From the Editor

Hi folks,

Here we are, with yet another issue of Us! But, as always this week's Us also has something special for all of you. Guys, we don't even realise how blessed all of Us are, we sometime ignore the blessing showered by the Almighty on all of Us.

And the best gift from God, which a human being can ever think of, is a mother. A mother has no equal in this world, whether we realise it or not. And that is the reason why all religions emphasise on the importance of parents, especially mother.

So, this week Iqra Asad has taken the task of enlightening Us about the importance of different aspects of motherhood; to make this Mother's Day special issue, really special.

Readers, we have decided to start printing the profile of famous personalities, and this week Maira Ahmed writes about the life and achievements of the legendary poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Sarah Ziyad Syed has chosen to discuss the current political scenario of Pakistan. Considering the political turmoil in our country, Sarah feels that the formation of the government is a positive step and she hopes that things will get better under the current prime minister of Pakistan. (Fingers crossed!)

Bilal Hussain writes about the poor condition of sports in the country and certain steps taken by the corporate sector recently in order to push the standard of sports in a better direction.

Besides, there are our regulars to make this week really special for all of you. Just remember one thing, you don't get the opportunity, to show your loved ones how important they are for you, very often. So make sure you make this Mother's Day, for your mothers, a day to remember!

Till next week,

Ciao!

Dear Editor

Letter printed!

Hey Ed!

The cover story of April 11, 2008 by Seher Sheikh was awesome and rocking. Thumbs up and hats off to you, Seher, for writing such a good article. I really enjoyed reading it and you are 100% right. It has become a trend in our society to use mobile phone without any need. The misuse of mobile really makes me angry, especially when I receive a call from an unknown number asking for friendship! It looks cheap and awkward.

The poem by Kanza Tariq 'A little more kind' was nice and heart touching. Saad Javed also rocks all the time.

Please print my letter. 

Samra Athar, Mardan

Enough is enough!

At last. Finally… :) Someone, and that too a girl, had the guts to come out and say, 'Hello girls! That's enough!' Rabia girl, thank you so much for at least voicing out my opinions. Seriously, I was greatly embarrassed that day when my mum said, "Kabhi nahi dekha tha kai larkiyan kahain kai some writer is so cute. Yai larkyion ko kya ho gaya hai? Writing 'uff Allah he likes eggs and stuff!' I mean, girls, please! They are not some pop icons or something. They are simple writers and ahem, ahem, it's their written material that you people should fall in love with. No offence, but seriously, there should be an end to this rubbish. And honestly speaking, Saad and Awais should open a fan club so that these foolish letters go there instead of taking up space in the letters section. And no offence girls, but puhleez you should be moderated Muslim girls instead of acquiring the attitude of flop Western girls.                             

Ayesha Anwer, Rawalpindi

Praise or…???

Hey Eddy,

You made a taciturn reader of yours speak her mind by publishing an issue drenched with Shakespeare from head to toe. A cursory glance on the cover made my eyes pop out of their sockets and I went on and on gulping, or rather digesting the whole issue.

You know, Eddy, I love Shakespeare :P

Thanks a ton for publishing such a beautiful issue, now deeply embedded on my mind never to be erased from my mind's slate :) Hats off to the whole team of Us.

Sadia Manzoor, Lahore

Praise and advice!

Hey Ed!

You people are doing a fantastic job. Hats off to you on your last issue (25 April) on Shakespeare! Mind blowing! I really think it would be good if you make an edition completely on a famous personality every month. Anyway, other than that I would like people to pay attention to what Usman from Lahore wrote about politicians; it's absolutely correct, but it's not only their fault. You may be aware that there is a certain group that is creating all the fuss in this country. Nobody is sure about which political party it belongs to, but it is certainly their planning that is making the lives of people in cities like Karachi and Lahore miserable. This group is one heck of a clever group and their timings are accurate. They attack when they realise that there are problems between political parties and cleverly exploit the situation.

Please print the posters of Fawad Khan and Tom Felton.

Sehr Rushmeen, Quetta

Missing persons…

Salam Ed!

