Tazeen Akhtar
Mushtaq Yousufi is a renown comic writer on critic in urdu readers in the world. He writes , “I met an Arab who said to me , Mr. Yousufi ! We too beleive in “La Ilaha Illallah” but your people have gone mad after reading Kalimah e Tayyabah.”
The situation is exactly the same as expressed in above excerpt. The demonstration we saw in Mardan where a student was tortured to death, in Sialkot when Sri Lankan manager was lynched to death and latest in Lahore on 26 February 2024 where a girl wearing a dress with just an Arabic language word was about to be “Sent to Hell” by the most pious believers but first the restaurant owner Tariq Johnson and later Ichhra Police saved not only the girl but the angry mob as well from committing another sin against humanity. First police officer reached at the spot was SP Ertiza Kumail while ASP Sheharbano Naqvi was the second.
COAS General Syed Asim Munir received ASP at General Headquarters after few days of the unfortunate incident. ISPR press release states , “COAS rightly lauded ASP for her selfless devotion to duty and professionalism in diffusing a volatile situation. The fearless officer extricated the woman from the difficult milieu of Ichhra Bazaar in Lahore. COAS also underscored the importance of social harmony and the need for nationwide consensus on curbing intolerance. He emphasized upon the rule of law and advised against taking the law in one’s hands when legal avenues are available for addressing concerns and grievances.”
Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Saeed Al Malki also had a meeting with ASP Sheharbano Naqvi. He invited the lady officer and family to be royal guests in Riyadh. He paid tributes to ASP Sheharbano Naqvi’s resilience in the Lahore incident said that the ASP showed great courage and bravery against all odds.Ambassador has ordered to organize the visit of Sheharbano and her family to Riyadh as royal guests.
Here comes another side of story that needs more work than appreciating the officer who was duty bound to save a citizen surrounded by the savage mob. There are two points that can help understand the situation correctly if someone is sincere to address it.
Transformation of Saudi Arabia into a modern country with fashion shows , musical evenings and beauty pageants is not only astonishing for a large number of Pakistanis but religiously and traditionally disturbing as well.
They are not criticizing Saudi Arabia directly but calling into question the religious leaders in Pakistan who, what the most of the people think, receive funds from Saudi Arabia. Pakistanis are confirm in their minds that the extremism in Pakistan is due to the religious organizations that are related somehow with Saudi Arabia.
People are asking the religious leaders that ;
“You make the mountain of a mole hill in Pakistan on even a small thing of modernization and fashion etc but why you are silent on Saudi girls taking part in beauty pageants ( the models wearing or carrying Suadi flag with Kalimah e Tayyabah).”
Arab News reports that beauty pageant star Rumy Al-Qahtani is known for wearing both evening gowns and traditional Saudi costumes on stage at international competitions. She wants to learn about world cultures and to transfer Saudi culture and heritage to the world.Her most recent turn on the stage was at the Miss & Mrs Global Asian beauty pageant in Malaysia.
She has also competed in the Miss Planet International pageant in Cambodia, the Miss Woman International Beauty Contest in Rome, the Miss Europe Continental competition in Naples, the Miss Arab World pageant in Egypt, the Miss Arab Unity competition in Algeria, and Iraq’s Miss Middle East and North Africa pageant.
Here it is worth mentioning that as soon as the pictures of Beauty pageant star Rumy Al-Qahtani went viral on her own insta and other sites, the social media in Pakistan flooded with reservations of Pakistanis who belong to all sects. It was only in the meanwhile, that the woman was attacked in Lahore for wearing a dress that had Arabic word.
One can deny any connection between the dresses of Saudi models and dress of Pakistani women in Lahore but the timing of wrath on Saudi model’s pictures on social media and the incident in Lahore can not be ignored.
The woman was surrounded by the crowd in Ichhra Lahore by a charged mob because they thought she was wearing a dress with Quranic verses on it and if the police had not reached the spot, they would have killed the woman. They failed to understand that the suit is not actually Quranic verses but an Arabic calligraphy design common in middle east with the Arabic word “الحلوة” written on it which means sweet woman. But the sweet woman had a very bitter experience.
( This picture is viral on social media – ASP is in Juggan Kazim Tv Show – Juggan is said to be ASP’s Aunt – Former caretaker CM Punjab Muhsin Raza Naqvi is said to be ASP’s Uncle – Our conformity is not necessary because people are attributing ASP to another high profile figure of Pakistan )
These extreme mind people are now seeing the pictures of Saudi models who wear or stand with Saudi flag that has Kalma e Tayyaba engraved on it. One can imagine what will be the feelings of Pakistanis here.
Saudi diplomats in Pakistan know very well that a large number of Pakistanis hold Saudi Arabia responsible for religious extremism in Pakistan. Our conformity is not necessary with them but they believe that so called religious leaders and organizations are beneficiaries of Saudi Arabia. They are taking welcome of ASP Naqvi by Saudi Ambassador as the result of guilt more than appreciation.
Tahir Ashrafi is at the top of the list. He is also said to be the apple of the eyes of Saudi Arabia that is why he was the only one to continue from PM Imran Khan to PM Shehbaz without any break. He is considered stock of laughter in Pakistani media because of his own character and exposures. He was caught drunk at road side once. He appeared in a talk show on Geo Tv while he was drunk.
ASP Sheharbano’s appreciation is good but anyone has asked her why the religious leaders were invited to Police Station in front of who , the woman was asked to beg for pardon? Pardon for what?It means the others will decide what to wear and what not? And others can issue a verdict that this dress is anti Islam and the person wearing should be killed by a mob? What else can one get from the pardon of the woman with two clerics sitting left right of her in Police Station?
It is the duty of any police personnel to save the life of innocent from outlaws. ASP has done her duty only. Has anyone asked ASP how did you reach the spot? Who informed you? Who held the mob away from the woman risking his own life and property? He was the real hero.
Real Hero – ASP or Restaurant Owner?
The owner of the restaurant Tariq Johnson downed the shutter, convinced the mob not to resort to extremism and saved the woman. He informed police. Ichhra police reached first, followed by SP Ertiza Kumail. The mob could have burnt his restaurant and punished him and notable point is he is Christian, means more prone to already religiously charged mob. No one has appreciated him because he is not government or uniform person. He is a commoner.
Dirt under the Carpet
The question is not about the woman has been saved. Problem still exists because the savages are still at large to hunt any other. Their minds are still filled with anger and extremism. We can not bring ASP Naqvi everywhere and ASP Naqvi can not save everyone caught in such a situation. During General Musharraf government, a same savage mind shot a provincial minister Zill e Huma in the head only because she was not having hijab (Daupatta). We have to solve this menace of polluted minds if we want a society of humans and not the self styled executioners.
Twin Cities Hostage of Security -Recreation is Made Punishment for Public in Pakistan – Tazeen Akhtar
