Karachi has a love-hate relationship with the monsoon season. While Karachiites long for rain throughout the year, we shudder at the very thought of prolonged downpour, flooding, destruction and power outages that are inevitably associated with it.

The last time this city truly got to enjoy the rainy season was during Mustafa Kamal’s tenure, when despite drains heavily clogged with rainwater – especially the Gujjar Nala and Neher-e-Khayyam – alternate drainage arrangements were made and the citizens were spared the entire rain-related trauma.

Things are much, much different now. With monsoon rains that are imminent and expected any day now, infrastructure that is crumbling, a mayor in office with plenty of excuses to not do enough for the relief of Karachiites, along with a lack of ownership by the citizens, the city will surely descend into utter chaos if it rains heavily.

After all, the entire country witnessed the state of developed cities like Lahore and Islamabad during this monsoon season in Punjab. When a city like Lahore – with all possible funds spent for development and former Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif’s personal attention to details – couldn’t bear the brunt of nature and was unprepared, how can Karachi – the disowned and severely ignored city – survive?

New Islamabad International Airport after rain.
KOI SHARM HOTI HAI
KOI HAYA HOTI HAI.#Rain pic.twitter.com/15yO2RIWLb

— Ali Arif (@i_aliarif) June 5, 2018

Karachi is home to immigrants from all over the country, who come down to this port city in search of jobs. Their uncontrolled influx has further choked the housing and infrastructure of the city, as they mostly settle down in encroached areas. Punjab, on the other hand, hasn’t experienced this influx as yet, and thus the common man on the streets owns the city and appreciates all the good work done by the government. Then how did the recent rains wreak havoc in the immaculately-managed city of Lahore?

Men watch a sinkhole form on Mall Road. Photo: M Shehzad/ Express

A man pushes his car on a flooded road in Lahore. Photo: M Shehzad/ Express

Water levels rise in a Lahore parking lot. Photo: M Shehzad/ Express

From where I view this, Shehbaz has created a facade by laying down an excellent road network, bridges, underpasses and advanced mass transit systems, but did not bother putting in extended effort on underground drainage systems, simply because they are not visible and could not translate into votes.

Back in the day, Kamal took the risk and worked on the underground infrastructure first, before moving to the ground level. However, the drainage system of Karachi today needs a complete overhaul, since the system hasn’t been maintained or repaired since Kamal left. From widening of existing drains to removal of encroachments, serious efforts are needed to keep devastation at bay from the city.

During Kamal’s era, he came to the rescue when Clifton was badly flooded, and despite not being responsible for areas falling under cantonments, he worked on footings and laid down a system that has kept Clifton from submerging in the years to come. Similarly, Gulistan-e-Jauhar is a neighbourhood that was ignored by all previous provincial as well as local governments. It was Kamal and his team that laid down a very effective drainage system which remains functional to date and has kept the area from flooding. What Karachi needs is similar leadership and ruthless accountability against all those who are involved in corruption and choose to do nothing while the city slowly nears its doom.

Throughout the world, drainage systems have a specific capacity, after which they cease to fulfil their purpose. Once the threshold is met, streets get flooded and evacuations have to take place. For instance, last year, we saw Hurricane Harvey bring destruction to several cities in Texas, mainly Houston. Even a developed country like the US, possessing state-of-the-art infrastructure, could not handle the intense rains, eventually causing massive flooding, evacuations, destruction of property and deaths. Nonetheless, the rescue services and city administration in Houston was fully functional and despite the havoc, order was soon restored, inquiries were initiated and compensations were made.

It may sound like a reach, but we need such efficient systems in place in a major metropolitan city like Karachi, where a single day of economic shutdown takes the entire country a few steps back. Ensuring proper drainage for rainwater is the only solution. In order to prepare for the upcoming monsoon spell, here are some basic steps the current caretaker government of Sindh should take:

1. Gujjar Nala is a major rainwater channel that has been heavily encroached. All previous governments could not address this issue due to “political” implications. Now is the chance to take the bull by its horns and get it cleared of all encroachments, which have led to it being narrowed to only a few feet.

2. All the rainwater drains running throughout the city must be cleaned and widened.

3. The government should start educating the masses through electronic and print media about the implications of encroaching on rainwater drains, and how it negatively affects the whole city.

On another note, we need civic awareness programs at a public level to make Karachiites realise that if they want a decent living style, they will have to own this city, avoid dumping trash in drains and more readily contribute towards a cleaner and greener Karachi.

We often complain of lack of recreational activities in Karachi – a city which can easily be labelled a foodie’s paradise, but with few other entertainment outlets available. Any new addition to the leisure scene in the city is always welcomed with arms wide open – and Askari Parks’ opening was no exception to this reception.

One might recall Funland in Clifton, the Sindbad franchise across Karachi, Aladdin Water Park in Gulshan, Nisar Shaheed Park in Defence and Go Aish in Gulshan. While taking rides at these parks, we race at breakneck speeds through the twists and turns or suddenly plunge to the ground, but what is it about these places that we enjoy? Is it the temporary reprieve from our otherwise stressful lives or the thrill in riding on danger’s edge – that we are comfortable in overlooking the danger involved?

But what if it turns out that the danger is real? Do accidents happen? And who is responsible for making sure these rides are safe? I guess none of these concerns were addressed at Askari Park last weekend.

Is there any place in Pakistan where Pakistanis can feel safe and happy? This #AskariPark incident is horrible. Prayers for Kashaf Samad who lost her life in this tragic incident.

— Jajja (@SumairaJajja) July 15, 2018

What happened at Askari Park? Whose oversight led to the accident: management, state or consumer? A part of their frisbee pendulum ride collapsed to the ground; an initial report claimed that the swing fell apart after its ball bearings slipped because of broken bolts. This type of ride features a circular gondola that rotates as it swings back and forth. Riders are seated on the gondola facing inward or outward, depending on the model. Eye witnesses said,

“It was around 40 feet above the ground when it crashed. There was a loud bang and people ran here and there.”

He added that the park’s management suddenly disappeared from the scene.

Over the years, we have regularly seen amusement park accidents in Pakistan, including:

1. The death of an employee on the Crazy Plane ride at Sinbad in 2011

2. Thirty-five, including children injured in Pirate Ship accident

3. Aladdin Park deaths in 2004

In the case of Askari Park, there were reports quoting the park’s Managing Director Shafqat Jafri saying that the machinery had been imported from China. Two days prior to the park’s opening, he claimed that no officials had visited the park yet as there were no laws governing such rides in the country. The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) team, he had said at the time, would visit the park in a few days. Ironically, the same ride was rumoured to have been opened for trial on Sunday, and people at the park were being enticed to try this new attraction. They immediately closed down the ride, after the accident happened. This makes me wonder which party is responsible for keeping a check and balance on parks of this magnitude – if there is any body, that is.

