After Prime Minister Imran Khan made some unwarranted comments on rape and the cited vulgarity as the reason behind rising rape cases, Rohail Hyatt stepped in to defend him, saying that the premier’s words had been taken out of context. The musician received a lot of flak for his comments. Among those who criticised him is Jawad Ahmad, who questioned Rohail’s logic behind the tweet.
“Why are you talking stupid?” wrote the singer-turned-politician in response to Hyatt’s tweet. “Will you tell us which dresses are modest and which are not?”
“Will you get into your child’s wardrobe and point out which dress once worn would keep her safe in the society?” questioned Ahmad.
“What if a dress you choose is still disapproved by majority?” he asked further.
Jawad also used the hashtag #DontJustifyRape to elaborate his stance.
Why are you talking stupid?
Will you tell us which dresses are modest & which are not?
Will you get into your child’s wardrobe & point out which dress once worn would keep her safe in the society?
While one would have thought that the debate ended there, but that was, in fact, just the start. Check out their complete exchange below:
Later, Hyatt added a humorous twist to the debate and said that Ahmad won the match.
What a place! Twitter. I’ve been missing all this fun for so long! It feels unreal like out of some mad mans imagined world yet it’s real. Near real time. Audience and all. Love it!
Everyone’s my people! We don’t discriminate. I love Jawad. I kid you not. I love everyone.. Every human has a soul that’s pure. Circumstances create the monsters we get to become in life. No one is born bad. Where are you drawing your conclusions from? Seriously? Bias here I feel
Meanwhile, Hyatt also shared why he supports PM Khan.
Jaisey kaum, waisay leaders. Where will he get whitewashed politicians from? His only choice is from within us right? Whatever is up with KPK I’ll tell you one thing. Every poor person there says for the first time ever that the police help them. That’s a serious big change.
I know because I go there often. Yes the finances are a mess but that’s like saying he was handed a perfect economy and country and he has messed it up. He was handed a crap and broken system and he is trying to make it work. Not an easy task!
Amid the recent criticism on Prime Minister Imran Khan over his remarks on rape, musician Rohail Hyatt has come forward to defend the premier.
In a detailed Twitter thread, the musician said that PM Khan’s words were taken out of context and that he never said that rape is justified.
“As a leader he is simply speaking to us about the ground realities of what is around us,” said Hyatt. “Yes indeed there is a sickness out there and one can contest if the better solution is to target the oppressor as opposed to the oppressed.”
Hyatt added that as a father he would give similar advice to his child “to be mindful of how you dress in our society”.
He’s not saying it’s justified! As a leader he’s simply speaking to us about the ground realities of what is around us. Yes indeed there is a sickness out there and one can contest if the better solution is to target the oppressor as opposed to the oppressed.
“There’s a sad trend by a certain group to attack IK on all such matters, labelling him as a ‘right-minded’ individual,” continued Hyatt, saying that he sees him “closer to [the] centre”.
There’s a sad trend by a certain group to attack IK on all such matters labelling him as a ‘right-minded’ individual. I see him closer to centre but to every leftist out there, even the centre is way to too much to the right.
Elaborating his point further about extremist views, Hyatt said: “One wants to cover from head to toe and the other wants to strip-down from head to toe as a display of their preferences.”
They are both the same actually. Extremists! Both shout to kill the other and they both hate everything except their own ways. One wants to cover from head to toe and the other want to strip-down from head to toe as a display of their preferences.
Rohail Hyatt, during a Twitter exchange with a fan, has revealed that he is stepping down as Coke Studio’s (CS) producer.
Responding to a user who asked him about this year’s CS, Rohail said: “I’m sure CS (Coke Studio) is being planned, but not by me.”
I’m sure CS is being planned but not by me.. SM is a great place to figure out if one is neutral or biased in any way. I’m using it as a tool to measure my own imbalances. Seems to be working well for me.
Hyatt joined Coke Studio in 2008 with its first season and stepped down after 6 seasons. He was later brought back for the 12th season in 2019, though it failed to impress audiences. Rohail also produced the latest Season 13, which had only twelve songs due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns.
After Pakistan Democratic Movement’s candidate Yousuf Raza Gilaniemerged victorious against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the Senate Elections, Prime Minister Imran Khan in an address to the nation announced that he is going to seek a vote of confidence from the National Assembly on Saturday. The premier said the vote of confidence will be held through the show of hand and that he will have no objection if any member of his party does not trust him, adding that his party would sit on opposition benches if they lose this time.
Following his decision to seek a vote of confidence, celebrities including Shaan Shahid, Rohail Hyatt, Imran Abbas and Omair Rana have extended their support for the prime minister.
