<\/p>\n
Explore our most-read stories in the outgoing year.<\/p>\n
The year 2023, on the news front, was dominated by former prime minister Imran Khan, his arrest, the subsequent events of May 9, and the consequent crackdown on the PTI that led to a switching of political loyalties.<\/p>\n
Throughout these events, one question persisted on the media\u2019s minds: will the elections take place? When will they be held?<\/p>\n
But surprisingly, only a few of these events garnered the attention of Dawn.com\u2019s<\/em> avid readers.<\/p>\n Instead, it was topics like the Khalistan Movement, the IMF-dictated bill being passed by the National Assembly, an opinion piece on the criticism of the country\u2019s elite class, a take on the Pak-India World Cup fixture, and PIA flight attendants slipping away in Canada that captivated the interest of readers in 2023.<\/p>\n Scroll down to find out more about the 10 stories published on Dawn.com<\/em> that attracted the highest digital traffic in the outgoing year.<\/p>\n Published November 14<\/em><\/p>\n Over the past three years<\/a>, it has almost become a trend for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight attendants to slip away, particularly in Canada.<\/p>\n Last month\u2019s escape brought the total number of PIA crew members who have successfully slipped away upon arrival in Toronto to four this year. But what\u2019s alarming is the fact that four PIA crew members slunk away last year<\/a> too.<\/p>\n And a year prior in 2021 as well<\/a>. The incident even prompted PIA to confiscate<\/a> the passports of cabin crew on arrival in a bid to control the incidents but to no avail as aforementioned.<\/p>\n In the latest incident, two senior flight attendants, Khalid Meh\u00admood and Feda Hussain, reached Canada from Islamabad by PIA flight PK772 and slipped away.<\/p>\n Read more about the successful sneak way here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Published on January 15<\/em><\/p>\n Finding this on the list pointed out that the article did end up answering the question asked in the headline succinctly.<\/p>\n It discussed the multifaceted interactions between Islam and the South Asian region during the golden age of Islam apart from talking about the Indus Valley\u2019s role in enriching the Muslim world with scholars.<\/p>\n The article challenges the stereotypical narrative that portrays Islam\u2019s advent into South Asia as one-sided, asserting that the exchange of knowledge and cultural influences was reciprocal.<\/p>\n Take a delve into history by reading more about it here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Published on February 6<\/em><\/p>\n The \u201cwhat if\u201d question and the potential repercussions also captivated our readers considering the economy\u2019s troubled state with sky-rocketing inflation<\/a> and a stalled<\/a> at the time International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.<\/p>\n The IMF executive board approved<\/a> the much-needed nine-month standby arrangement (SBA) with Pakistan in June \u201cto support its economic stabilisation programme\u201d.<\/p>\n In the latest developments, the Fund reached<\/a> a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on the first review of a $3 billion bailout where the country will receive $700 million after approval.<\/p>\n This article by an Islamabad economist namely Asad Ejaz Butt shed light on the consequences Pakistan had to face if it defaulted with the IMF.<\/p>\n Get aware of the repercussions here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Published on May 9<\/em><\/p>\n Former prime minister Imran Khan\u2019s first arrest<\/a> on May 9, from the premises of the Islamabad High Court can be termed, one of the biggest political events of 2023.<\/p>\n The details about the Al Qadir Trust case in which the PTI Supremo was arrested for the first time resonated profoundly with Dawn.com<\/em> readers.<\/p>\n He was later released<\/a> by the Supreme Court but the events that took place between Imran\u2019s arrest and release will haunt the officious corridors of power and also PTI for a long time.<\/p>\n After three months, the star cricketer-turned-politician was nabbed<\/a> again after a lower court found him guilty of \u201ccorrupt practices\u201d in the Toshakhana case and sentenced him to three years in prison.