Ahsan Khan has responded to the controversy surrounding the inclusion of animals “as props” on his talk show Time Out with Ahsan Khan.
“Let me clarify. These rabbits are basically pets and the person who owns them brings them to the set,” said Ahsan, while speaking exclusively to The Current. “When they are on set, we make sure that they are well-fed and taken care of and are not facing any issues. They are not uncomfortable at all. The person whose pets they are keeps them indoors and they are very easy to play with.”
“Araam say haathon main aa jaatay hain,” explained Khan.
Khan further went onto share the segment has been inspired by the Hop Quiz on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
“Basically, this segment has been inspired by Hollywood’s The Tonight Show,” said Ahsan.
The actor then said that being a pet lover he is very careful with the animals on set and cares for them.
“I myself am a pet lover,” said Ahsan. “I have dogs at home. I have cats. I also have parrots and hens and they are all like my own children. We try to provide them with comfortable environments. So naturally, we are very careful with the animals – all of us on set.”
He further said that after the show invited backlash for “using animals as props,” he and his producer decided to avoid it.
“My producer and I thought that if this is hurting people and they are not liking it, then we can avoid it. So we have cut out the segment in the last three to four episodes we’ve recorded,” stated Ahsan, clarifying that the ones which included the animals were shot before.
“Although this segment is one of my favourites because this is the only one in which we discuss general knowledge, which not only educates my guests but also those who are watching the show. Whoever gives a wrong answer has to hold the pet in their lap,” he shared. It is pertinent to add here that the male guests usually enjoy petting the animals but the female guests are scared of them and often jump around screaming when asked to hold them.
“We on our end have been very careful with handling them, but if some people don’t like it then we, including my producers and all can apologise to them,” concluded Khan. “It’s a mutual thing. If something is not right, we should look into it.”
Earlier, a Lahore-based law firm Crown Chambers had filed a complaint before the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) against Express Entertainment and the show for using animals as props.
Our Law Firm has filed Complaint in PEMRA Council of Complaint against use of Rabbit as Props in Show aired on Express Entertainment hosted by Actor Ahsan Khan. The said act is violation of Article 9 of Constitution, Animal Cruelty Act 1890 and Judgment of Islmabad High Court. pic.twitter.com/fwfJMz8Ytw
“The said segment on the TV show, subjecting a sentient living being, an animal, to unnecessary suffering is not only an offence under the law but a breach of the constitutionally guaranteed right to life under Art. 9 of the constitution, as laid down by Islamabad high court in Islamabad Wildfire Management board Vs Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, cited in 2021 CLC 262,” read the complaint.
It further said: “The format of the segment involves a series of questions and answers with known celebrities as guests, who if fail to answer properly, as a “punishment” or “penalty”, are required to hold an animal or at times required to pile several animals such as petrified rabbits/pigeons etc, on their laps, causing distress not only to the animals but to the guest at times as well.”
“Morever, it has spread the message to masses through the said TV channel that projecteing such treatmeant onto animals is acceptable.”
The inclusion of animals on Time Out with Ahsan Khan sparked outrage after a video of Maya Ali screaming and jumping around while being teased with the rabbits went viral on social media. She had appeared on the show with Bilal Ashraf.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and First Lady Bushra Bibi tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. They are both self-isolating at home and are feeling “comfortable with mild symptoms” according to government spokespersons.
the news of PM Imran testing positive was announced by Dr Faisal Sultan on Twitter, we saw that a lot of people started questioning the efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine as the premier had just been administered the first dose two days ago.
It also led to a lot of conspiracy theories. In a country where the anti-vaxxers have led a vicious campaign against polio drops, it is extremely crucial that these myths be busted. Thus it was good to see the Government of Pakistan’s official social media accounts as well the Ministry of National Health’s social media account give a clarification about the vaccination process.
They tweeted that PM Imran “was not fully vaccinated when he contracted the virus”. They explained that he only got the first dose merely two days ago, which is too soon for any vaccine to become effective. They also clarified that anti-bodies develop 2-3 weeks after the second dose.
We have seen the mistrust surrounding the global pandemic in our country. When the pandemic broke out, many people bought into the false theories that this was some kind of conspiracy by the west. Then we saw how many people refused to follow SOPs like wearing masks because they thought it was just a “flu”.
It was only when a strict lockdown was imposed and when we saw deaths around the world that it was taken seriously. Luckily, Pakistan managed to control the virus after the first wave. When lockdowns were relaxed, we saw another wave, though that too was relatively controlled. Now there is a third wave and this time the UK-variant, which is said to be quite deadly, has also been found in the country. The government has started a vaccination drive for the elderly — those who are above 60 are eligible and need to register themselves to get the vaccine.
While many people have opted to get themselves vaccinated, there is still hesitation among some. And when the PM got COVID-positive, just two days after his first vaccine dose, it led to some unbelievable theories.
The government has so far countered the false propaganda about vaccines but it should also start countrywide awareness campaigns busting these myths.
We hope that all those affected by coronavirus remain healthy. Our prayers are with the PM and First Lady as well as all patients. And we hope that all those who are eligible for vaccination do get vaccinated at the earliest.
“We seem to still be struggling with our sense of identity. And this makes us prone to blocking all history and ethnicity that does not conform to a narrow conservative identity.”