Your magazine is going great, especially the cover stories. I just want to ask where the cream of the mag has gone. Of course, I am talking about Bilal Tanweer and Haseeb Ahmed; where are they? I'm really missing them although you have got two new awesome writers, Awais Aftab and Saad Javed. Please call them back if you have actually deposed them :p (as nowadays this custom is very IN, kicking valuable people from their rightful place). And please don't stop printing the 'Greetings' page. Hope you will pay heed to my requests.

Kudos!

Asma Rehman, Kahuta

We haven't deposed any of them, Asma. They are just too busy to write for Us…

Praise for Hafsah

Hi,

I became a reader of your magazine in March 2008, and found it very interesting and full of information and jokes. I must congratulate the entire team of Us for doing a splendid job.

In the issue of April 18, 2008, I read the cover story 'Life is precious', and must say that the author did a good job. I hope Us magazine will reach the pinnacle of success.  

Aneel Kumar Ahuja, Karachi

Another type of text

messages…

Dear Ed!

I read the cover story by Sehar Sheikh in the issue of April 11, 2008. I couldn't send you the letter earlier because of my exams. Her article was fabulous and I'm writing this letter just to praise her. I was simply thrilled when I read it.

However, there was one major thing missing that she could have mentioned in her article. She did not talk about those messages that have this religious touch to them and those with Quranic verses due to which we feel compelled to forward them to others. Usually we get a message and we are told to send it to seven or eight other people if we want to hear some good news, or else we will regret for years if we ignore this message. In fact, I got a message the other day saying, "If you believe that prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the last messenger of Allah, send me a hundred rupees cell phone card!"

In the end I would say that Us is getting incredible week by week. Keep up the good work!

Hamza Asad, Peshawar

Paper quality – our

nemesis

Hello Ed,

I just want to give a message to all the readers of Us mag who often complain of the poor paper quality and say that it should be glossy. I want to say that we should see what is printed in the mag. I think that the person who judges a book by its cover is foolish. Us is a big treat for us. You guys are doing a marvellous job.

Ayesha Zara

Good job!

Aloha Ma'am!

Well, this is my first letter to Us magazine so I hope it gets printed! I guess I don't need to tell you that

you people are doing marvellous job... :)

The story by WHS in one of the previous issues was pretty hilarious and made me laugh like maniacs. Poems by Awais Aftab are just awesome. Hats off! And yeah, Eddy, please don't remove the 'Greetings' page; it's fun reading it. The 'Graffiti' was also fantastic. The 'Think Pad' by Yusrah F. was impressive!

Keep doing the good job.

Tayyabah Shaukat, Peshawar

Think about it, guys!

Dear Edi,

I agree with Nabeel Naqvi when he says that the Pakistan Cricket Board is permanently confused! They have no idea what they are doing and what they should do! They lost all the experienced players and I have no idea what they're planning to achieve by banning their own players! They honestly are killing the sport for cricket fans!

I also read Hafsah Sarfraz's piece on suicide. It was really well written and I believe that it is really important that people start talking about and discussing such matters because in the past year I have seen more and more people (mostly girls) in my college who have either attempted suicide or have mercilessly cut their arms just for the heck of it! Even a lot of people who are quite close to me and DO NOT have cause for committing suicide have at least twice or thrice cut their forearms! As much as I hate to say, it's becoming rather like a fashion and a trend to have cuts on your arms! A girl actually replied after I inquired: "Tum bhi ker ke dekhna bohat maza ata hai" and I stood there gaping at her!

And no matter how depressing and seemingly hopeless a situation seems, suicide is the easiest, most cowardly and selfish thing one could do!

We are Muslims, guys! And even if we have forgotten everything else at least remember that suicide is haraam. What's the difference left between a teenager who commits suicide and a suicide bomber? Both hurt and destroy families!

Think about it.

Zainab Iqtidar

Request!

Hi Eddie,

You people are doing a great job. I want you to do me a favour: can you please print the poster of Jack and Rose (Leonardo and Kate Winslet in Titanic)? Please don't let me down. Us' writers are superb; I envy them - in a good way.

Hafsa, Rawalpindi