Granta 112: Pakistan

Pakistan is a nation in crisis. It is also at the forefront of a literary renaissance. Granta 112: Pakistan seizes this moment to present unusual perspectives and hard-hitting reportage on one of the most discussed nations today.

Nadeem Aslam’s novella Leila in the Wilderness leads the issue. Aslam tells the story of a young bride who is imprisoned by her husband and his mother, and is brutally punished each time she gives birth to a baby girl. But what

happens when a mosque - built by angels? - mysteriously appears on a disputed island on the river?

The issue also includes reports on Kashmir, campaigning among the Pashtun, Pakistan’s founding father Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the search for a Sheedi shrine and Pakistani pop idols from Basharat Peer, Declan Walsh, Jane Perlez, Lorraine Adams with Ayesha Nasir, Fatima Bhutto and Kamila Shamsie. Bold short fiction by Mohsin Hamid, Mohammed Hanif, Uzma Aslam Khan and introducing Jamil Ahmad explores love and violence. Sarfraz Manzoor, Intizar Hussain and Aamer Hussein remember London and Pakistan. The established Pashto poet Hasina Gul and up-and- coming Urdu poet Yasmeen Hameed appear here, along with the first published poem by short story master Daniyal Mueenuddin.

In a special collaboration with arts organization Green Cardamom, Granta 112’s visual essay showcases a range of new talent from the unequivocal political commentary of Ayesha Jatoi to the meditative, somewhat spiritual installations of Imran Qureshi.

With a striking cover by Pakistani truck artist Islam Gull. Like the magazine’s issues on India and Australia, Granta 112 is a critical watershed. It is also a celebration of the corona of talent writing in Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto and English which has burst onto the English-language publishing world.