A friend in the UK recently had a bizarre experience involving Pakistan Customs.
She had bought two volumes of a massive art book on the acclaimed and much decorated artist Sadequain. She assumed the whole process would be straightforward and that the books would arrive in two days so she could proceed to gift them to people who were interested in Pakistani art, but then the air shippers informed her that the Customs people at Karachi airport were refusing to allow the book through. Their reason? That it contained inappropriate/objectionable pictures or “na munasib tasweerain”.
It is a little disturbing that Customs officials should think it’s okay for them to decide what is and is not appropriate content in a book, in this case a book documenting the work and life of one of Pakistan’s greatest artists. Especially when the artist in question is nationally well recognised and the recipient of such national awards as the Tamghae Imtiaz and the Pride of Performance.
So, what does this incident tell us about modern day Pakistan? Does it indicate that everybody, at every level, considers themselves some sort of custodian of moral and social values? Or is this incident just an example of the absurdity of bureaucratic process and a red tape mentality?
It’s probably a bit of both: it is not just religious and social prejudices and a mindset of morality policing that are driving factors in such behaviour, it is also a culture of that strange mix of megalomaniac tendencies and job insecurity that exists within the bureaucracy.
Here the officials could have been playing it safe and working from precedent (the book had been stopped once before when it was being sent by DHL) or they could have simply been asserting their power to obstruct or approve – i.e. their ‘afsari’. Or perhaps in their personal role of moral custodians they were genuinely horrified by the content and the title (Sadequain – The Holy Sinner) and thought such “inappropriate” content should not be exported lest the pristine reputation of the country be sullied.
This incident is unsettling because it shows not just the arbitrary nature of official “approvals” but also the national tendency towards moral policing, censoring and disapproving. It is also a reminder that the nation has still not been able to come to terms with, and appreciate, its own history and culture. Any other country would have made sure that not just the world but also the people of Pakistan knew about the genius of Sadequain. Any other country would have encouraged publicity, research and work about the artist, any other country would have capitalised on the association. But we seem to still be struggling with our sense of identity. And this makes us prone to blocking all history and ethnicity that does not conform to a narrow conservative identity, insisting instead, that the history of the land began only with some Arab conquest.
This narrow definition of identity encourages people to be blind to the rich history of the country and to neglect and destroy monuments to early civilisations and peoples. It makes people close their minds to the work of those artists and writers who seek to explore ideas and question norms. It makes people ignorant of the art and culture around them and insensible to the fact that art and expression matter. Cultural censorship is a dangerous path to go down, but we are seeing a simultaneous resurgence and questioning of this all over the world. It is made worse by the rise of right-wing nationalist narratives and reactionary movements like the ones that portray the oppressors as the “victims”.
These are big questions and by this point you might just be thinking ‘well, perhaps the customs officials were just trying to make a quick buck?’ But even if that were the case, the fact that an art book should be considered an opportunity to do so underlies the issue of what is and is not “appropriate” for the reputation of a country (surely jihadists were a more negative export than any art books).
But this particular story might yet have a happy ending. The customs officials let the book through after my friend sent in as much information as she could about the artist and the book. She had asked them to put their objections in writing if they were going to stop the book, but this they had been reluctant to do. So perhaps to get rid of her noise, or perhaps because they were otherwise persuaded or perhaps because they had better things to spend their time screening and stopping (drugs, smuggled goods) they let the book through.
It hasn’t been received yet but hopefully it should be soon. In the meantime, we can both laugh and cry at the absurdity of the matter. And we can reflect on what it tells us about Pakistani society today.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has allegedly denied international veterinarians and animal experts access to Karachi Zoo and Safari Park elephants Malika, Sonu, Noor Jahan and Madhubala, preventing them from receiving medical treatment.
In a detailed post on social media, the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which identifies itself as a body “promoting compassion towards all sentient beings,” detailed the ordeal faced by the elephants and alleged that the KMC has barred international animal experts from assessing the health of the elephants and treating them accordingly.
The animal welfare society also said that Malika’s health is in “dire straits” and requires “urgent veterinary care”.
“Her cracked tusks, broken nails, swollen legs and urine burnt feet are a testimony to the abuse she [has] suffered,” said PAWS, adding that one of Malaika’s legs is four times the size of her other legs and she appears to be unable to properly bear weight on any of her legs.
“When she walks, she hobbles along very slowly. The pads of her feet are cracked and have deep pits, which the Safari park management and elephant keeper claim to be ‘winter dryness’.”
Her plight, along with Sonu’s, Noor Jehan’s and Madhubala’s, the three other elephants in Karachi, caught the attention of the international elephant network PREN that issued a report about their captive behaviour and housing conditions. https://t.co/d9EAUHlxAx
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
PAWS said that UK-based animal rights organisation Free The Wild (FTW) offered to help the elephants and send experts to Karachi to assess the animals’ health and devise a strategy with the authorities on how to treat them. They have also been running an online donation campaign for them so that the government does not have to bear the expenses. The campaign aims to raise $30,000 and $17,637.55 were raised till the last update i.e. March 10.
According to PAWS, KMC management gave its verbal permission to Free the Wild and Dr Frank Goëritz and Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, two renowned elephant specialists to come and assess the animals’ health. They were scheduled to arrive in Karachi on February 23. However, the city government changed its decision last minute, denying them access.
