Nadeem F. Paracha
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). He has also written a novelette, Acidity and a collection of short stories, Graffiti Christ. He co-hosts AAJ TV’s political satire show, News, Views & Confused with Fasi Zaka.
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 two columns for Dawn Newspaper (Smokers Corner and Naked Lunch) and a column for chowk.com, called Cafe Black.
– picked from www.chowk.com
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.