Well known journalist, cultural critic and satirist, Nadeem F. Paracha (aka NFP) wrote and worked for The News International (Instep) between 1993 and 2005. He now writes for Dawn (Dawn Images and Dawn Magazine) and Indian Express. He has also written a novelette, Acidity, and co-hosted AAJ TV’s political satire show, News, Views & Confused with Fasi Zaka (2005-09).
Born in Karachi. Left-wing student activist in the mid & late ’80s.
Arrested twice by General Zia’s right-wing dictatorship for “anti-state activities.” Took out Pakistan’s first ever “underground” anarchist newsletter, The Arousal, before joining Pakistan’s largest English weekly, MAG in 1990.
Joined The News, Karachi as editor of the paper’s popular-culture page, Instep, and columnist.
Currently writing a regular column for Dawn Newspaper (Smokers Corner), Dawn.Com (Cafe Black) and one for Indian Express. Has also contributed articles to The Friday Times. – picked from Dawn.Com
Photo by Fayyaz Ahmed
Quick Facts
Birth: 6th Feb, 1967, Karachi.
Education: O Level from Karachi Grammar School (1983); B-Com from Saint Patricks Govt. College, Karachi (1984-87); MA Political Science from University of Karachi (1988-89).
Political Career: Vice-President of Peoples Students Federation (student wing of Pakistan Peoples Party) at St. Pat’s Govt. College (1985-86); General Secretary of St. Pats Socialist Students Federation (1987); Information Secretary of National Students Federation at University of Karachi in 1988; One of the founding members of The News Employees Union at The News, Karachi (1993).
Journalistic Career: Feature writer at Weekly Mag (1991-93); Senior Feature writer/Reporter and then editor of The News’ cultural pages (Instept) at the The News (1993-99); Senior Columnist at Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.Com (2005-present); Contributing columnist for Indian Express and Deccan Chronicals (India).
Political Views: Was a staunch pro-Soviet Marxist during college and university. Has been a supporter of the PPP since 1980s, but has also been a strong advocate of alliances between PPP, MQM and ANP. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, NFP became a strong advocate of left-liberal ideologies and of working towards a strong secular culture and politics in Pakistan. - Info compliled from various NFP interviews and articles written on him on assorted websites.
*NOTE: This blog site is NOT owned and run by NFP. Nevertheless, he has given us permission to use his writings, columns and interviews.
Comments
i’m just checking to see if this is working
Finally, an NFP site. Well done Ms./Mr Penny. We owe you for this feat.
Fantastic site on NFP writings. Well done whomever you are and from wherever you are. Now I will not have to go around in circles looking for his articles.
An explosion of Paracha’s articles here.
Should keep me busy cuz I hadn’t caught his stuff b4 he start writing for Dawn.
Good work, but this site needs serious updating.
updated. new photos added.
In view of last Tuesday’s killing of innocents at Karachi University, a silent protest is being held against the authorities that be, to demand a complete elimination of all political student parties from the campus. Alumni, faculty and current students will gather on the campus, dressed in black, on Monday, Sep. 1st, 2008. Your presence at the gathering is requested and will be highly appreciated. Thanks.
But NFP thru his writings has proven to be a supporter of PPP and MQM, and was once with NSF and PSF as a student. I dont think he’ll be coming to the protest. He’s allergic to Jamat-e-Islami and IJT!!!!
A biggg fan of you, sir!
As talking about NFP he is among the most talented and the most precoius journalists of pakistan,no doubt his thoughts are good but his vocab is excellent
N.F.P KEEP IT UP!!!!!!
may u suceed in all the hurdels of your life!!!!
a NINTH GRADE student of Pakistan IN KARACHI who never bothered to read any articles but once i read your article in dawn my eyes were popped out!!! which make me to read your articles!!!!
a thankful fan of u!!!!
Seems like the smoke of yesteryears drug addiction has got into NFPs head! If he continues to write like this i m afraid that he will be writing very soon for choke.com!