On seeing Malika’s ailing health, Free The Wild @ftwglobal, a charity based in UK, offered @kmcpakistan free veterinary assessment for all 4 elephants along with capacity building and training for the keepers with no financial burden on the city government https://t.co/GkShsMVQX2
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
But the weekend before, @kmcpakistan changed their mind, saw it as an attack on their writ and made it into an issue of pride and egos.
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
PAWS said that they had several rounds of meetings with KMC officials hoping to work out a solution to ease the elephants’ plight but the city government “raised objections against fundraising” claiming “that it brings a bad name to Pakistan”. PAWS also told The Current that neither the Sindh Government nor government officials have made any efforts to help the elephants and keep shutting out the animal rights body saying that “the elephants are the ‘property’ of KMC”.
We were aghast, but not surprised, at KMC’s reaction, for they are the gatekeepers singlehandedly responsible for the cruelty meted to the elephants over the last 12 years. Still, we continued to engage with their officials to work out a solution for the welfare of the elephants.
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
PAWS urged the federal and provincial governments as well as Prime Minister Imran Khan to help the elephants and ease their plight.
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
In a statement issued by FTW, all four elephants – reportedly smuggled from Tanzania in 2009 – are held captive in small cement enclosures and chained at the feet for 15 hours a day. The wild animals are suffering from broken nails and lacerated feet due to cemented floors, cracked tusks and swollen legs from standing all day and not having any movement.
“All four elephants are showing visible signs of psychological and physical pain and urgently need our help,” reads the statement.
FTW further said that just as their vets were “preparing to leave Germany – with visas arranged, international flights booked, local accommodation reserved and, very importantly, medication purchased – KMC suddenly withheld their permission for the Free The Wild vets to enter the zoo and safari park.”
“We have arranged for Dr. Frank Goëritz and Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt – two of the world’s most renowned elephant experts and arguably amongst the most qualified specialists in regards to elephant behaviour and wellbeing, to meet Dr. Isma Gheewala in Karachi on 22 February 2021.” pic.twitter.com/TKwGWLW7gU
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 17, 2021
Co-founder of FTW Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, while expressing her disappointment, said: “Words just cannot express how disappointed we are by the sudden lack of support. The trip was planned and even medications purchased. This is not only a major setback for the health of the elephants but also has wasted very valuable funds as the medications will expire and cannot be returned. I fail to understand why anyone bites a helping hand. This was at no cost at all to the KMC and not only would have helped these animals but also provided training for locals moving forward. I hope the petition will overcome these odd bureaucratic obstacles.”
The animal welfare body added that “we are not going to just walk away. We [will] petition Karachi courts and requesting an urgent ruling to ensure the wellbeing of these animals.”
Advocate Owais Awan, who was part of Kaavan’s legal team and helped him gain freedom while speaking to The Current said that they have no choice but to file a petition before the Honourable Sindh High Court (SHC). He asserted that the animals are suffering and need immediate medical care, which can only be provided by experts.
“I was shocked to see the state of the elephants,” said Advocate Awan. “Their enclosures and conditions were even worse than Kaavan’s. He at least had some space to walk. These elephants are kept chained all day in tiny enclosures.”
Advocate Awan explained that all four elephants are African elephants and that Pakistani vets do not have the necessary expertise to deal with their problems, adding that the team of international experts coming were not only going to check the animals but were also going to train vets and caretakers to take better care of the elephants.
KMC responds
Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to The Current, KMC spokesperson Ali Hassan Sajid trashed PAWS claims and said that the animals were doing fine.
“We have a team of vets looking after them and all the elephants are being cared for,” said Hassan. This scribe requested Hassan to share pictures of the elephants. However, they were not received till the filing of this report.
When asked about using vaseline to treat cracks in the skin – a matter which stirred outrage online – Hassan said that vaseline is applied to the animals’ toes and skin because it tends to crack up in the winters just like human skin. He said that the ointment was used to heal the dryness and proved to be very effective.
The spokesperson also launched a tirade against the animal rights body, saying that they are using the elephants to raise donations and collect money.
“Chanda akhata kar rahe hain yeh log sirf,” said Hassan, alleging that the body has raised $30,000 by deceiving people.
Sajid further said that PAWS was bringing a bad name to Pakistan with its fundraising campaign and giving out a message to the world that Pakistan cannot care for its animals.
The official also said that KMC’s legal department is working towards launching an official complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against PAWS for bringing a bad name to Pakistan.
Earlier, in December 2020, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had ordered KMC and Karachi Zoo administration to shift the 20-year-old Syrian brown bear Rano from her 25-foot wide Victorian ‘grotto’ pit to another open cage, 500 times bigger than her current enclosure. During the hearings, the court had also instructed KMC to present the zoo’s budget and had expressed anger over the fact that there was only one doctor for all animals at the zoo.
Zoos in Pakistan have long drawn international condemnation for their mistreatment of animals. Last year, on December 16, Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo was shut down after the Islamabad High Court ordered for Kaavan, the elephant and two brown bears Babloo and Suzie to be relocated to sanctuaries abroad.