“Running on trial basis” YOU TEST YOUR RIDES WITH PEOPLE ON IT?! WTF!!! #AskariPark

— meem (@meemelif) July 15, 2018

Fire-fighting activities were executed almost immediately – including police deployment, experts arriving for inspection and closing the park until the inquiry was completed. Injured were moved to Liaquat National Hospital – whose treatment cost would apparently be borne by the provincial government.

But is that truly enough? Or is that even the point? Shouldn’t these things be done as a significant pre-cursor to opening large amusement parks – ensuring security checks, as far as it is possible and practicable? Closure of amusement rides across the province for three days and reopening to the public after completion of technical inspection should not have to happen, if regular checks were established in the first place.

This is not the 1st incident that happened at the Askari amusement park. An 8 year old girl has died because park owners have old rides that will not be allowed to operate in ither countries. Not only should the park management be held responsible but also the park authority.

— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) July 15, 2018

What constitutes a “serious injury” on a joy ride? A serious injury is one that results in immediate admission and hospitalisation of more than 24 hours beyond observation.

Management has a huge role in ensuring safety when launching their amusement parks. This responsibility includes inspection/maintenance of rides, blanket application of safety procedures and ensuring that no attraction has design faults.

Why does it always take a death to realize there's something wrong that needs fixing! #AskariPark

— Sesh♡ (@Oh_My_Mascara) July 15, 2018

The next biggest and most important thing to be done is to ensure “qualified” people are employed to operate these rides; these people should know the basics behind the rides they are responsible for, applying height/weight restrictions to people using the rides and being able to run emergency drills if needed.

I believe this gives much food for thought. Even though there is an inherent risk in getting on an amusement park ride, park owners do have the same duty as other businesses to ensure the reasonable safety of their customers. With news of the accident, social media was full of condemnations and backlash against park management, demanding boycott and thorough enquiry.

'Askari Amusement Park', that's basically the entire country.

— Umer (@UmerTariiiq) July 15, 2018

This accident was not the first of its kind in Pakistan; and till such time ownership is not taken, by society at large, I doubt this accident will be the last. There must be regulation in place, for periodic inspection, use, erection and design of all rides and similar amusements they operate. And with this, let’s pray for Kashaf who went on a ride, thinking it would be the best moment of her life, and ended up passing away in the accident at Askari Park. We cannot let more of our children meet the same unfortunate fate. If we want safe spaces for our children, let’s start from here.

Over the course of last two weeks, Mohammad Jibran Nasir, an independent politician, has faced a thorough degree of inquiry regarding his beliefs about Ahmadis in Pakistan, and the legitimacy of them calling themselves “Muslim”. For his refusal to curse them – a condition set by a corner meeting attendee at the promise of a vote – he has been accused, publicly, of being a blasphemer.

Being an army brat, I am largely reluctant to voice my opinion on matters that are rather political. Our conditioning, generally, is such that we maintain consistency in following disciplined lines of action – ensuring that we rarely, if ever, stray from an apolitical lifestyle.

However, in all of us, there lies one core belief, and that is the belief in the value of life, every human’s right to self-advocate and right to their beliefs. Thus, the defamation campaign against Jibran has not come as a shock, but a halting reality that continues to haunt our already weakened social and national fibre. Thus, I am forced to speak today for Pakistan’s next hero – one who stands for the rights of the weak and oppressed. A Pakistani who is pure of politically manipulative thought. A potential leader who could finally change the way this country functions.

I would never have publicly supported a politician unless I understood and agreed with their frame of thought. However, having clearly seen Jibran’s courage and resolve in the face of social manipulation, I began exploring his political ideology which has come, finally, as a pleasant surprise.

His manifesto alone speak volumes about the service-oriented leader that he strives to become. Succinctly, Jibran promises a Pakistan based on a very Muhammad Ali Jinnah-esque ideology – his manifesto quoting the famous “you are free to go to your temples…” speech highlights his dedication to ensure peace in the society. The manifesto also elaborates on his plans to control VIP culture, whilst providing basic functional necessities such as employment opportunities, access to justice and to drinkable water in order to promote economic prosperity.

What haunts me, nonetheless, is the hate campaign that has recently begun against this young, strong leader. In a very recent press conference, Jibran stated that extremist outfits were out to disrupt his campaign as his service-based activism, void of religious or braadry (caste) support, posed a threat to the campaigns of factions that gained most of their votes by cashing out religious, socio-cultural or ethnic vote banks.

In the last few weeks, a local mosque cleric within his constituency has given orders to “stone Jibran if he ever enters the area again” as it is “halal and jaaiz (permissible)”. Similarly, questions about his lacking hatred for Ahmadis have repeatedly been brought to his corner meetings in attempts to sway away votes on a socio-religio-political basis, and heckle the aspiring candidate.

He has maintained strongly that he intends to pursue a campaign that focuses on public service, irrespective of religion and religious beliefs. He hopes to serve the community and has responded to such heckles with impeccable maturity and calm.

Recently, in a response to an attendee questioning his religion and repeatedly pressuring Jibran to curse Ahmadis, the independent candidate responded by saying:

“Meray rozay rakhnay se aapkay ghar paani ka masla hal ho jaye ga? Meray namaaz parhnay se apkay masail khatam ho jaeen gay? Mein insaani khidmat ki siyaasat karta hoon.”

(Would my fasting solve the sanitation and water issues of your house? Will my praying solve issues of this area and neighbourhood? I run a political campaign of social service.)

Last night, during his campaign in Bizerta lines, it is being reported that Jibran and his team were attacked by a certain right-wing party’s workers and supporters, allegedly belonging to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Their car was smashed and his workers were beaten up. While this mob kept shouting chants and threats, Jibran responded with flying kisses. He and his team refused to back down from the campaign and braved through the lanes of Bizerta lines.

In response, Jibran’s media address was noteworthy where he elaborated the need for education for the youth involved in such terror-driven activities, and how they require love and affection to grow into individuals who come find the right path, away from that of being astray.

In his words, they need aik jaado ki jhappi aur pyar bhari pappi (a magical hug and a love-filled kiss)!

Our workers were beaten in Bizerta Lines by TLP & challenged to enter again. We led our team through every lane of Bizerta Lines TLP clashed with us again assaulting male/female workers but we responded with flying kisses. Didnt back down. Won't back down. Proud of our brave team pic.twitter.com/7ajqRX3InT

— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) July 20, 2018

Just received this: Jibran Nasir independent candidate from #NA247 & #PS111 & his workers attacked by #TLYP in Bizerta lines car smashed.

— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) July 20, 2018

Yeh tarbiat aur taleem hai Khadim Rizvi ki kay naujawanon kay haathon main danday hain aur moun pay gaali. Yeh hamaray bhai hain. In kay haathon main qalm do, kitaabain don, laptops do in ko gumrah mat karo. On the mob attack last night in Bizerta Lines pic.twitter.com/oEetQH4aVG

— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) July 21, 2018

His reply is testament to his high level of maturity, political sensitivity and strong sense of social responsibility. He is, at least in these General Elections, one of the very few politicians, if not the only one, to stand for the rights of minorities such as Christians, Ahmadis and Hindus. However, regardless of his attempts to stand firm against the inaction of this country to protect such people, the campaign against him depicts the real state of Pakistan.

Instead of supporting someone willing to fight social divide and stratification based on religious boundaries, a large opposition has developed solely to condemn Jibran’s entire campaign on the basis of his attempts to do so. Whilst this is not shocking in light of Pakistan’s history – it is still very, very disturbing.

Although there is a plethora of support for him on social media, there are also people of the like who will simply hate him for his support of a minority – exposing Pakistan’s deep-rooted fundamentalist sectarianism.

Photo: Screenshot

As visible in the image above, Pakistan is a long way from overcoming religious intolerance at a basic level.

Compared to leading parties like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – whose leaders are afraid of publicly supporting minorities – Jibran poses a saint-like humanist figure.

Recently, PTI leadership claimed a poster to be fabricated (and developed by opposing parties to hurt their vote bank) as it suggested that the party would protect the rights of minorities like Ahmadis, Ismailis, Hindus, and support them. The fact that a new party, which previously amassed followers in large numbers for its liberal standing, is now publicly denying support to minorities is proof of the concept that in Pakistan, politics of hatred strives fiercer than that of harmony.

This is NOT @PTIofficial graphic ! It is made by the enemies of the state who want to create chaos & mistrust amongst Pakistani’s!

This is the #Pathetic mindset that has played havoc with our country. pic.twitter.com/wYw0hEuJz2

— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) July 14, 2018

Leading his election campaign with the symbol of a loud speaker – befittingly so, as metaphorically represented in his loud speech against hatred – Jibran is Pakistan’s ideal candidate. It is a shame that he is being threatened, attacked and smothered by blasphemy allegations in attempts to dilute his vote bank. However, regardless of how many people stamp on the loud speaker come July 25^th, Jibran truly is an inspiring figure, a genuine ray of hope in Pakistan’s deeply disturbing political, social and religious world.

He is the change we need in a country where progressive parties like PTI use convicted killers and religious hatred to gain votes and convicted embezzlers gain sympathy votes for being imprisoned. Where men like Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are criticised for being too feminine, while his sister finds trouble in gaining a party ticket from her mother’s own party due to her being a woman, and corrupt tehreeks upon tehreeks lock down cities to promote tyrannical fear and hatred.

May Pakistan live long, prosper, and find many more young men like Jibran to lead it.

After all, he is hum mein se #Aik (one of us).

On July 25^th, Pakistan’s fate, at least for the next five years, will be in its own hands. The future will come down to all of us as we make certain choices in that polling booth. Some of us will still be thinking, weighing pros and cons, measuring the benefits, and calculating the risks. But most of us would have likely made up our minds on who to vote for before judgement day. The next day, Pakistan, a sovereign state since 1947, will see only the second successive transition in democratic power. But I have a question: are all people informed enough to decide the fate? Are all voters equally aware of the choices they will make, and their repercussions? Of course, not. The only requirement is that you need to have a national identity card (NIC), effectively making anyone over 18 years of age eligible to decide the country’s destiny. But if we were to add the requirement of having a matriculation/high school certificate at the time of casting the vote. Critics would argue this is impractical, and would needlessly eliminate a huge portion of the population. The counter is that this need not be a requirement for the next elections. Make it a vision 2028 or 2033. Make it a long-term plan for the next 20 years, giving enough time for elected members to build schools in their constituencies, provide thousands of jobs to teachers, clerical staff, senior management and construction workers. Add to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) through more work for the construction, steel, and services industries. Moreover, a matriculation only requires 12 years of education. I am being generous when I say give them 20 years. Take the extra eight for construction, enrolment and awareness. Some would now say Pakistan doesn’t have the budget for such a programme. The country spends close to Rs700 billion on education, roughly 2% of GDP, on the sector each year. Still, the literacy rate in the country is no better than 58%. According to a report published a few years ago, largely due to the fact that education is not a widely reported topic, as many as 66% of children in Balochistan and 51% in Sindh are out of school, followed by Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) with 47% and 34%, respectively. These are estimated figures, and by no means capture the scenario. The literacy rate of 58% is an astronomically exaggerated figure even by the definition of the ability of a person to read and write a simple letter with understanding in any language. So where does the money go? If even Rs700 billion isn’t enough, I don’t know what will be. If its falls short, open accounts in banking institutions. You want to crowdfund a dam. How about you crowdfund education! Worried about getting teachers to go to far-flung areas? How about you use the same students who have recently passed or finished their education by offering them jobs as teachers in the same school. You have created jobs straightaway. Never mind Pakistan’s millennium development goals or the sustainable development goals. Forget those. The country hasn’t met them, and probably won’t. But you put the requirement of a high school or matriculation certificate to casting a vote, and all election candidates vying for a place in the elections will look to increase school enrolment and literacy levels in their constituencies. It may give current elected members a headstart, but increasing awareness through education means the voter can no longer be fooled by cosmetic measures. The voter is now a much more aware, much more educated, and a much more informed person before stepping into the ballot box. The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees education to every child aged five-16 years, and you know what, it is free and compulsory. But at the end of the day, Pakistan will never implement any step that would put it on the path of growth, prosperity and sustainable development. We will argue, fight, abuse and remain in misery. For this is our curse. We have lived it for 71 years, and we will continue to do so. We lack the will to sacrifice. Some are fortunate, but remain oblivious. Several are less fortunate, but unaware. A few of us are just outright corrupt.

Dhadak is an adaptation of the celebrated Marathi film Sairat, based on the deep but doomed love story of two youngsters who, because of their class differences, have to pay a heavy price for being together by the hands of political and societal tyrants.

The basic plot of Dhadak plays out the same way as the original, where Madhukar (Ishaan Khattar), a lower-caste boy, and Parthavi Singh (Janhvi Kapoor), an upper-caste girl, fall head over heels in love with each other. Parthavi is evocatively a fearless, boisterous and spoilt daughter of a Rajasthani political kingpin, while Madhukar is the shy son of a restaurateur who falls madly in love with her.

The caste differences between the couple are an inevitable thorn in the path of their scarlet romance, yet the lovers choose the path of fighting the battle for their love to triumph and go against their parents will, as well as the norms of their society and culture. By choosing the path of elopement, they hope to live their fantasies and romance freely, but are unaware of the bitter realities and tragedies that await them.