But NFP is not a journalist. He’s just a columnist, full of contradictions and angst. He can write well though, but he’s definitely not a journalist.
Dear Paracha Sahab,
I love your articles in Daily Dawn, Keep it up, Sir.
Regards
Anila, who said columnists are not journalists? I’m a reporter myself and consider columnists to be journalists. Naturally some are just shoddy and others, like NFP, are brilliant.
NFP, really enjoying your recent reinvention as one of the country’s leading commentators on the issues of extremism and its impact on society.
Alright finally ….
why you no longer post on chowk.com?
I do not think you are insensative, you are just … diffferent !!! a different kind of different you know !!! like a new strain of different !!! it takes time for others to digest this kind of different !!!
@ your picture !!! I’ll say please & I hope you stay away from the bong if you can and keep it clean in future !!!
peace.
Thanks to Ms. Penny for this top notch site holding NFP’s articles. Like many, I too have been a big fan of this rather enigmatic and insightful writer. What’s more, he’s also been one of the bravest journalists in Pakistan considering the hostile reception writers like NFP get from closeminded fanatics out there who think that anyone not toeing their version of Islam are ‘kafirs.’
Kudos to NFP for sticking it out.
Dear Mr. Nadeem,
I’m moved to read your article. I’m a Christian, no longer living in Pakistan. It’s so sad to read about the brutality of the fellow countrymen towards innocent Christians. How could they justify such violence on the name of the Islam that teaches peace in all its manners? I’ve lived in Pak for most of my life and all of my best friends are Muslims to date. I’ve seen tolerance, reasoning, & understanding of my religion in all of friends. The seed of hate that is growing among the Muslims community towards minority Christians is un-understandable. What makes them accuse extremist Hindus when they attack Muslim communities in India, when they have same extremism in their own heart? I truly applause you for standing with the Christians of Pak and declaring yourself a part of them. Thank you for being a true and brave Muslim. God bless you, JM
Hi,
I always enjoy reading your columns, but the one I liked the most was your most recent one: In the defense of reason. I proudly forwarded it to at least dozen of my friends, who are all die hard fans of Zaid Hamid.
I did a little research on you and went through a few of your old columns and it appears that you are a socialist/ marxist, but at the same time it surprised me to find out that you support authoritarian/mafia/terrorist organizations like MQM , along with your equally perplexing support for the dictatorship regime of Musharraf. Besides being little contradictive, I believe you are the new face of Pakistan’s journalism.And, your approach of fair criticism and open discussion can really help to evolve our society.
Sir, please publish your Cafe Black columns from Dawn for July and August.
peace.
Nadeem Sahab,
You may like this
Mudodi Khumeni do bhai, Moudoodi and Khumeni(shia) two Brothers
http://www.scribd.com/doc/15702018/Mudodi-Khumeni-do-bhai-Moudoodi-and-Khumenishia-two-Brothers-a-deep-researc-book-by-Deoband-Ahlesunnat-wal-jamat
To Nas:
Nas, Paracha’s been around ever since the 1990s. He’s been kicking up storms for more than 15 years now, and we love ‘em for it.
Many in Pakistan fail to understand the value of their vote. Agreed we go to the polling stations whenever we are lucky enough to have elections, but having an ink mark on our thumb does not mark the end of our civic duty. When we come out in numbers, those politicians that take Pakistanis for granted are shaken to the core. Those law enforcement agencies carry out their duty with justice. Not only the government, but the army also realizes that it becomes powerless when it is dealing with the nation as one. If we, the people, are able to wield such influence over these powerful institutions by coming together as one unit, lord save the militants if we truly unite as Pakistan.
http://ahraza.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/we-the-people/
Whomsoever that runs and maintains this site has done a great service. One hardly gets to see or hear NFP apart from his punchy articles in DAWN.
Him being the complete opposite of all the religious fanatics and conspiracy theorists out there has been refreshing and hearty.