“Naya Pakistan will be incomplete without the inclusion of women,” said President Dr Arif Alvi as he concluded his speech at the second edition of HUM Women Leaders Awards (HWLA) which took place on March 9, 2021, at the President House in Islamabad.
The HWLA, which “aims to recognise and honour the contributions and achievements of iconic women from Pakistan and around the world”, celebrated eleven national and international women icons and one man for their contributions and achievements in the fields of diplomacy, social work, education, healthcare, human rights, journalism and women’s rights.
“The aim of these awards is to encourage women to think big,” said the network in a statement, adding: “[These women] are change-makers in their respective fields and a symbol and source of hope, courage, determination and inspiration for women across the globe. These iconic women are mentors and role models for girls who aspire to be achievers.”
Among those honoured that night included Ayesha Chundrigar, Lt General Nigar Johar, Ayesha Jalal, Hina Jilani, Shahzadi Gulfam and Malala Yousafzai. All winners received special hand-crafted trophies, designed by Amin Gulgee.
The night was a well-organised and starry affair with many senior actors including Bushra Ansari, Zeba Bakhtiyar, Vaneeza Ahmed and Naumaan Ijaz, in attendance. Hareem Farooq and Sanam Saeed were the hosts for the night while Strings, Umair Jaswal and Quratulain Baloch entertained the audiences with their music and mesmerizing performances.
Speaking at the event, President of the Hum TV Network Sultana Siddiqui said: “It has been my lifelong struggle to see that women are given their due importance in all fields. There should be no glass ceilings, no chains of traditions and customs to stop their flight. In today’s economy, it is imperative that women be given an equal chance to prosper. We cannot have a progressive economy with women shut indoors.”
President Alvi, in his speech, also emphasized on the importance of empowering women and giving them their due right. He asserted that the mission of Naya Pakistan will be incomplete without the inclusion of women and encouraged organisations to achieve a gender balance in the workplace. The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan said that women’s entry into the workforce must be made easier and that men must play their role in empowering and facilitating women.
Meanwhile, meet the winners of the HWLA below:
Ayesha Chundrigar
Ayesha was honoured and recognised for setting up the first and largest animal rescue organisation in Pakistan – the ACF Animal Rescue. The rescue service has rescued and rehabilitated more than 7,000 animals so far, paving the way for animal rights to become a norm in society.
Shahzadi Gulfam
Shahzadi Gulfam is the first Pakistani woman police officer to receive the International Female Police Peacekeeper Award by the United Nations in 2011. In a career spanning over three decades, Gulfam has made her country proud, both nationally and internationally. She was also the first Pakistani female officer to be deployed in the UN Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Tabassum Adnan
Tabassum Adnan the first woman in Pakhtun history to have founded an all-women jirga, Khwendo Jirga, which means Sisters’ Council, a milestone for the women of Swat. She was the first to be invited to the District Resolution Council paving the path for local women to participate in the decision-making process. In 2016, Tabassum received the Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Award in the Individual Activist Category.
Abida Parveen
The undisputed queen of Sufi Music, Abida Parveen is among the 500 Most Influential Muslim Artists in the world. Besides, receiving a plethora of accolades internationally and nationally, Abida Parveen is also the recipient of eight Pride of Performance Awards, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Hilal-e-Imtiaz.
While receiving her award, Abida also recited a kalam, enthralling audiences were her magical voice.
Lt General Nigar Johar
Lt General Nigar Johar is the first-ever female three-star general in the history of Pakistan and the first female Surgeon General of the Pakistan Army. Hailing from Panjpeer Village, in Swabi District, Lt Gen Nigar was also the first female Commandant of any armed forces unit and the first female to have commanded the largest hospital of the Pakistan Army. An expert markswoman, she is the recipient of the Fatima Jinnah Gold medal, Tamgha e Imtiaz and Hilal e Imtiaz along with an honorary membership at the Royal College of Physicians (UK).
Malala Yousafzai
International icon for education and the world’s youngest Nobel laureate, Malala Yousafzai received an award for her unrelenting efforts to see that every girl completes 12 years of education.
Speaking at the event via video message, Malala said: “I dedicate this award to all the young girls who wish for a bright future, who have a desire to learn and get an education. The pandemic has amplified the education crisis in Pakistan, even more so for girls who continue to pay the highest price. With Malala Fund and our new projects, it is our mission to prioritise the education of girls with an even greater emphasis during this pandemic, so they can continue to learn during [the pandemic] without hindrance.”
“I hope for a day in Pakistan when every girl is able to go to school, get an education, be able to fulfil her dreams and lead without fear,” she added.
Ayesha Jalal
An insightful historian and educationist, Ayesha Jalal has published and written countless books and research articles that provide a unique insight into the culture and history of the subcontinent.
Masarrat Misbah
Cosmetologist and philanthropist Masarrat Misbah was honoured for her work with acid victims. In 2003, Misbah conceptualized the Depilex Smile Again Foundation to rehabilitate and support acid burn victims. Her organization helped many victims receive the best available medical treatment and psycho-social support.
Malik Rafique Awan
The only man awardee of the night, Malik Rafique Awan, has set a precedent for all fathers – all of his five daughters have passed the Civil Superior Service (CSS) exams and are serving their country with the zeal and passion they inherited from their father.