The story is engaging and appealing because like Sairat, the premise surrounds a love facing the ruthless pressures of society. But contrary to Sairat, it does not portray the gravity with which the caste atrocities, clashes and prejudices were brought to life on the landscape of cinema by Nagraj Manjule. As it was speculated before, Dhadak has trivialised the morass of caste and class divisions, as it merely skims the surface of it. 

Sairat lured the audience through the popular genre of a Romeo and Juliet inspired forbidden love story set against a rural setting. It was a commercial and mainstream film replete with song and dance sequences, however, the naturalism, realism, honesty and depth of the art-house narrative were not compromised. It revealed the unpretentious yet audacious and trenchant currents and tones of life-threatening conflict that the beleaguered lovers become a victim of. Despite inconsistencies in the narrative when compared to its source material, Dhadak convincingly portrays the blossoming of love and the predicament that follows after their love is discovered. 

Since Dhadak is a remake, comparisons between the two films are inevitable. And when compared to Sairat, Dhadak is undeniably synthetic and sporadic, as it is too polished and glossy. The screenplay is insipid, the script scattered, and the film misses out on the penetrating and daring plot of the original. It is devoid of rawness and simplicity, while the projection of extravagance is blatant.

As it did when the trailer dropped, Dhadak once again disappoints and fails fans of Sairat. But when taken out from the roof of its inspiration, Dhadak has an appeal and allure of its own. It manages to enthral the audience to a degree, as the focus on the plight and ordeal of the lovers remains and stirs the right emotions in the audience. Following Sairat’s template from scene to scene, Dhadak stands on its own with its own impact and charm.

As far as acting is concerned, Khattar’s vigour and enthusiasm as a newcomer comes across, and he does a decent job.

Kapoor is beautiful and radiant, but her dialogue delivery is mostly stilted. The acting of the lead pair is nowhere near the performance delivered by the actors of Sairat, particularly Rinku Rajguru, who received a National Award. However, they do manage to be convincing enough for Parthavi and Madhu’s romance to come across as real, heartfelt, innocent and pure.

Director Shashank Khaitan definitely could not step out of his “Dulhania” mode, with his third film entailing a lot of visual likeness to his earlier films. In Dhadak, the fashion quotient remains high and the scenes have been shot very aesthetically, but it is also Khaitan’s best film thus far, as it delves into the dark realities of life.

The film has some spectacular cinematography by Vishnu Rao, who brings out the landscapes of Udaipur artistically and successfully on celluloid. It sure is a spectacle of grandeur and splendour with beautiful sets, costumes and makeup creating a world of fantasy (in the first half), while the pleasing background score is on point and fits into the momentum of the scenes. Additionally, Ajay-Atul’s soundtrack – which consists a set of mellifluous songs like Zingaat, Pehli Baar and the title song Dhadak – is delightful and catchy.

Despite its flaws and failings – mainly its lack of depth and intensity – Dhadak has the power to ring effective, continuous beats in the hearts of people. In an attempt to differentiate the film from Sairat, it glorifies and glamorises its way through issues, which is a clear injustice. Nonetheless, the film effectively thrills the audience as it brings a typical Bollywood mainstream and commercial cinematic experience, with its humour, visuals, emotions, and brimming freshness, along with a naïve yet compelling romance between Khattar and Kapoor.

Overall, Dhadak is a visual treat that will appeal to many eyes and hearts, if not minds. Even with the way the film leads up to the climax, it creates palpable suspense and tension. For those who have not yet seen Sairat, this film will undoubtedly be entertaining and captivating. Thus, Dhadak deserves a recommendation, because it is quite a spectacle for people who crave entertainment.

All photos: Screenshots 

With the General Elections only a couple of days away, politics is in its prime – rallies are being held, politicians are still being convicted and disqualified, and the ludicrous valuation of assets are making waves on national television and drawing rooms alike. Unlike 2013 though, excitement beckons with the launch of mainstream candidacies by fresh challengers, who are mounting pressure against the status quo.

Jibran Nasir, a popular social activist, is taking on age-old tested candidates, prospectively Pak Sarzameen Party’s (PSP) Fauzia Kasuri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Dr Arif Alvi in NA-247, Karachi.

Photo: Facebook/ Jibran Nasir

Prominent leaders of the leftist Awami Workers Party – Ismat Raza Shahjahan and Ammar Rashid – are prospectively taking on Asad Umar and Imran Khan, amongst other experienced personnel such as Mian Aslam in NA-54 and NA-53, Islamabad.

Photo: Facebook/ Ammar Rashid

And, in a truly David versus Goliath fashion, a college principal named Liaquat Mirani is mounting a noteworthy candidacy against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PTI for PS-13 in Larkana – the birthplace of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Liaquat Mirani during his campaign. Photo: Express

What is happening?

Pakistani politics is notorious for its barriers to entry; whether they derive from feudalism, wealth, caste, ethnicity, patronage, backing or connections. However, who are these progressives, how did they get here, and do their campaigns even matter?

What is progressive politics?

Progressive politics is a rising phenomenon, in which grassroots mobilisation and anti-status quo movements start to mount a challenge against complacent leaders. Think of Bernie Sanders starting a political movement for the reform of the Democratic Party in the US, urging for Democratic Socialism in an era where both the Republican and Democratic parties were mostly in the pocket of Wall Street corporations. Sanders amassed his campaign funding through grassroots donations and denied corporate funding, which he said had harmed America by allowing corporations to take over policy-making in Congress.

This is precisely what progressive politics is about: being anti-status quo, and more in touch with the public. Subsequently, rich oligarchs or feudal lords suddenly start making less sense. People slowly move towards candidates they identify more with, whose policies are more relevant for their everyday lives, rather than simply being blinded by charisma, wealth or influence. It is a true wave of unclichéd change through real people, who are closer to issues rather than personalities, be it feudal or celebrity.

It is about social equality. It is about representation. It is about dismantling the status quo.

How is progressive politics making its way into Pakistan?

Grassroots mobilisation is something that Nasir, Shahjahan, Rashid and Mirani have in common, despite their variety of geography – Karachi, Islamabad and Larkana.

Nasir talks about his lack of assets, implying that he is more in touch with the policy issues of Karachi than rich oligarchs. In a critical statement, he stated that most ministers get water tankers and thus cannot even fix the water crisis in their own homes, so how can they be expected to fix the issues of the public? Nasir has been running a strong social media campaign – asking for volunteers and donations from grassroots mobilisation vis-à-vis Facebook.

Shahjahan and Rashid are albeit less active on social media, but are utilising it to mainstream the Awami Workers Party and gather funding through what they call awaami chanda (crowdfund) in a manner similar to Nasir. They have also launched grassroots door to door campaign in Islamabad, ranging from the I-10 to the F-11.