Whats wrong Penny? Are you such a Parachaite that my previous post wont be put up? Are you afraid that the criticism is actually founded? Bottom line, Paracha and the jokers that support him appear to lack the intellect to reply to the post.
I liked Nadeem Paracha’s dawn article “Smokers’ Corner: Nauseous mumblings ” where he (rightfully) calls out Pakistani pop musician’s (like Ali Noor) for being idiots in avoiding the Taliban problem and creating a needlessly anti-Western sentiment. However, he’s wrong about a lack of Pakistani Musician’s addressing the extremist problem:
Look at this, another fellow Paracha (born and raised in Multan!), with a protest song against Islamic extremists, stuff of courage, I hear he’s a wonderful singer and guitarist, and now lives in USA.
Nadeem tops. Best from Pakistan apart from Irfan Husain and Hoodbhoy.
i am syeda umme humera .in search of my st. pats fellows 1986.hope nadeem paracha will help me. waiting for reply.thanks.
you are the man nadeem keep it up. ill send you my thesis that i am writing agsint this moron zaid hamid these days.
i would love to be friendz with you may be for this common interest of uniting agsint the conspiracy theorists.
i promise you the day will soon come when his lies will be exposed. he claims that he can do anything this infallible omnipotent freek. he cannot even shut down his fake facebook fan page after i created one along with some other friendz.
thanks
Your stuff is thought provoking and spot on. Good that we have people like you.
http://www.livingdesign.info/2010/01/08/hilarious-yet-serious/
Dear Mr. Paracha,
I hope this finds you well. I am currently an assistant researcher with an institute in Norway. I have been asked to network in Pakistan for the institute and I am in process of contacting journalists and analysts for that purpose. I will be in Pakistan from 16th to 30th of January. I was wondering if you could spare some time for a meeting, in case you are based in Islamabad or Lahore. Do let me know if this is a possibility for you.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Kinds regards,
Sana
Dear Mr Nadeem F Piracha,
This is in regards to your post Titled : The Froth of Khan appearing in the dawn blog.
I posted a response to your post at about 12.00 your time on January 29,2010.
Unfortunately it was not accepted by the “moderator” and no reasons were given either for the non posting. Although my criticism was directed against Khan as well but I never thought that a person like you would be so shallow minded in taking a little heat.
It speaks volumes about your intellect and mindset. If you do not have the courage to hear someone else’s point of view then in my opinion you are no different than the talibans of your country.
regards
Mobashar Malik
rumaan27@yahoo.com
Hello,
If a moderator of a certain blog, whether indepedent or hosted by a media group, does not approve your comment, that has nothing to do with the writer of the blog. That decision is taken by the organisation hosting the blog and perhaps your comment did not conform to certain rules or standards.
Regards,
Moderator
http://www.nadeemfparacha.wordpress.com
I am surprized Mr. Mobashir had no clue that this blog is not run by Paracha. NFP has nothing to with it. You’ll be lucky, Mobashir, if he actually goes through your comment (or mine).
Chill.
That is precisely why I wrote the comment in here so that HE might get informed in this so called free media of his.
Mr. Paracha,
I am an avid blogger and recently sent out one of your articles “Our Middle Class” for others to read. The News picked up this article and without informing me, published your article under my name. I have been trying to look for your email address in order to approach you directly. I have obviously not written this article (http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=224854) and apologize for the misunderstanding. Thank you.
AHR
ahr1488@gmail.com
Keep up the good work Mr. Paracha..
Hello, Penny and Nadeem
Love your work and what you are doing!
best regards
art
Nadeem Sahab,
Real Face of Political Islamists.
Mawlana Wahiduddin Khan on Mawdudi Calamity [Fitnah-e-Mawdudiyat]
Two relevant books written on Mawdudi and likes “Taabeer Ki Ghalti” and “Asbaaq-e-Tareekh” by Wahiduddin Khan should be read every Pakistani and Indians too [he ripped apart Mawdudi, Azad, Khomeini, Mohammad Ali Jawhar and even Iqbal and all such Muslim Political Anarchists" - One of the Founders amongst others who left Jamat-e-Islami was Mawlana Wahiduddin Khan [he is still alive and 90 years old and lives in Azam Garh, UP - India] has also and very ruthlessly refuted not only his Former Mullah in Chief Mawdudi but also refuted Khomeini and their destructive ideologies as well in his two books.