Speaking at the event, an emotional Awan said that on the birth of his fifth daughter, he and his wife Khursheed Begum were ridiculed for not having any sons and that is when he decided to empower all his daughters by giving them worthy education and raising them as strong individuals. He encouraged all men to educate their daughters and raise them as strong and independent individuals.
“I request all fathers to give their daughters degrees instead of jahez,” said Awan, who received the trophy from two of his daughters.
Awan’s eldest daughter, Laila Malik Sher is Deputy Commissioner Income Tax Department in Karachi. His second daughter Shirin Malik Sher is serving as Director at the National Highway Authority Islamabad while the third one Sassi Malik Sher is Deputy Executive, CEO Chaklala Cantt, Rawalpindi. Awan’s fourth daughter Marvi Malik Sher has been appointed as the Additional Assistant Commissioner Abbottabad and his youngest daughter Zoha Malik Sher has just joined the Officers Management Group.
Hina Jilani
Hina Jilani was honoured for her fight for human rights in the country.
International recipients of the HWLA included Princess Sarvath Al Hassan of Jordan and Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces from Ecuador.
Princess Sarvath Al Hassan
Princess Sarvath is the first leader to establish a nonprofit education programme that offered equal opportunities to every student in Jordan, presided over the Young Muslim Women’s Association and pioneered several initiatives such as establishing the Bunayat Center for Special Education in 1974. Princess Sarvath also served as the Honourary Vice President of the Jordanian Red Crescent from 1994- 2004.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces
A successful diplomat, profound academic and seasoned politician, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces has set an example of woman empowerment with her illustrious career and fight for women inclusion in politics. She has headed various ministries such as Foreign Affairs, Defense and Culture and Heritage in Ecuador. Espinosa was also the first female ambassador of Ecuador to the United Nations in New York and Geneva and the fourth woman in history to serve as the president of the United National General Assembly.
Speaking at the event via video, Maria encouraged women participation in politics, asserting that countries will not succeed until women are represented properly in the governments.
The Hum Women Leaders Awards will be televised on Pakistan Day on Hum TV.
Aurat March has rattled many a misogynist over the years. Women out on the streets, marching for their rights and raising their voice is somehow considered ‘vulgar’ and ‘obscene’. This year, though, what the anti-women brigade did was unforgivable. By their false and malicious propaganda, they have put the lives of thousands of women at stake.
Last week, a doctored video of Aurat March was widely shared on social media. Some men from mainstream media with a large following on social media platforms like Twitter shared the video without verifying it. Their tweets amplified the propaganda against Aurat March organisers and participants so much so that the banned terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued a threat to the women and told them to “fix their ways”. It is indeed criminal how a doctored video and false propaganda was carried out about the Aurat March even on the media where the flag of the Women Democratic Front was falsely misrepresented as the French flag, a poster about child sexual abuse and a video with slogans were misrepresented as being blasphemous. Right-wing groups took out rallies and threatened the Aurat March organisers as well as participants.
Organisers of the Aurat March released a statement that said that the Aurat March faces severe backlash every year. “Our videos and posters are targeted and manipulated, spreading misinformation and maligning the March. This year, one of our videos was doctored and heinous allegations are being placed on us.” They demanded an immediate apology and retraction from all those who shared the doctored video as well as a retraction by all journalists and media houses that shared this disinformation.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said that this campaign was not just repugnant but an incitement to violence. “We demand that action be taken against all such persons.”
It is a no-brainer why a majority of our society would propagate such false accusations against women. How dare women ask for their rights, how dare they fight for equality, how dare they raise their voice for issues related to women’s health, how dare they talk about sexual harassment and rape, how dare they talk about child abuse and child marriage, how dare they ask for the rights of the marginalised… how dare they? No wonder why Pakistan ranks so low on the gender gap index as well as other indicators related to gender. We have weaponised an entire society against women. There was so much outrage about a doctored video, the misrepresentation of a flag and a poster but have we ever seen such outrage over domestic violence, child marriage, rape, sexual harassment, lack of health facilities for women, child molestation, low wages for women workers, etc? No, we have not. Because our patriarchal society will only reserve this misplaced anger and outrage at women.
It is time that we all raise our voice against this dangerous and vicious campaign against Aurat March. Some from media have tendered an apology for sharing the doctored video and deleted their tweets but is a mere apology enough for putting the lives of thousands of women at risk with allegations of a topic as sensitive as blasphemy? These people must be held accountable. The government should not only provide protection to these women but must also take action against all those who took forward the false propaganda against Aurat March.
The coronavirus pandemic has turned all the world’s industries upside down and sports has been no exception.
The resumption of sporting events after the outbreak of the pandemic has been nothing short of a blessing for the fans as well as the players but its success was contingent upon whether the players would comply with the COVID protocols or not. There can be no denying that staying inside the bubble, not interacting with outsiders and playing in empty or half-empty stadiums would take a physical and psychological toll on them but it was expected of them to be acutely aware of their responsibilities and not to contravene the rules. However, the reality was different as the matter was handled carelessly and scores of players flouted the restrictions. The same was the case in PSL 2021, as a consequence of which, it has screeched to an indefinite halt.
The guidelines explicitly mentioned that anyone who attends the game would be required to wear a face mask throughout the duration of the game and observe social distancing. However, as the screengrab from one of the matches below shows, the implementation of these rules was nowhere to be seen.