AWP candidate Ismat Raza Shahjahan & Ammar Rashid visited I-10 katchi abadi unit of the Awami Workers Party Islamabad to meet party members and local residents. People from the abadi expressed solidarity with Ismat shahjahan as a candidate of AWP for NA-54 due to his long political engagement and work for katchi abadis. The residents expressed their full support for AWP for the election campaign and vowed to defeat the parties of the wealthy and powerful. #VoteAWP #VoteBulb #NA53 #NA54 #MutabadilMumkinhai

A post shared by Awami Workers Party Islamabad (@awamiworkerspartyislamabad) on Jun 22, 2018 at 8:45am PDT

However, most notably, Mirani has been carrying a loudspeaker in Larkana telling people that the rich VIPs in their expensive cars have done nothing for the community. He chants that he is their teacher on a donkey ride, and people should vote for him based on his community service track record.

Social media – the great equaliser

The potential of social media as a political tool first showed potency during the Arab Spring. When Tunisia’s Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in front of the governor’s office due to the state’s tyranny and brutality, his video and story were shared. When the Egyptian police carried out the coldblooded murder of Khaled Said, citizens on Facebook heard and launched ‘We are Khaled Said’! In the face of oppression by the state, common people united and played their part in removing some of the most powerful political regimes – equalising their strength with mobilisation.

The same equaliser exists in Pakistan; not for violence, but for peaceful democratisation through mobilisation and accountability. With internet penetration growing in Pakistan, no longer can politicians hide their scandalous corruption charges. More so, people like Nasir, Shahjahan, Rashid and Mirani have a platform to build a base, gather funding, and argue for issues that make sense for their communities – issues that may have been ignored by the current political status quo.

Liaquat Mirani from Larkana stated,

“I am amazed at (the) social media boom. The youth has now stood up against bad governance, corruption and nepotism.”

Do progressive campaigns matter?

Looking away from home, recently in the US, a 28-year-old progressive named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated 10-time elect Joe Crowley in the New York Primary Election for the Democratic Party. Mr Crowley was a heavyweight fundraiser for the Democrats, who did not even bother to turn up for the election speech; such was his complacency in governing and his entitlement to govern. What happened next was an upset. Despite his $3 million campaign, Ocasio-Cortez defeated him with a $300,000 campaign funded through grassroots mobilisation.

The very same methodology is being used by Nasir, Rashid and Shahjahan.

Despite a thunderstorm & a shoestring budget, we had a beautiful, charged concluding gathering for our people's campaign yesterday. Ordinary people of all ages, genders, ethnicities & religions came & celebrated the emergence of a new progressive alternative. #VoteAWP pic.twitter.com/nhF2zhm1wb

— Ammar Rashid (@AmmarRashidT) July 23, 2018

Despite thunder storm, AWP front-line revolutionaries stayed till last minute to celebrate the emergence of a progressive force on electoral map of Pakistan. #VoteAWP https://t.co/8zVeD3cSRr

— Ismat Raza Shahjahan (@ismatshahjehan) July 23, 2018

Will the Pakistani progressives achieve the same success?

The topic of their victory remains a pessimistic subject due to the seemingly insurmountable odds, given their opponents and the maturity of Pakistan’s democracy. But their heroics through grassroots mobilisation are strengthening Pakistan’s democracy – they are paving the way for a future without dynasty politics or feudalism; a future in which you and I can contest elections without any preconceived advantages. And for that, they deserve not only to be lauded, but also to be voted in power.

Director cum screenwriter Nabeel Qureshi and producer Fizza Ali Meerza, the famed duo behind hits like Na Maloom Afraad, Actor In Law and Na Maloom Afraad 2, are once again back to lure filmgoers. This time, they are ready to amaze movie-buffs with a newfangled theme; conveying the message regarding social issues via a highly charged romcom – Load Wedding. The much anticipated film has been creating buzz and excitement since its first look was released. It is obvious, judging by the recently released official trailer, that the subject is captivating for various reasons. The three-minute trailer is a mix plate of buoyant ambiance, unforgettable love affair, a delightful fusion of laudable slapstick, relatable social problems, sharp dialogues, and charged performances. One can easily conclude that Load Wedding is a fresh dramedy with a compelling storyline and enchanting music, all set in the background of a vibrant Punjab. Narrated by Mohsin Abbas Haider, the trailer shows a straightforward young man, Raja (Fahad Mustafa), who wants to marry his childhood crush, Meeru (Mehwish Hayat). However, a red card is shown by Raja’s mother, played by Samina Ahmed, to signify that he can’t marry until his sister Baby Baji gets married. The rest of the trailer clips are enough to understand the dramatic twists and conspicuous upheavals of the unabridged storyline. One more thing that is generating some hype is the parody of Dr Aamir Liaquat; clad in a vibrant shalwar kameez, running his game show. Moreover, the trailer also reveals how unmarried, obese women face difficulties in getting proposals, how they tackle fat-shaming and their constant struggle to shed some weight. It seems that the film tackles some of the sensitive social stigmas attached to arranged marriages, divorce, dowry and obesity in a conventional society. The onscreen chemistry of Mustafa and Hayat, along with the performance of Ahmed, looks true to life, and their Punjabi accent is pretty appealing. Mustafa portrays the small town, honest and frank boy aptly, while Hayat depicts a strong young lady with beauty and brains. Ahmed is a truly versatile actress who flawlessly and comfortably illustrates a desi maa (mother). The trailer shows some dance clips and romantic soundtracks with fascinating cinematography by Rana Kamran. The music is composed by Shani Arshad. All in all, Load Wedding is a family drama with relatable social affairs as well as zesty entertainment full of robust performances and a witty plot. One can hope that the Qureshi-Meerza movie lives up to the high expectations and its overall impression remains as pulsating as its energetic trailer. Load Wedding is slated for release on Eidul Azha. The movie buffs will enjoy diverse films on Eid and it is evident from all the trailer hypes that there will be a tough competition between Parwaaz Hai Junoon, Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 and of course Load Wedding. All photos: Screenshots

Sacha Baron Cohen is back with a new show. It is intriguingly titled Who is America?, and has Mr Cohen going back to his roots as a faux current affairs journalist engaging with politicians, liberal and conservative alike.

Unfortunately, for all his comic brilliance, the show leaves the question of Who is America? unanswered.

Cohen broke into the scene with characters such as the gay Austrian fashion critic Bruno, and the obnoxious Kazakh journalist Borat. No one was safe from Cohen’s biting social commentary through his satirical news pieces, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or sex. With Who is America?, Cohen capitalises on the current divisive political climate in the United States.

