In the cause of Allah

Traders and people have been protesting for more than a month at the Sost dry port. On September 23, 2025, the Federal Government of Pakistan, the Gilgit-Baltistan government, and the traders' association agreed to end the protest, and it was decided to allow the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to trade up to 4 billion PKR with tax exemption. The agreement hasn't addressed structural challenges. This agreement opens the door for mega corruption, which has been widely practiced at the Sost Dry Port. It allows customs authorities and traders to manipulate tax exemptions. The people of GB demand two things: either they are integrated into the constitution of Pakistan as its fifth province, or there will be no tax on their business and income.  GB does not enjoy equal rights, and it is not a constitutional province of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It has been inaccurately associated with the Kashmir issues. Since 1947, GB has been governed by a primitive governance structure, where ...

Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a literary genius. In Crime and Punishment, readers are immersed in the depths of human psychology, psyche, and emotions. The sequence and interplay of scenes and characters are fascinating and intriguing.  In this novel, the main character is not Ruskonovic; it is actually Dostoyevsky himself. It is remarkable how he immerses the reader in his thoughts, expressing them so vividly that each page feels alive and evokes curiosity. As a result, the reader experiences pleasure, excitement, and a sense of wonder with every turn of the page. Crime and Punishment is a unique work. Its composition, scenes, and stories are indirectly connected, and the reader is captivated by each moment. It keeps the reader engaged with subtle meanings and details of actions, human psychology, philosophy, and ethics. In this novel, I encountered a mix of emotions, including suspicion, thrill, joy, melancholy, and elements of crime. Every chapter is beautifully written and tells a diff...

Before participating in the Young South Asian Leadership Initiative (YSALI) civic engagement and entrepreneurship workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka, I felt directionless. I started a non-profit in December 2024, but I struggled to achieve my goals and objectives. My experience with YSALI has given me direction and purpose for my future civic engagement initiatives in my community. I met young leaders from South Asia who are tackling significant developmental challenges in their regions. The YSALI leaders inspired me to find the courage, confidence, and motivation necessary for pursuing community empowerment.   The sessions and in-person activities in Colombo were both engaging and insightful. I was thankful for the opportunity to share my leadership story with my YSALI peers and on social media platforms. I interacted with various leaders and learned about their impactful initiatives. These exchanges with my peers boosted my confidence and helped me adopt a more critical approach to c...

During a time of heightened tensions, an Indian passenger plane entered Pakistani airspace, landed safely, and then returned to India. Global governance refers to the system of institutions, rules, and processes that facilitate international cooperation on issues that transcend national borders. Transparent and accountable global governance is essential for human prosperity. We require transparency, trust, and the rule of law to foster an inclusive and cosmopolitan world order. The contemporary world has become a complex entity, leading to a significant rise in the challenges and demands for global governance. Issues such as rising ethnic conflicts, diseases, climate change, food insecurity, wars, and other urgent threats increasingly jeopardize global security and stability. This situation has raised concerns about the current global governance system's ability to effectively address the challenges facing the 21st century. The absence of accountability and transparency in global g...

I am trying to find my favorite pen, but so far I haven't had any luck. I'm glad to feel excited about writing again after two months. Things are going smoothly and easily. However, one thing has been bothering me: my constant thoughts about the future and the uncertainty that comes with it. I do not allow these thoughts to roam freely. I want to guard and restrain them. I aim to restore determinism and self-confidence. Life should not be lived through endless desires. Life must learn to respect time, relationships, and the self. Any evil act or thought must be checked and guarded against before it leads to chaos. The power to recognize, understand, and address the cause of evil is embodied in love, faith, friendship, and the concept of God. Even Imam Ali (a.s) did not provide a detailed description of God; he suggested that one can find God through the observation of His creation. No knowledge can fully comprehend God's wisdom. I want to take control of myself and my intel...

Shayan was only seventeen years old when he hanged himself from the ceiling fan in his room and died. When I heard the news, I couldn't believe it. It seemed impossible and irrational. He was living what appeared to be a happy life. I started observing him when he visited our home in Islamabad with his mother. He was my nephew and had knowledge of technology, computers, philosophy, and career paths. He was both ambitious and thoughtful. His suicide shocked everyone. I spent an entire night outside the morgue where he was kept. His brother and sister were in Islamabad and traveling to Gilgit. The next day at 1:00 PM, we took him home for the last time and carried him to his grave. I carried his coffin for a mile, and afterward, my shoulder hurt for two days. In the graveyard, after the prayers, we laid him down in his final resting place. I looked into his face, which was peaceful. Shayan, who was friendly, lovely, nice, handsome, young, ambitious, and wise, lay on the bed of soil. ...

I woke up at 12:00 PM, had breakfast, changed clothes, and left for work in Gilgit. Since Monday, I have been waking up late, which aligns with my work schedule. I visited the Special Communication Office to expedite my fiber internet application. It has now been a month since I submitted it. I visited the District Health Office and obtained several documents. After that, I headed to the Deputy Director of Education's office, where I spent three hours working on combining and cleaning data. Around 5:00 PM, I returned home to find my mother preparing to leave for our village, Jalalabad. After performing the night prayers, I went out to meet friends. One of my friends was hosting a feast at his home to celebrate his parents' recent pilgrimage to Mecca. I was cooking chicken karai when I received his call. I brought my chicken karai to the feast, and some friends enjoyed it too. On my way home, I received a call from my cousins. We decided to meet at a hotel nearby. During our mee...