Even worse, celebrities and social media influencers like Shahveer Jafry and Dananeer Mobeen were seen interacting with the players and team owners making an absolute mockery of the health protocols. None of the breaches mentioned thereof went unpunished thereby setting a wrong precedent.
Following the news of Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed testing positive for the virus, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have been more cautious and stringent with restrictions but instead, Multan Sultans bowling coach Azhar Mahmood was allowed to throw a birthday party that was also attended by a number of players. This surge in the virus cases, due in large part to management’s carelessness (six players and one member from the team officials tested positive), behooved the PCB to postpone the league who had no option but to swallow the bitter truth that they have been incompetent in ensuring that the tournament is smooth sailing.
The blame-shifting game instantly began, media outlets started peddling hyperbolic and even false reports and overseas players (on the condition of anonymity) averred that the bio-secure bubble was not well-maintained. PSL is in its boom years and is improving over time but untoward incidents like these will blemish its image.
Responding to the backlash in his presser, PCB’s Chief Executive Wasim Khan admitted that they weren’t equal to the task.
“It was a great disappointment for us that we found ourselves in a situation where neither us nor others are able to provide what we need to provide and that is the full protection for players,” Wasim said.
“This is a collective effort that we all had a responsibility to actually police and self-police that environment. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do it effectively enough. Hence, we find ourselves in this situation today,” he added.
As in, the uppermost task on PCB’s plate now is to find a window in a jam-packed schedule in which it can hold the remaining games of the league. Pakistan is set to play South Africa in April followed by a tour of Zimbabwe but reports suggest that Pakistan will push these tours to accommodate the remaining matches of the league.
I’m no epidemiologist thus it would be naïve to comment on the spread of the virus and measures to mitigate the virus but it is not rocket science to understand that carelessness over a deadly contagious pandemic is downright buffoonery. There’s no point in crying over spilt milk but whenever the PSL resumes, PCB should ensure that it learns from its mistakes and the remaining tournament goes without any chaos untoward incident.
مارچ 8 ، عورتوں کے عالمی دن کے طور پر منایا جاتا ہے . دنیا بھر کی خواتین ، دین و مسلک سے بےنیاز ہو کر ، اک زنجیر کی طرح بندھ جاتی ہیں . اپنے حق کے لیے آواز اُٹھاتی ہیں . اپنے وجود کو اک ماں ، بہن ، ِبیِوی ، اور بیٹی کے روپ سے نکال کر ، صرف ایک انسان ، صرف ایک عورت ہو کر اپنے لیے وہی حق مانگتی ہیں ، جو مردوں کے پاس ہیں . بنیادی انسانی حقوق جن کو اِس سماج نے عورتوں کے لیے لاحاصل بنا دیا . اِس لاحاصل کو حاصل کرنے پر جب عورتوں نے آواز اٹھانی شروع کی ، اور خصوصی طور پر پاکستان میں ، تو مردوں پر جیسے قیامت ہی بیت گئی . قیامت سے پہلے قیامت سی ہوگئی۔
پورےسال میں ایک دن اگرعورت نے اپنےحق کےلیےآوازاٹھائی تواٹھائی کیوں؟آخرآج ہی کیوں ؟ آخر 8 مارچ کو ہی کیوں ؟ آخر اتنی ساری عورتیں کیوں ؟ مردوں کا کہنا تھا کہ انہوں نے آخر عورت کو کہا ہی کیا ہے جو عورت کو باہر آ کر با آواز بلند کہنا پڑا کے اُنہیں بنیادی حقوق دئیے جائیں ؟ ایسے بہت سے سوال مردوں كے ذہن میں ہر سال 8 مارچ کو آتے ہیں . ِپھر اُنہیں غصہ آتا ہے . ِپھر وہ غصے میں آ کر کہتے ہیں “ہم اپنی عورتوں کو اتنی عزت دیتے ہیں” اور اسی جملے کے اختتام پر مرد حضرات ماں بہن کی گالی بھی شامل کر دیتے ہیں . یہ لیں ، یہ ہے عورت کی عزت کی بریانی بنانے کی ترکیب . اِس ترکیب میں کچھ اور اجزاء بھی شامل کیے جا سکتے ہیں جیسے عورت کو مارنا ، اس پر تیزاب پھینکنا، اس پر جنسی تشدد کرنا ، اس کو بیٹی پیدا کرنے پر طلاق دینا ، اس کو مزید بچے پیدا نہ کرنے پر گھر سے نکال دینا، اس کو سڑک پر چلتے ہوئے ہاتھ مار جانا ، اس کے پیچھے گاڑی لگا کر اس کو احساس دلانا کے یہ زمین صرف مرد کے لیے ہے، اور مزید بہت سے اجزاء حسب ذائقہ ڈالے جا سکتے ہیں۔
اسی شور اور واویلے کے بیچ میں عورتیں 8 مارچ کو ملک بھر میں پر امن احتجاج کرتیں ہیں . اور ہر عورت اپنی زندگی کے حساب سے اپنا حق مانگتی ہے. میں ہر سال ان پلے کارڈز کو بہت غور سے پڑھتی ہوں. تعلیم کے حق سے لے کر كھانا خود گرم کر لو تک ، مختلف مطالبات ان پلےکارڈز کے ذریعے اجاگر کیے جاتے ہیں . کچھ مطالبات ایسے ہیں جن سے میں ذاتی طور پر بھی اتفاق کرتی ہوں کیونکہ میں بھی ایک عورت ہوتے ہوئے بہت مشکل مرحلوں سے گزری ہوں . عورت مارچ میں کچھ ایسے پلےکارڈز بھی تھے جس سے یہ اندازہ لگانا مشکل نہیں تھا کہ یہ پلےکارڈ لانے والی لڑکی کس قدر بےبسی کا شکار ہو کر باہر نکلی ہے. اک پلےکارڈ پر “میں خود ایک گھر بناؤں گی جس میں سے تم مجھے نکال نہ سکو” لکھا تھا، مجھے لگا جیسے کسی بچی نے میرے جذبات کی آخر کار ترجمانی کر دی. وہ چھت فراہم کرنے والا جب بے گھر کرتا ہے ، تو یہ زمین عورت پر اور بھی تنگ ہوجاتی ہے لیکن وہ عورت ہی کیا جو ہار جائے!