Through the show, Mr Cohen dons several characters: an ultra-conservative blog publisher, a former con artist on a path to redemption through unconventional art, a former Israeli army officer, and a liberal activist. Hands down, out of all of them, the funniest has been the former Israeli army officer, Colonel Erran Morad – and not only because of the disguise donned by Cohen. After all, his other disguises are top notch as well. The reason why the segment shines is because it is the closest Mr Cohen gets his subjects to reveal too much without getting suspicious. And therein lies the challenge this show faces.

Shalom, #DickCheney. #ErranMorad #WhoIsAmerica #Showtime pic.twitter.com/hf75BhA8tw

— Who Is America? (@SHOwhoisAmerica) July 23, 2018

First of all, this show is very aptly timed, given its subject matter. Political fragmentation is at an all-time high in the US, and President Trump seems to extend this gap further with every passing day. His tweets keep getting more unhinged, the conservatives in America keep leaning more towards the right, and the liberals seem to be at their wits end on how to compete in American politics.

It has been a boon for American, nay, western media all around. Pick any international daily – especially any American newspaper – and it is all about Trump. Watch any late night comedy show or turn on any news station, and you will find anchors and stand up comedians lamenting, mocking or reporting Trump. Trump has become the gift that keeps on giving, and everyone wants a piece of the action. It is only natural that someone with the comic chops and smart of Mr Cohen would also want to capitalise on it.

“I’m racist! I’m racist against Muslims” and “there’s black People in this town, they’re not welcome but they’re tolerated” and “that mosque would look good covered in fire” wow. Just wow. #WhoIsAmerica

— Baemien (@callmebaemien) July 23, 2018

This episode of #WhoIsAmerica is actually shocking.

You had an elected US state representative *screaming* clear blatant racist language and Dick Cheney, former Vice President, *literally* signed a bottle ‘for water boarding’ without hesitation.

Unbelievable.

— George Aylett (@GeorgeAylett) July 23, 2018

Yet Cohen falls short in his efforts. For much of the first episode, it seems like his interviewees are trying to stay polite and civil in the face of increasingly obnoxious and ridiculous questioning. While Borat and Bruno were unassuming and unscripted, the characters in this show seem to be educated, at least in their own beliefs. As such, it is almost as if they are forcing the interviewee to say things as opposed to Borat, who would be so out there himself that there was no way his questions or answers could be taken seriously.

The reason the last segment as Morad stands out is because he doesn’t have to push or prod his subjects – they come out with outlandish statements on their own with unbelievable conviction, leaving the audience in a state of shock.

If an actor can do this, imagine what a KGB agent can do.

— Marcia Zaninetti (@MarcitaZa) July 24, 2018

As Morad, Mr Cohen goes on a spree interviewing lobbyists and politicians about gun laws in America, and comes out the other way with heavy evidence of how much gun laws are supported and encouraged in the United States. Lobbyists and politicians support Morad’s suggestion of arming kids as young as five-years-old, and even agree to be a part of an ad campaign to promote arming children. Given the steady stream of mass shooting incidents that occur in America fairly regularly, one shudders to think how strong the gun lobby is and the lengths it can go to sell and own guns.

The reason this segment stood out was due to the evidence of the kind of thinking that exists in America. While other segments also had politicians and lobbyists, they seemed a bit forced, with Mr Cohen spewing more and more ridiculousness only to have his interviewees trying hard to keep a polite demeanour.

And that's just a little of what we'll see from #DickCheney in this week's episode of #WhoIsAmerica #ErranMorad #Showtime pic.twitter.com/sHpMGLqX7n

— Who Is America? (@SHOwhoisAmerica) July 21, 2018

The show still has some episodes to go. Prominent politicians and lobbyists have come forward claiming they were duped by Cohen into saying things that were taken out of context. Though more was expected from somebody of the calibre of Mr Cohen, perhaps there are better segments that have been saved for later?

Sadly, we never really find out who America is – the undiplomatic lobbyists, the polite citizens, or the politicians that stick to their principles. Through it all, Mr Cohen just comes across as a comedian on the bandwagon trying to make a quick buck harping on the divisive politics in today’s America.

If you were to look back and think of one of the most unbelievable decisions made in the past five years, Donald Trump getting elected as President of the United States would perhaps top the list. Just imagining the “strongest” democracy in the world actually handing over its reigns to the man without a plan makes you feel a little bit better about the state of your own democracy. You think, maybe America is worse than us, for what sane mind would ever vote Trump into power? 

Well, all this thinking made us wonder, who is Trump’s equivalent in our own political sphere? Though perhaps many of our politicians are eligible for this comparison, recent events bring only one person in mind – our very own “King Khan” (or if Reham Khan’s allegations are to be believed, perhaps Kink Khan is more apt?)

Now, before we are immediately bashed in the comments, we’d like to explain why we’re making such a heavy comparison when it comes to the sadiq and ameen (honest and truthful) politician. Leadership comparisons will of course be flawed – after all, Trump is the leader of the free world, and Imran Khan isn’t even the elected leader of our own country (yet).

No, the following comparison is simply based on how two leaders play the game of politics, the extent they are ready to go to in their pandering, and how ardently their supporters are willing to believe every word that comes out of their leader’s mouth.

1. Rich celebrities make their way into politics

At the baseline, both Trump and Imran are rich celebrity personalities who felt their presence was needed in the political sphere. Giving Imran some credit here, his athletic achievements have always been more remarkable, as we’re not quite sure what (if anything) Trump has ever achieved.

2. Make Pakistan great again

Trump’s call to “Make America Great Again” resonated with white folks who felt eight years under Barack Obama had somehow ruined the country in a way that only a politically inexperienced reality celebrity could fix. Similarly, Imran’s Naya Pakistan reached out to the youth disenfranchised by the Pakistan of old. The attainability of each slogan aside, one can’t deny they are semantically similar and work the same way to simply gain devoted followers who will throw the slogan back at you every chance they get.

3. Pandering to the right

Both Trump and Imran have been pledged support by the extreme right of both countries. While Trump has often had a kind word or two to say about literal Nazis in America, Imran has said the same but for their equivalent in Pakistan – the religious right-wing. Despite counting on liberals to vote for him, Imran has verbally insulted the group repeatedly (khooni liberal scums, anyone?) in favour of praising and joining hands with right-wing groups, especially during his election campaign. After all, he didn’t earn the name Taliban Khan for nothing.

