The Pakistani Spectator

A Candid Blog


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We Want Back Our Purana Pakistan

By Faiz Al-Najdi • May 10th, 2013 • Category: Lead Story, Politics, Worth A Second Look

Trrrng, Trrrrrng, Trrrrrrrng - rang my phone bell.
Me: Hello, Hello – Yes?
Somebody on the phone began to sing the following nursery rhyme:
<<Humty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the King’s men and all the King’s horses
could not put Humpty Dumpty together again>>
Me: Who is it with me?
Ha Ha – I am [...]



Mushaira in Riyadh

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Apr 23rd, 2013 • Category: Entertainment

This past Thursday (18 April-2013) Riyadh witnessed a star-studded gathering of poets of kaleidoscopic class & color who enthralled the Pakistani audience that had gathered in the Community Hall of the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh. The event was a commemorative Mushaira (poetry Symposium) arranged and hosted by Pakistan Culture Group – aka: PCG. About [...]



Do Not Lend Ear to Rumors

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Apr 11th, 2013 • Category: Politics

Pakistani Ambassador advised his nationals not to lend ears to rumors being spread with evil intentions about the recent raids by the Saudi Passport authorities. He was speaking at a gathering in the community hall of the embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh on Thursday evening where he was the Chief Guest. The occasion was celebration [...]



Pakistani Folk Singer Mesmerizes the Crowd in Riyadh

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Mar 30th, 2013 • Category: Entertainment

Thursday evening was a unique one in its own right in Riyadh. Cars after cars of the Pakistanis and many South Asian communities were seen to throng in to King Fahd Cultural Complex right after Maghreb – just to occupy front seats in the auditorium. The occasion was a grand gala musical evening featuring the [...]



Sir Syed Day Celebrated by the Aligrah Muslim University Old Boys Association-Riyadh

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Feb 11th, 2013 • Category: Entertainment

“Education is the only tool to make humankind reasonably equal”, this was stated by Mahesh Nanabhai Bhatt before an august gathering of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association-Riyadh aka: AMUOBA-R. Mahesh Nanabhai Bhatt - the prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter – was especially invited by AMOUBA-R as the Chief Guest for its event [...]



Former Indian Cricket Captain Azharuddin is in Riyadh

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Jan 28th, 2013 • Category: Entertainment

Star and feted cricketer and former captain of the Indian Cricket Team - Mohammad Azharuddin - is in Riyadh. He is on a private visit to the Kingdom upon an invitation extended to him from Nadeem Tareen – a cricket-loving fan of him and the owner of Delhi Public School in Riyadh.
On Saturday he paid [...]



Boom Boom Afridi Enthralls His Fans in Riyadh

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Jan 24th, 2013 • Category: Entertainment

It was a rare moment for all especially the kids to cross path with the star cricketer Shahid Khan Afridi aka: Boom Boom Afridi. The occasion was reception by Royal Academy of Cricket-Riyadh in his honor. AlKhozama Banquet Hall was packed to capacity with young and old, men and women, and of course the small [...]



Star Cricketer Shahid Afridi to Visit Riyadh on the 21st Instant

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Jan 20th, 2013 • Category: Entertainment

A welcome reception for Shahid Afridi – a star Pakistani cricketer - is being arranged by the Royal Academy of Cricket aka: RAC in Riyadh on 21st January. This was announced by the officials of RAC in a press conference held in Riyadh. During the press conference the RAC board also announced hosting of Saudi [...]



Bidding Good Bye to the Kingdom After 35 Years of Stay

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Jan 19th, 2013 • Category: Misc

Former President of Pakistan Writers Club–Riyadh  (aka: PWC) – Syed Bashir Ahmed - decided to hang his hat and bid good bye to the desert Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after living and working here for about 35 years. PWC hosted a farewell dinner reception for him in a local hotel which was attended by a [...]



Press Release By Dr. Farzana Bari on NGO Killing

By Faiz Al-Najdi • Jan 3rd, 2013 • Category: Politics

Another shocking incident of killing of NGO workers is nerve breaking! We seem to be in perpetual state of mourning with no respite. Protests and press releases issued from us on such grave incidents seem so meaningless and yet  i do not know how to express my shock and disgust on [...]