ایسے بہت سے مطالبات دیکھتے ہوئے ایک مطالبے پر نظر پڑی جس میں لکھا تھا “میرا جسم میری مرضی” یہ بے ضرر سا پلےکارڈ دیکھ کر خیال یہی آیا کے ہاں ، خدا نے یہ جسم مجھے دیا ہے تو مرضی بھی میری ہی بنتی ہے. کوئی بھی شعور رکھنے والا انسان اِس سے متفق ہی ہو گا لیکن جنہیں شعور حاصل نہیں، وہ ہکا بکا رہ گئے اور ہکا بکا رہنے والے تھے بھی مرد ان کا ردعمل ویسا ہی تھا جیسے میرا حال ہوا تھا جب میرے والدین نے مجھے بتایا تھا کہ میٹرک کے بعد ابھی اور پڑھنا ہے۔
سوشل میڈیا پر ایک آگ سی لگ گئی، ان بے شعور لوگوں کا کہنا تھا کے ٹھیک ہے جسم عورت کا ہے ، لیکن اب کیا اِس جسم کے ساتھ کچھ بھی کرنےکےلیےہمیں اِجاَزت لینی ہوگی؟ کیاعورت کےجسم کوبھرے بازارمیں ایک دو سیکنڈ کی لذت حاصل کرنے کے لیے ہم مرد بغیر پوچھے ہاتھ بھی نہیں لگا سکتے؟ کیا عورت کے جسم کو ہم اپنا غصہ نکالنے کے لیے استعمال نہیں کر سکتے ؟ کیا اب جنسی عمل کے لیے ہمیں عورت سے اِجاَزت لینی ہوگی ؟ اب کیا ہم عورت کی مرضی کے خلاف اس کے جسم پر جنسی تشدد بھی نہیں کر سکتے ؟ کیا اب ہمیں عورت کو اپنی مرضی سے پہننے اور اوڑھنے کو برداشت کرنا ہوگا؟ مزے کی بات ہے کے ان میں زیادہ وہ لوگ تھے جو “میرا جسم میری مرضی” کو سمجھ رہے تھے کے “اچھا اب عورتیں ننگی ہو کر باہر نکلیں گئیں ؟” ارے صاحب عورت کو کبھی کپڑے کے ساتھ تولنا چھوڑ بھی دیا کریں۔
اگر عورت نے واقعی اپنے جسم کو آپ سے محفوظ کرنے کا نعرہ بلند کیا ہے تو کیا غلط کیا ؟ اگر عورت نے سڑک پر بے خوف و خطر چلنے کا مطالبہ کیا تو کیا غلط کیا ؟ اگر عورت نے جنسی ہراسگی کے خلاف آواز اٹھائی تو کیا غلط کیا ؟ اگر عورت نے اپنے جسم کو درندوں کی طرح اکھاڑ پچھاڑ کے خلاف آواز اٹھائی تو کیا غلط کیا ؟ صاحب ، عورت کے جسم کی آزادی صرف دو گز کپڑے سے منسلک نہیں ہے . اس کے جسم کی آزادی اس کا باہر بے خوف و خطر پھرنا ہے . اس کے جسم کی آزادی اس کا اپنے گھر میں بغیر جسمانی تشدد کے رہنا ہے . اس کے جسم کی آزادی اس کا اپنا خیال کرنا ہے . اس کے جسم کی آزادی اس کا اپنی مرضی کا اوڑھنا پہننا ہے . اور یہ آزادی وہ سال کے ایک دن میں اگر مانگ ہی لیتی ہے ، تو ایسا واویلا ؟ اس کی اِس مرضی کو جرم کی شکل نہ دیں۔ اسے سنے ، اسے سمجھیں اور اپنی ذات کے خول سے باہر نکلیں… وہ جیسے احمد ندیم قاسمی نے کہا ہے؛
کیوں بھی کہنا جرم ہے کیسے بھی کہنا جرم ہے سانس لینے کی تو آزادی میسر ہے مگر زندہ رہنے کیلئے انسان کو کچھ اور بھی درکار ہے اور اس کچھ اور بھی کا تذکرہ بھی جرم ہے۔
Right from the beginning, Qayamat appeared to one of those dramas which follow a riwayati or typical storyline with domestic abuse, spoiled men and saas-bahu tensions sprinkled with lots of masala and sensationalism to shock audiences and keep them hooked. Fifteen episodes later, my initial assumptions were proven right because that is exactly what Qayamat is about.