This is Maulana Samiul Haq, the father of Taliban, explaining his partnership with Imran Khan's #PTI. Dont forget that Mr. Khan while talking to @TheZeinabBadawi in @BBCHARDtalk said how inspired he was by Taliban justice system.#Pakistan pic.twitter.com/Lg7pLw148I

— Marvi Sirmed मार्वि ماروی (@marvisirmed) June 11, 2018

You can’t blame Imran, just as you can’t blame Trump; after all, both men have simply done whatever it takes to win. Yes, a lot of PTI supporters argue Imran is doing whatever it takes to garner votes and that once he comes into power, he will go back to his “Naya Pakistan” self. But dialling back a little into history reveals that people who voted for Trump did not think he would follow through on the problematic promises. However, immigrant families separated on American soil would perhaps tell them otherwise.

4. Racist inclinations

Even though Trump is the “least racist person you’ll ever meet”, he’s quite overtly racist. And Imran has, on multiple occasions, proved that so is he.

Anyone remember the last Pakistan Super League? Cricket had finally come home and everyone was celebrating the victory, as Pakistanis should – except Imran. In a press conference, he addressed the international players who came to Pakistan as phateechar. He also said,

“I don’t know any of these foreign players, I have not even heard their names – the government seems to have grabbed someone from Africa and said look it is a foreign player.”

Let. That. Sink. In.

#PSL پاکستان میں ہوتا تو ایسے پھٹیچر پلیئرز نے ویسے بھی آجانا تھا،پتا نہی یہ کونسے انٹرنیشنل پلئرز لائے،عمران خان@najamsethi @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/apdKif2r2I

— Iffat Hasan Rizvi (@IffatHasanRizvi) March 6, 2017

Does Imran identify with the colonisers more than the colonised? After all, he saw the colour of their skin and his instinct was – if it ain’t white, it ain’t right!

5. Sexism comes naturally to both

No one needs to elaborate on why Trump is sexist; the proof is well documented for the world to see. But is Imran a more subtle form of sexist?

Like most men in Pakistan, Imran’s hate for feminism blooms in an already misogynist society. Recently, in an interview, he suggested he hates feminism for degrading the role of motherhood. Now, this could easily be brushed off saying this is just his ignorance on issues pertaining to women. But a well-educated and “woke” individual like him should know better.

Moreover, opposing the Protection of Women Against Violence Bill is not ignorance.

Whether he chose to do this to please the right-wingers or he really does not care about women’s rights, we’re not sure – all we know is, at the end of the day, he threw every Pakistani woman under the bus.

If Imran Khan thinks motherhood is the most cherished and valuable role for women, maybe PTI could’ve worked to make life better for mothers and not opposed the 2016 Protection Against Domestic Violence Bill so much.

— Amna Khan (@amnaukhan) June 17, 2018

6. The choice of language

Something that made Trump fun to watch (in a horrifying way) during his election campaign was his language. “Lyin Ted”, “Crooked Hillary”; you have to admit, the man had a knack for calling people names.

Similarly, Imran took our elections to the next level with his “colourful” choice of words, including insulting supporters of a particular party directly. From calling Karachiites zinda laashain (living corpses) to calling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters “ghadday” (donkeys), Imran has insulted his way to the top.

7. Biggest rallies ever

It’s hard to forget Trump’s inauguration speech, where people quickly noticed that the crowd size was too thin compared to what it was under President Obama. His team quickly responded to clarify that it was indeed the biggest crowd anyone had ever seen. While the only proof the world needed to verify those claims was eyes, something similar has been happening of late at PTI rallies.

Crowd at PTI rally reported to stretch from Islamabad all the way to Clifton Beach in Karachi. At least 4 trillion. pic.twitter.com/K3tlttmMM9

— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) November 2, 2016

PTI rally crowd estimates according to

ARY: 500,000
Bol: 750,000
Purana Geo: 25,000
Naya Geo: 1 million
PTV News: What rally?
Andaleeb Abbas: 1 billion

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) April 29, 2018

Massive crowd at PTI's Karachi rally

pic.twitter.com/T28k8gQyDy

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) September 6, 2016

Social media has been rife with pictures suggesting PTI rallies have been alarmingly vacant as of late, while supporters are quick to dispute the visuals being shared on social media.

8. Hero worship

It is easy for us to see how problematic Trump is because we aren’t his followers; we would never vote for him. But when you ask Trumpers who put their trust and faith in this man, they would probably say he is the best thing to happen to America.

Similarly, for better or for worse, one thing that can be said about PTI supporters is that they are quite adamant when it comes to their side, and will subtweet you for all eternity to try and justify the latest faux pas of their beloved leader.

Amazing how @Quratulainb has outraged Youthias. The same ppl who abuse & curse every living/non-living thing on the damn planet that disagrees with Imran Khan have unleashed the kraken on QB for just calling him out on sexual harassment allegations. Bizarre & disturbing.

— Mahwash Ajaz (@mahwashajaz_) November 22, 2017

9. Controversial tell-alls

Trump had Fire and Fury revealing just how insane the White House was under Trump, and we had Reham Khan detailing just how strange some of Imran’s inclinations are. Both books raised huge question marks regarding their own credibility, but while we take all claims with a grain of salt, there is no doubt both controversies provided a lot of fodder for entertainment at an international scale.

10. Someone to blame it on

For Trump, Obama is the cause of every single ill in the world. North Korea developing nuclear arms? Blame Obama. The elections were rigged in Trumps’ favour? Blame Obama. We bet if a fan stopped working in the White House, Trump would type out an angry tweet blaming Obama.

On the other hand, while Imran has many justified reasons to blame Nawaz Sharif for the actual ills plaguing this country, sometimes he takes it to an extent that can be classified as reaching, especially when all he has to offer are conspiracy theories. This nation loves conspiracy theories, which is perhaps why Imran should refrain from claiming foreign involvement every chance he gets, unless he has actual proof to back his claims up.

Beginning to wonder why whenever Nawaz Sharif is in trouble, there is increasing tension along Pakistan's borders and a rise in terrorist acts? Is it a mere coincidence?

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 13, 2018

Nawaz sharif talks of Khalai makhlook? There is Ghair Mulki makhlook with them. I also want peace with India but not at the expense of the atrocities in Kashmir.@ImranKhanPTI #TabdeeliLahoreSe

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 23, 2018

11. Fake news

Another trend the world owes to Trump is the widespread prevalence of the term ‘fake news’. Made-up facts forwarded to you on Whatsapp and shared on your Facebook is where real news is at now. The media actually doing its job, doing research and reporting everything going wrong in politics? That’s all fake news. Especially if it’s the New York Times, one of the most respected publications in the world, which is most certainly a fake paper according to Trump.

On the other hand, Imran has recently made his own ‘fake news’ claim against Pakistan’s first English publication that was founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah himself, accusing it of bias, despite most papers largely reporting facts where it concerns him and his party.