1 – Asbaq-e-Tareekh [Lessons of History] published by Fazlee Sons Pakistan.
2 – Ta’abeer Ki Ghalti [Mistakes in Interpretation] published by Fazlee Sons Pakistan.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan [Indian Scholar and one of the founder of Jamat-e-Islami and later resigned] has written on Mawdudi, Khomeini, Azad, Qutub, Hasan Al Banna, Jamaluddin Afghani and all such Violent Deviant Political Islamists.
A glimpse: Read Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s Asbaq-e-Tareekh [Lessons of History]
Asbaq-e-Tarikh Maulana Wahiduddin Khan – Read Yeh Khush Khayal Muffakireen in the link below page 302 on Mawdudi: Asbaq-e-Tarikh Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
http://www.alrisala.org/Audio_Books/Urdu/Asbaq-e-Tarikh/Fehrist.html
Wahid Sahab had written in 60s “Tabeer Ki Ghalti” and this whole book is on Mawdudi’s and his Deviant Jamat-e-Islami, get this book and you will know where these Political Islamists went wrong rather adopted entirely deviant ways. T’abeer Ki Ghalati Maulana Wahiduddin Khan http://www.alrisala.org/Audio_Books/Urdu/Tabir_Ghlti/Fehrist.html
Hey Paracha,let it be.It cannot be done,not now,not ever.Do you think it can happen? Somethings can never change.Never.Its as possible as the red flag on a fort.Common bro,relax.I feel bad for you honsetly,the frustration.Or join them.Make some money and run.Not worth it seriously.
Regards
Postponed suicide till I see that redflag
dear NFP,
I appreciate ur work and agree with u upto 80 to 85 %
God bless u
I want to commend Mr. Paracha for his “Smokers Corner” article in today’s Dawn. “The reactionary republic”
As an American who lived in Karachi for several years I was struck by the lack of broad condemnation for inter-Pakistani violence.
I would join the frequent and loud voices of Pakistanis condemning American violence since I am against injustice and violence of any kind. But the voices against domestic violence where usually from the victims alone and rarely triggered a broader outrage.
But, as a guest in the country, it seemed rude to be critical of Pakistan, so I also remained silent about these horrors.
So I am encouraged to see Mr Paracha speak out against this glaring double standard for outrage against violence.
I’ve returned to America but will always love Pakistan and articles like Mr. Paracha’s make me hopeful about the future of my former guest country.
Greg Allen
Nedeem,
You are far too talented for a country like Pakistan which currently stands 459 years behind civility. You are a man living amongst animals. Some are deluded my weird hypnotic religious fever and some by the ancient twisted hindu / islam mixed practices. It pains me to see people like you who are so talented and recognice and utter the truth living amongst the most corrupt and unsavoury enviornment. I say “get out” brother and take as many with you understand the truth. The west needs educated people like you to take the reins of civilased nation forward.
You will achieve nothing in that land, it is full blind leading the blind. I had this discussion with a friend of mine you summed up our nation in two words. What wonderful words they and were and so precise, “Gulam Qoum”. Yup we truly are a gulam qoum, every action we take, our upbringing, out ethics out standing is the current world shows how backward we are as people. Honestly Nadeem, that country will kill you.
Let’s take this logically, what is a land…it’s nothing !!! Land does not make the country, the people do. We as people are a failure, in every sense of the word. why do we all sell everything and anything to get a Visa to the UK or other western nations ? Same countries that enslaved us ? Because we are better off under them. They have a system and they now how to manage it. We as people are not ready to self-rule. That is the fact of the matter, genetically, emotionally and physically we will not have that capability till another 400 years. As I always say lease Pakistan to China or UK for 20 years and then see the difference. Meanwhile old friend you are living amonst ” dou paoun wallay dangurs” you see ” chaar paoun waalay dangur” are good…they give you milk, meat and plough your land, but “dou paoun walla dangur” gives you nothing apart from having kids.
