Sonya Syed

Wow! It feels nice to be back to my favourite place in the world, my blog, my love. But today it seems that the world has rotated 360 degrees. As I was trying to figure out how to tap into this new world order I thought the best way is to ask my Higher Power to guide me through. And what a better way to do that, other than recite a prayer ‘Dua Istikhara’ a supplication used by Muslims to seek guidance from Allah before making a decision. If we just read the translation of this supplication: “O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge and power and ask You from Your great bounty. Surely, you can do it, and I am not. You know, and I do not, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion, life, and end, then decree it for me, make it easy, and bless it for me. But if You know that this matter is bad for me, in my religion, my existence, and my end, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is g...

 A very happy new year to all my lovely family, dearest friends & amazing readers. I am amazed that on 1 January 2024 for the first time in my life I am not home but in Dubai. Dubai, a city of lights, kites, bikes, heights, and of course Rolls Royce; where people of so many beautiful & different languages, cultures come for earning livelihoods, some for shopping, others to optimize their wealth and while others come aboard on winters to have some fun. Dubai was not in my bucket list because it was synonymous to earning money and I hardly had any sense or concept of wealth. All I enjoyed is the little pocket-money that my mom used to give me out of my own salary and that was my life. I could buy coffee, I could go crazy with stationary shopping (I know stationary sounds crazy but I never claimed to be normal). However, it all changed about two years ago when, one fine day, my mom handed over the burden of financial management over to me. No more pocket money but I will b...

So Sindh government has finally announced Children Drama Industry Ordinance and the Sindh Actor Royalty Ordinance to protect the rights and well-being of children working in the entertainment industry. Since the law is announced by the Government of Sindh it will only protect children in Karachi, as there is hardly any entertainment work carried on in other areas of Sindh. It is a nice step but more of it seems to be purely for marketing purposes before the elections of 2024, because till yesterday the above laws were not available in draft/ bill forms on the Sindh assembly’s website. Then what else is interesting that both these laws would be introduced as ordinances, consequently they would be only valid for 120 days thereafter these legislations will need approval of majority of “ ELECTED ” members of parliament.  What an irony? At one end Sindh govt. is introducing laws to protect rights of our children but on the other end Sindh assembly's entire elected members of oppositio...

I feel certain heaviness in my mind, thought process is not what it used to be. Yet I don’t want to sound sad or depressed. I want to be hopeful in the midst of the darkness that seems prevalent in Pakistan these days. Worst economic news is coming from every direction, we all are struggling with apprehensions and insecurity regarding the future and our government /power circles are apparently unaffected and living in a bubble of denial. Since the political ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan the political instability, role of Military and Civil establishment is so badly exposed that it is impossible to be remain naïve any more .    So what am I supposed to do? Worry, panic or go crazy with stress- honestly I don’t have the luxury to lose control over myself even for a bit. With all these frightful happenings I chose to take one deep breath, then another breath and another. A word called “Faith” suddenly pops out in mind. But what does  faith  means? I am a M...

Today my heart is shattered and broken into pieces; every piece is hurting and giving pain. The leader who was appointed after so many of prayers may be ousted from his office. Yes I am talking about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s removal after voting on the no-confidence motion given by the opposition parties. This no-confidence motion is provided as our constitutional right; however it is being used for every other purpose which the constitution makers never even dreamt off. Lots of negative politics, foreign interference, corruption cases and fear of losing power are the main aims for this no-confidence motion. While on the other hand, millions of people like me are in dismay and melancholy apprehending what is in store for the citizens of Pakistan. As difficult it is, we have to accept the reality and face whatever is to come with the hope that tomorrow the sun will shine erasing the darkness of night.  With war in Ukraine where the entire country is going through so much des...

  Today I am deeply saddened and lost for words at the passing away of  Mr. Sohail Muzaffar. A lthough my teacher, my mentor and a wonderful soul Mr. Sohail left us for his  heavenly  abode in February 2021. The most painful thing is that I just came to know about his news few days ago when I tried to call him for some advice. He wasn’t picking up the phone so I checked his facebook to contact him and from there I came to know of his passing away. Every day I thought about calling him but one thing or the other happened and I kept postponing my call; for almost a year I have not even looked at my facebook account. Yet I always found solace from the very thought that he will be fine and some fine day I will call him or probably pay him a surprise visit at his office and then we will gossip about the latest happenings over a cup of coffee.  All these plans only remained in my mind, for years I made plans but never acted on them. Today I am at lost for any words,...