<\/p>\n Details surrounding the Al Qadir Trust case can be read here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Published on Jan 7<\/em><\/p>\n Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire<\/a> with the government last year.<\/p>\n The question posed in the article engaged our readers through the insights of Islamabad-based physicist and writer Pervez Hoodbhoy.<\/p>\n He talks about how the Pakistan Army \u201cwith its tough professionalism and experience in non-conventional warfare could have conclusively defeated a ragtag terrorist militia\u201d but that did not happen.<\/p>\n Read more about the tactical and strategic missteps that strengthened the enemy here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Published on Nov 16<\/em><\/p>\n The cartoon by Muhammad Zahoor published in Dawn<\/em> newspaper secured the fifth spot in terms of digital traffic.<\/p>\n It depicted PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif standing in the middle of a herd of sheep with a signboard labelled \u201cBalochistan\u201d.<\/p>\n This cartoon was published a day after Sharif\u2019s first visit to Balochistan<\/a> following his return<\/a>. He managed to rope in<\/a> over two dozen electables from the country\u2019s largest province ahead of the forthcoming general elections on Feb 8.<\/p>\n Published on October 13<\/em><\/p>\n Taha Anis\u2019 take on the year\u2019s most anticipated cricket fixture, detailing how the home team stood little chance against their arch-rivals, also captured the attention of Dawn.com<\/em> readers.<\/p>\n The prediction turned out to be correct as India steamrolled Pakistan<\/a> by seven wickets in a lopsided blockbuster match.<\/p>\n Pakistan were bowled out for 191 in the 43rd over after their batting line-up collapsed characteristically in the face of disciplined Indian bowlers.<\/p>\n Read up on the analysis here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Published on Jan 28<\/em><\/p>\n Writer and physicist Hoodbhoy takes another spot on the list with his opinion piece discussing elite bashing, which he terms the \u201cnewest sport\u201d initiated by the country\u2019s masses.<\/p>\n He beams a spotlight on the comparison between the Pakistan and world\u2019s elite class, highlighting that the Pakistani elite also \u201cspits on the law just like the common man\u201d.<\/p>\n Read more on elite bashing here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Published on Feb 21<\/em><\/p>\n The government\u2019s imposition of an additional Rs170 billion in taxes, at the insistence of the IMF, took the country\u2019s middle class by storm.<\/p>\n Despite clearly lacking quorum, the National Assembly (NA) passed the bill with the then finance minister Ishaq Dar pinning the blame on PTI for being solely responsible for this economic burden on the masses.<\/p>\n Read more on the lackluster debate here<\/a> as NA passed the bill<\/em><\/p>\n Published on September 19<\/em><\/p>\n Tensions between Canada and India escalated when the Canadian government expelled<\/a> an Indian diplomat who was \u201cthe chief of India\u2019s intelligence agency\u201d in the country over the murder<\/a> of a Sikh leader in British Colombia.<\/p>\n Sikh separatists demand that their homeland \u201cKhalistan\u201d, meaning \u201cthe land of the pure\u201d, be created out of Punjab.<\/p>\n The demand has resurfaced many times, most prominently during an insurgency in the 1970s and 1980s that paralysed the Indian Punjab for over a decade.<\/p>\n Read up more<\/a> on the Khalistan Movement which is considered a security threat by the Indian government<\/em><\/p>\n The next five most-read pieces of 2023 (numbers 11-15) are:<\/p>\n10. Two more PIA flight attendants vanish in Canada<\/h2>\n
9. How the Indus Valley fed Islam\u2019s golden age<\/h2>\n
8. If Pakistan defaulted\u2026<\/h2>\n
7. Imran arrest: What is the Al Qadir Trust case?<\/h2>\n
6. Why the TTP is undefeatable?<\/h2>\n
5. Cartoon<\/h2>\n
4. Pakistan take on India in World Cup as clear underdogs<\/h2>\n
3. Why bash the elite?<\/h2>\n
2. NA passes IMF-dictated finance supplementary bill<\/h2>\n
1. What is the Khalistan movement and why is it fuelling India-Canada rift?<\/h2>\n
Our top 11-15<\/h2>\n
\n