"Alina of Azimabad" provides a rare and valuable insight into issues being faced by women in South Asia. Alina, the character created by the author tells an extraordinary and remarkable account of her life spread over almost half a century. The story starts off in the aftermath of the partition of India. It is a saga of the hidden world of feudalism with its exploitation and degeneration.

The account also stresses the point that Pakistan is not inhabited by fanatics and is as normal a country as any other.

The author has very vividly touched upon social problems in his work and has...