“Whether you are in power or in opposition, the voice of truth, the voice of the people of Pakistan will always be spoken by you,” said Shaan. “Some battles lost cannot predict the outcome of the war.”
“May you win the war of truth, honesty, hope and justice,” he added.
@ImranKhanPTI whether you are in power or in opposition the voice of truth ,the voice of the people of Pakistan will always be spoken by you..some battles lost cannot predict the out come of the war may you win the war of truth honesty ,hope & justice #pakistanhameshaZindabadpic.twitter.com/RTdpIHwZjZ
Ace musician Rohail Hyatt expressed his faith in PM Khan said: “In my lifetime I have only had the privilege of calling one person my leader. This person is Imran Khan.”
“Honestly outweighs everything else IMO. Setbacks aside, I am certain he will succeed in his mission IA,” he added.
In my lifetime I have only had the privilege of calling one person my leader. This person is Imran Khan. Honestly outweighs everything else IMO. Setbacks aside, I am certain he will succeed in his mission IA.
Hyatt further said that he got his “yess moment” after watching PM Khan’s address to the nation.
OMG I got my yesssss moment after watching your speech today @ImranKhanPTI ! Say no to corruption and get ready for a fight! Enough is really enough! What a brave leader you are indeed With you all the way..#ImranKhan#ImranKhanMyPM
Omair Rana of Pyar Ke Sadkay fame lauded PM Khan’s decision of taking the vote of confidence saying: “To hide behind a hypocrite one has to be smaller than him. Imran Khan is too big for these sell-outs and buyouts.”
“With you my Captain,” he added.
To hide behind a hypocrite one has to be smaller than him. @ImranKhanPTI is too big for these sell outs and buy outs. With you my Captain! https://t.co/uy0ysWdkeY
Whether you have 10 followers or 10,000! We all matter because we all have a VOICE. Support each other Insafians and do not let anyone let you believe otherwise about Imran Khan being the best option for Pakistan currently. He needs us united. That is his #VoteOfConfidence
Tomorrow @ImranKhanPTI will have clear majority in the parliament, but thats not the point.Till when are we going to depend on a system like this,Corrupt to the core.People who can do anything for money are in parliament and we know it and worst thing we as nation are ok with it!
Coke Studio 2020 unveiled their third episode with three powerful songs featuring veterans Umair Jaswal and Sanam Marvi and budding artists Sehar Gul Khan and Zara Madani.
The first song of this episode is a powerful solo performance by Sehar Gul, written and composed by lyricist Asim Raza. Ishq da Kukkar has a spiritual message with a prayer of love towards God. The song is an early morning call to prayer being given by a bird deeply in love with the Almighty and in profound devotion, it beckons the believer to come to say a loving prayer alongside.
Speaking about how much the song touched her, Sehar said, “As I sang the song, with each verse, I felt like I was being transported, elevated into a completely different world. I’ve tried my best to share that experience through the song.”
Pardesiya, the second song of this episode is an eastern classical-inspired raga rock track performed by classically trained singer Zara Madani. The song is about one’s search for God and the longing for peace which one prays to the Almighty for in times of distress.
Explaining the concept of the song, Zara said: “In life, as humans, we are constantly in search of something. We await the arrival of something bigger, some form of an answer. This thirst for an answer or an impending destination is common to us all.”
This experimental song has a bluesy feel and has been sung in Raag Bhimpalasi in madh laya of eastern classical music. Raag Bhimpalasi has originated from thaat Kafi and is considered to be the Shanti Rasa (a conscious cultivation of inner balance, equilibrium, wisdom, and serenity) of Indian classical music.
The third song for the episode, Har Funn Maula, has been written by Shuja Haider and is a Sufi dhamaal power track with drums giving it a rock element. Har Funn Maula has been performed by Umair Jaswal and Sanam Marvi. Despite the upbeat music, this song curiously touches upon the chords of one’s soul with its spiritual message. It is man’s quest to make him better at everything he does, it is his prayer and longing for perfection.
While the song starts off in Jaswal’s rock musician voice, it borrows elements from the dhamaal, a devotional dance/music practice that honours qalandars or Sufi saints bringing in a Sufic flair to the message.
Talking about the song, Marvi said, “When you set foot on the first step of love, without even realising it, you take a step in the direction of Ishq-e-Haqqiqi (love for God Almighty). Somewhere along the way, you feel the pain of heartbreak, loss and you realise that only prayer can give you a sense of peace and calm.”
Coke Studio 2020 also marks the return of the house-band, with Asad Ahmed on the electric guitar, Kamran ‘Mannu’ Zafar on bass, Babar Khanna on eastern percussions, Shehroze Hussain on the sitar, Nawazish Nasri on rabab, and Abier ‘Veeru’ Shaan on percussions. On backing vocals, this season will feature Nimra Rafiq, Wajiha Naqvi, Kumail Jaffery, Shahab Hussain, and Zara Madani.