Qayamat revolves around Rashid (Ahsan Khan), a spoiled overgrown man child who does not know how to walk or talk and is often spotted hanging out with an escort Pari (Sana Fakhar). Kudos to Ahsan for portraying him in the slimiest possible manner. Even Bollywood actor Zarina Wahab praised Ahsan for his performance in the drama.
When his parents Nargis (Saba Faisal) and Mukhtar (Shabbir Jan) are unable to find a match for him because of his attitude, they forcefully marry his cousin Samra (Amar Khan) to him. Nargis is not happy with the marriage because she wanted a ‘baray ghar ki larki‘ for Rashid and Samra is from a “low background” even though she is Mukhtar’s brother Fayyaz’s daughter. Basically, just the usual stuff.
Fifteen episodes of the drama have aired so far and in the latest episode, Samra passes away after Rashid pushes her, causing her to fall and go into early labour. Her death was a little rushed and unbelievable considering the drama’s timeline was messed up and we had no idea how many months had passed since she conceived. All we know is that the stage is now set for Rashid and Samra’s sister Ifrah (Neelam Muneer) to get married and look after the newborn, who they have named Sana. It seems that Neelam has decided to play similar characters considering her character in Bikhray Moti, her last release. In that, she also married her sister’s abusive husband to protect her nieces and nephews and give them motherly love.
Samra’s death has left Rashid stunned, though we don’t get to see much of his shock and emotions over his wife’s death. Like Samra’s demise, his reaction to his wife’s death is rushed, flawed and underdeveloped. It would have given audiences some relief to see him at least regret his actions and attitude towards Samra. But we get nothing.
In the meantime, Ifrah and Rashid’s brother Jawad (Haroon Shahid) have put their marriage on hold till things settle down. However, Rashid’s mother and khala hatch a plan to get Ifrah married to Rashid because one they don’t really like her and two so they can get a ‘heeray jaisi larki‘ for Jawad. As expected, Ifrah is going to end up getting married to Rashid and will spend her life caring for her niece and feeling miserable about her life. Moreso, her actions will also help redeem Rashid and make him a better human being.
If I am truly honest, Qayamat doesn’t have anything new to offer. It is a typical Pakistani drama repackaged differently. I’d be surprised if Rashid also doesn’t die at the end considering how much our dramas like to kill off the evil characters.
What makes the watch worthwhile is the performances. From Shabbir Jan to Neelam Muneer to Ahsan Khan, each actor has given a brilliant performance, adding life and layers to the characters. Saba Faisal, in particular, is phenomenal as Nargis, the family matriarch. Her expressions and body language are absolutely flawless and will have you glued to the screen.
Despite is predictability and run-of-the-mill storyline, Qayamat is gripping and makes for an entertaining watch. But what irks me is that the first ten minutes of every new episode is the last ten minutes of the previous episode. Geo does this with all its dramas, and frankly speaking, it’s pretty annoying.
Written by Sarwat Nazir and directed by Ali Faizan, Qayamat airs every Tuesday and Wednesday on Geo Entertainment.
On Thursday, Pakistani and Indian director generals of military operations (DGMOs) issued a rare joint statement declaring ceasefire along the line of control (LoC).
The joint statement said: “Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandings and cease firing along the Line of Control and all other sectors with effect from midnight 24/25 Feb 2021…In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace along the borders, the two DGsMO agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence.”
The ceasefire agreement between the two countries was originally reached in November 2003.
The joint statement was welcome by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who tweeted: “I welcome restoration of the ceasefire along the LOC. The onus of creating an enabling environment for further progress rests with India. India must take necessary steps to meet the long-standing demand & right of the Kashmiri people to self determination acc to UNSC resolutions.” (sic) The US and the UN also welcomed this positive development.
To say that the relationship between Pakistan and India is complex would be an understatement. The two nuclear neighbours have come to the brink of war many a time and have also fought conventional wars as well as unconventional ones. It has been two years since the Balakot strikes when they came close to a full-blown war. India could not do any damage to our territory despite falsely claiming otherwise but Pakistan managed to capture Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan after the Pakistan Air Force shot down his aircraft.
In a joint session of parliament, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that as a peace gesture, Pakistan was going to release the Indian pilot. PM Imran also reiterated that there is no victory in a war. “Pakistan wants peace. Our interest lies in peace and de-escalation,” he said back in 2019.
Pakistan has continued to extend a hand of peace towards India over the years but the Modi administration in India has not been very forthcoming.
Thus, it was a surprise to see the joint statement, which could not have taken place without backdoor diplomacy.
Innocent people across the LoC have lost lives due to the Indian violations of the 2003 ceasefire agreement. Now with this joint statement, it will be good for the people living across the LoC. We don’t know yet what prompted the Modi government to agree to this but we do hope that both countries eventually restart dialogue.
Peace in the South Asian region cannot be achieved if India continues its strongarm tactics. Pakistan is committed to peace in the region. Let’s hope this ceasefire is just the first step in the restoration of peace.