Get your Nadeem, whilst you can. These people do not deserve you . Like Iqbal you think outside the box and are not made for the people who don’t understand you.
I usually totally concur with Nadeem Piracha’s views and find it highly disconcerting how the educated class of Pakistan has been duped into adopting a virulently anti-western posture in favor of the savages and barbarians that stalk the country.
However, I find his total loyalty to the Bhuttos and to the deeply flawed and corrupt leadership of the PPPP very troubling and intellectually dishonest. By not taking them to task he may be helping them staying in power temporarily until their term expires but if they continue their reckless waywardness, there is no question that the arch conservative, terrorist friendly NS will come to power next and wouldn’t that be a real disaster for Pakistan and the world? Therefore, NP, be an ‘equal opportunity’ brutal critic of whatever is wrong with whomsoever.
Hello Nadeem Sir,
I often read your writing in dawn and I love it
I am an Indian… I have a friend in Pakistan, who needs my help there
But I REALLY need to go there to help her and her family
You know the terms between India and Pakistan…
For that reason its tough to get Pakistan Visa
Indians are denied Tourist VISA to Pakistan by default
We can not go there even for any kind of relief work – Indians and Israelis are denied for that.
I don’t have any relatives there – that way I cant get relative VISA
There is only one way – to get approval from Interior Minister by my friend…
But she is so poor and influential that she and her family can not get that…
Can anybody there who can help me please to get a Pakistan Visa for a month?
About me, I am a software professional, age 36, male – to love all is all I want to do in my life and god realization is my only GOAL.
with love from India,
gopu
Nice talent you have, but it’s unfortunate that like so many other talented persons you are going the same road called “nowhere”. Why? Because over the years I have seen you slowly and gradually getting into the same position where people you hate are. You have turned yourself into a hate speech writer and have no tolerance of others ideas and thoughts, exactly like those you hate. I am a Muslim and a proud one but fortunately or unfortunately was never able to associate myself with any and I mean any one school of thought and kept my focus on THE book. The reason I never associated with any one school of thought is because all of them said the same thing and it made me walk away from them. They all told me that they were better than the others but never once told me what that good was that made them better rather they only highlighted what was wrong with others. Dear nadeem my writing skills are not even close to yours in fact I find you gifted but please forgive me if I sound critical as I have no intentions of criticising your opinions. I just want to share my fears that a person so talented might end up being exactly what he hates. Though I am nobody to advise you but I think the best way to prove that what you stand for is right is to share its good things and not by highlighting the faults of the others. I think my bad skills have taken too much of the space and am still not sure if I have expressed myself completely. Requesting your forgiveness if I have offended you I take my leave. Oh one last thing, your article in dawn today in which you said that Saudi king’s word means nothing with regard to our president, well, I agree, we are a nation much smarter than these Arabs and figure out things way before they do.
May I please have Mr Paracha’s email address.
I have written an article and would like his comments on my article.
My email address is sjunaidn@gmail.com
Kind Regards
Junaid
Junaid we are not allowed to hand out NFP’s email. However, we have forwarded your request to him.
i am looking for the email address or contact number of mr paracha
junaid you can write to dawn newspaper or dawn.com for this. We have however forwarded your request to NFP.
i doubt if you’ll get his email or tel no. dawn does not publish it and in spite of trying my best, I just can’t get hold of him.
Maybe the people incharge of this blog might help?
Believe me Yasser, NFP is as tough to pin down for us as he is for many of his readers. We have asked him to at least allow us to give his emial address to particular readers by emailing it to them. Let’s see.