Given the new format and advantages of technology, this season has also collaborated with international musicians from across the world including Turkey, Nepal, Lebanon and Serbia. In fact, Turkish artist, Volkan Öktem, has also joined the house-band this season featuring on the drums.
With the first episode of Coke Studio 2020 well-received by both critics and the public alike, Coke Studio dropped Episode 2 on Friday featuring performances by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Meesha Shafi and Ali Pervez Mehdi among others.
RFAK joined hands with classical singer Zara Madani to perform a beautiful tarana Dil Tarpe, bringing a fusion and Qawwali-like flavour to the track.
In the song, the protagonist is exhibiting distress by emotionally imploring their beloved to have mercy on the heart; longing for the comfort and peace of their beloved’s company.
Talking about the song, Zara said, “This song is about longing with a very special spiritual connotation; a conversation taking place between a person and their inner self where one pleads for help from the Almighty.”
Excited about the new collaboration, Khan said, “I don’t think anyone has ever experimented with a tarana the way that we have tried to in this season.”
In the second song of the episode, newcomer Wajiha Naqvi debuted with a solo performance titled Yaqeen. The song has been written and composed by the artist herself. Carrying a modern pop-rock style, the song has pronounced elements of Indian classical instruments, thus classifying as raga rock, a popular musical genre from the 60s.
With its powerful lyrics, Yaqeen tells the story of a woman showing resilience and self-reliance in the journey of life. Speaking about the song, Naqvi said: “If men and women are not encouraged or taught to rely on themselves or have faith in themselves, this usually leads them not really knowing who they are and what they are truly capable of. If each person is given the opportunity to explore and discover his/her own self and true potential, they can contribute to society in a more informed manner.”
Lastly, Ali Pervez Mehdi and Meesha Shafi came together for a catchy Punjabi folk song Gal Sunn. With a contemporary funk element, the song represents the longing between lovers. The rhythm instruments playing interlocking grooves create a toe-tapping and danceable feel.
“In these times, going through [Covid-19], I wanted people to listen to something positive and fun. That is why I created this song,” said Mehdi, adding that the song gave him hope.
“I dance to it and I want everyone else to dance to it too!,” he added.
Meesha, while talking about the song said: “This song has a lovely flirtatious vibe. It is a beautiful composition. Ali has a beautiful voice and his songwriting is really really catchy.”
Along with a groovy bass line, Serbian brass players have also been incorporated playing the trumpet, tenor saxophone and trombone enhancing the funk feel to this desi melody.
Produced by Rohail Hyatt, CS2020 started on December 4 and will have only 12 songs, featuring 13 artists.
According to a press release, the upcoming season will be shorter with only 12 songs. The reason for a shorter season is the nation-wide lockdown and restrictions due to COVID-19 this past year.
CS2020 is produced by Rohail Hyatt and was administered under careful management and maintenance of COVID-19 SOPs which resulted in both singers and musicians being recorded separately. Technology was used to make communication easy for the artists, resulting in an errorless outcome.
The teaser of every artist was uploaded on Coke Studio’s official YouTube Channel.
The season includes 12 new songs featuring 13 artists, out of which four emerging artists will make their debut on this platform. This includes an assortment of singers ranging from industry veterans like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Meesha Shafi, Fariha Pervez, Umair Jaswal, Ali Noor, Bohemia and Sanam Marvi alongside new-comers such as Mehdi Maloof, Aizaz Sohail, Sehar Gul Khan and Wajiha Naqvi as well as experienced artists such as Zara Madani and Ali Pervez Mehdi.
Not only will this be a season featuring purely original songs, but the focus for this season has also been on its content and social messaging including an all-female anthem on women’s empowerment. Interestingly, this will be the first time ever in CS history that all the female artists of the season will be singing together, although each artist was recorded separately.
Moreover, given the new format and advantages of technology, this season has also collaborated with international musicians from across the world including Turkey, Nepal, Lebanon and Serbia.
“Working on this season has been a valuable learning experience. It has left me with a realization that in order for anything to survive, it must have the ability to change and adapt to the circumstances that surround it. Even in trying times, we must not give up but instead re-invent ourselves and keep moving ahead. Despite the limitations of this pandemic, everyone on the team, especially the artists, willingly left their comfort zones only to help keep alive the tradition of sharing music. It is with this same spirit that we bring CS to you this year; a humble effort to share something familiar, yet new.” said producer Rohail Hyatt.
Given the extraordinary circumstances under which this year’s season has been produced, it will be deliberately referred to as CS 2020 and not CS Season 13.
The first episode of Coke Studio 2020 is set to air on December 4, 2020.
