst in media and public against some party policies, he was known as a close aide of president Zardari. Many believe that his loyalty may always be with his party, he has run out of patience by the policy of national reconciliation adopted by his party’s bosses in the center. Others still doubt any depth behind his allegations and think that his impulsive nature is being expertly exploited by the party administration, and knowingly or unknowingly he is playing the bad cop for them, providing them with space to bargain with their coalition partners in Karachi. Despite these different views amongst public and analysts, everyone has started to believe that he means some kind of business. His press conferences raise questio...

Few days back one of my friends posted a video on my facebook page in which a person advertises his amazing disease healing skills. You can see a screen shot from the video on the right side. My friend posted this video thinking that I being a doctor am the most concerned person regarding the contents. Of course I am, but people living around healing facility of this gentleman are more concerned than me. And even more concerned, rather responsible are the authorities. I was practically shocked to see the video. A person who apparently can’t speak Urdu for more than few seconds, goes on to claim that he can treat any disease that a human being can come up with. Standing behind an advertisement board carrying all his medical credentials, he goes on to give a sermon about his magical abilities to cure. Without any clue regarding the contents of his treatment regimes, he proclaims to heal everything that brings worry to us. Health authorities and medical council of the country seems to se...

Remembring the good old days when I had nokia 8310..... was my 3rd July 2011 facebook status update. The comments and rappels that followed made me write this post, perhaps to preserve these precious memories. I remember the days of Government College Sargodha when my only tele-communication with the world was through the landline telephone which was installed at the reception of the hostel. Apart from that, I used to have exchange of hand written letters with a couple of friends. I carried letter writing into my next phase of life, the medical college. In the period between the two, my mailing address used to be Syed and Sons Sillanwali. It was the same Government College Sargodha where I saw a cellular phone for the first time, with my friend Asad. I remember how naïve I was about its mechanism of working and functional limitations.  In medical college, Saudi students with mobile phones were so well known that one of them got a title "mobile guy" on our first class functi...

Shahid Khan Afridi has announced conditioned retirement from international cricket. He is unhappy with the treatment that he has been given as captain. He has every reason to feel angry as his performance as a captain has been more than expected. Although not an extraordinary manipulator of the game, luck had been on his side in one day internationals recently. He has led the team with passion and that speaks volumes about his leadership skills. As far as intelligent strategic moves are concerned once team lands in the ground to play, I wouldn’t rate him as one of the best captains of Pakistan. But still he has been making us feel proud, happy and sometimes furious at him with crickentainment over the years. Alas, he has met the same fate as many of our heroes did previously. But, is that the end? I think NO. Afridi is kind of a person who has always listened to his heart. I believe his career is far from over. There are no quick chances of a reshuffle in Pakistan Cricket Board as th...

Conspiracy theorie s aside, OBL is dead now. A chapter closed in history of the world. Keeping indifference to his good qualities or bad characteristics, he was the one who remained America’s most wanted person for nearly a decade. Perhaps the biggest operation in history of the world was carried out for his hunt. And more than that, thousands of people were killed, virtually thousands of innocent people, accounting for his deeds. Some dies in collateral damage in pursuit to get him, others killed by his fellows because they seemed to have deviated from the right path. Both categories include men women and children. People of Abbotabad found it funny to come to know that world’s most wanted man was living just on their doorstep. Some might have regretted not to have attempted to capture him as he carried biggest head bounty in the recent times. Others remained indifferent as public in our country is custom made not to believe what is told in official statements. Although it has been r...