I can see NFP does not rply here. But then he never replies anywhere – not in his Dawn columns, not on Twitter and not even if you send him an email. Sometimes it feels NFP is just a creation of Dawn who does not exist in person.
Hahaha. Rest assured Naushad, NFP is quite real, but just a tad bit difficult to meet or get a response from.
i searched a lot to contact nadeem f paracha but i cant find his email, i want to request him that many persons like me want to read his writtings, they should be in urdu also, i request sir paracha plz write in urdu so that many can read u ,u r the need of pakistani people and 95 percent pakistani do not know well english like urs ,i also hardly understand english, plz translate and write in urdu plz
Dear Munawar, we have forwarded your request to NFP via email.
at last i found a site where i have got the writings of my favorite young progressive writer in this dark days of Pakistan at least in ideological way where no one is wishing to write the truth of progressive politics and way out for left oriented peoples. engr.a.r.baloch from lyari Karachi where faiz spent his days in haroon college and guided the students and labor as well as political lleaders.
NFP you are the best writer in Pakistan, who speaks hard core truth, and give such a true depiction of our really confused, hypocritic culture. For me the sundays mean reading your articles. Keep up the good job!
DEAR ALL,
As mentioned in the header of this blog, this website is NOT OWNED AND RUN BY NFP.
As I remarked once before, NFP is mostly on the right side of the issues but his slavish loyalty to the PPPP scoundrels is most troubling. He would be more convincing if he learns to be more objective and becomes critical of PPPP leadership as well, which too is a deeply flawed party
Dear Penny, do you have ANY email address I can contact NFP at? Im putting together a TEDx event and would really love to contact him and officially invite him. I would really really appreciate if you can contact me on tedxiba@gmail.com with any form of his contact?
NFP’s latest piece (Dawn, May 17, 2012) is absolutely outstanding. It is perhaps the first time that he has not spared even the PPPP crowd, a sign of his greater maturity. To not appear as partisan, he has to continue poking fun at whoever deserves it and not be an apologist for the PPPP.
looking your contact to share some common cause( to unite liberal mins in pakistan)
internetlivemedia@yahoo.com
Good to read you.
beyond words,truly amazing…
Dear NFP. Can you write an article about how Saudi Arabia planned to propagate their view points. I spoke to Hamza Yousuf, the Christian cleric who converted to Islam. I asked him it was never the sunnah of the prophet pbuh to knock at people’s doors to spread Islam, so why do tagleeghi jamaat do it. And his answer was that the government of Saudi Arabia decided that in order to educate the people of Pakistan (I hadn’t told him I was Pakistani) about hadeeth, door knocking was the most effective way. I was living in Boston, US some time back and somehow the Tableeghi jamaat managed to trace my location and knocked at my door too. They were about 40 of them and asked if they could come into my house. I agreed. They all sat in a circle in my living room. When they entered my house, a naat was already on my stereo system. When they were about to speak, I asked the leader to give me 15-20 sec because the naat was about to end and it was disrespectful talk during a naat. He immediately retorted that if it’s naat, there is no problem to talk, but if it was hamd, then he would have stayed quiet. They already got me furious at this comment. Anyways, he continued that the reason he knocked at my home is because he wanted me to join them in prayer at the mosque and all the brothers had come from long distance to do dawaat-e-Islam. Some were from NY, some NJ, Virginia etc. I agreed there is no problem and I have no problem joining them. I offered them water to drink, but they refused. This ticked me further and I told them if you don’t drink water or eat food after visiting my home, Allah will reduce my rizk. So I asked them why don’t they knock at my neighbors door, who was a Hindu. They had no answer and said my Allah give them Hidayat. I got angry and said isn’t tableeg supposed to be for non-muslims. I was so close to kick them out of my house, but I was afraid they would mark my house and probably do some vandalism in the name of Jihad.
Please write an article about how Sufis never knocked at anyone’s door. People knocked at their doors. They attracted people with their piety and ability to solve problems ranging from disease, problems in the family etc. I think it’s time to fight back.