The blatant bias of Dawn against PTI has now come out in the open. So much for Dawn's neutral and liberal credentials! Complete farce! Full marks to Stevan Sackur for exposing Dawn in his BBC HardTalk interview.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 17, 2018

Imran Khan attacks DAWN newspaper in Karachi 4 promoting 'foreign narrative' but in the same speech quotes a survey by Herald (a Dawn publication) as credible finding on KP. Anyone who disagrees with IK is called foreign agent/corrupt by IK/PTI and DAWN Is the latest casualty

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) July 22, 2018

Where Trump was deemed to be running the country on Twitter, Imran has been dubbed the Prime Minister of Facebook. Both of them rely heavily on conspiracy theories and will accept anything written in their favour and be quick to deny if it isn’t, despite the source’s credibility or lack thereof.

Is Imran as bad as Trump? For all our sakes, we hope not. Yet both shared enough factors in common for this article to practically write itself.

We hope if (read: when) Imran comes into power, he gives us all a Naya Pakistan where tulips bloom in winter and all our miseries are a thing of the past. Realistically speaking, however, we’re all in for an interesting five years where, as in the past, none of what was promised is likely to be delivered.

GIFs: Giphy

While flipping through a book of fruits that I brought for him yesterday, my three-year-old son stopped on a particular page. Curiously, he gazed at the picture for some time. He tilted the little book, first left then right, and even gave it at a full upside down rotation in hopes that this thing would look familiar once he sees it with the right angle. As I was watching him making these attempts and inwardly feeling excited on actually witnessing my toddler’s cognitive process (yes, parents have these weird, rather creepy moments of exhilaration), out of frustrated curiosity, my son asked a question that I was expecting from him for a while,

“Mama, what is that?”

“It’s a mango. M is for mango”. “What is a mango?” was his justified enough follow-up question.

“So you’re saying that being well into the 21^st century, of borderless trade and feats of genetic engineering, of gigantic cold storages and blitz speed transport, you haven’t had a mango?! It’s a facepalm moment for globalisation and international trade that someone living in the most advanced European country may face unavailability of a mere sub-continental fruit.”

“Mango is a special fruit dear, a very special fruit.”

The Indian parliament witnessed an unusual scene that has become the talking point of the recent no-confidence motion initiated by the opposition against the Narendra Modi government. On Friday, after making his speech against the government, Rahul Gandhi surprised all – especially Modi himself – by going across the aisle and hugging him.

Modi was visibly caught off guard, but recovered quickly and shook hands with Rahul. The gesture drew censure from the speaker of the house, and yet it represented a bipartisanship that has been eroding for some time now from the Indian political landscape.

#WATCH Rahul Gandhi walked up to PM Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha and gave him a hug, earlier today #NoConfidenceMotion pic.twitter.com/fTgyjE2LTt

— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2018

Bipartisanship has been eroding because this is not the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The BJP under the Nehru-admiring Vajpayee had attempted to put Hindutva on the backburner (after using it adroitly to come to power) and had sought to use a more conciliatory approach in dealing with issues. Vajpayee’s loss in the 2004 General Elections was seen as the failure of this approach by the right-wing in India.

Putting Hindutva on the backburner was a mistake, they surmised. Upon clinching power again after 10 years of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule, they have been intent on making sure they do not repeat that apparent mistake. Far from being pushed to the backburner, Hindutva is now the overt leitmotif of the Modi government; one that enables lynch mobs to indulge in acts of terror in the name of Hindutva without compunction, and one that sees Union ministers with moderate histories coming to their support to earn brownie-points with their bosses.

It has engendered McCarthyism in Indian politics, where criticism of the government has been attacked as anti-nationalist in order to inure both the government and its ideology from questions. In this backdrop, with the rising tide of Hindutva widening the aisle separating people’s differences, Rahul’s “walk across the aisle” hug caught everyone off guard.

And yet something about the hug from Rahul seemed fitting of the kind of politics he talks about practicing. The hug was the culmination of a significantly improved performance by Rahul in the Lok Sabha. His record in the Lok Sabha is otherwise rather pedestrian, but he seemed to come alive on Friday. There was an aggression in his delivery that was almost refreshing, coming from the leader of an enfeebled and brow-beaten opposition; one that does not even have the status of ‘leader of the opposition’.

He listed the ‘jumlas’  (false promises) that the Modi government had delivered for years to a sometimes-naive public yearning for improvements, and made the point that the government had failed in delivering on most of its major promises. He levelled serious charges of graft against the government and left the BJP – including the Defence Minister herself – seething. And yet he chose as his crescendo a hug, suggesting that the aggression is a tool but it does not change his approach to politics; one that speaks of a politics that doesn’t emerge from hate, but is grounded in compassion.

The point of yesterday’s debate in Parliament..

PM uses Hate, Fear and Anger in the hearts of some of our people to build his narrative.

We are going to prove that Love and Compassion in the hearts of all Indians, is the only way to build a nation.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 21, 2018

Key takeaways from Shri @RahulGandhi speech- exposes BJP's habits of jumlas, direct attack on Rafale, Jay Shah, chowkidar nahin bhaagidar, establishing the idea of India and final embrace with PM

— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) July 20, 2018

Rahul did face criticism though for allowing the hug to dominate the narrative instead of the issues he raised, but it is clear he wanted his political USP to be highlighted, even if its symbol was laced with cynicism – as the subsequent wink to Jyotiraditya Scindia indicated.

Somebody of Indian sanskaars, will never display such demeanour as respect for elders is the basic expectation in our culture.

Rahul Gandhi hugs PM Modi for optics and then winks at Scindia to convey that those were mere theatrics. Embarrassing for Congress.#NoConfidenceMotion pic.twitter.com/4T2t5hvOqN

— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) July 20, 2018

After all, Rahul was hugging the man who has made headlines around the world for hugging world leaders. In effect, Rahul did a Modi on Modi, so the cynicism is not entirely misplaced.

The serial hugger has been taken for a hug.

— Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) July 21, 2018

BJP says Rahul’s hug is childish. What about Modi’s hugs?

— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) July 20, 2018

Beyond the cynicism, however, the hug symbolises something very important: Rahul taking a different approach than his mother’s in dealing with Modi. Sonia Gandhi once famously referred to Modi as ‘maut ka saudagar’, a pariah who had no place in Indian politics. However, Rahul is clearly not taking that line, for that rhetoric has not worked. Sonia had used it during the 2007 Gujarat Assembly Elections, and the Congress lost that election. Similar rhetoric did not work in the 2014 Elections either.

Rahul’s approach seems to be to try and come across as more large-hearted, to undermine some of the polarisation the BJP engenders by toning down the rhetoric and reaching across the aisle to his opponents and the swing vote.

RG has changed Cong approach to Modi from his mother’s untouchable “Maut ka Saudagar” to “you hate me but I hug you.” Bigger change is gifting Karnataka to Gowdas. The new principle: anybody but Modi.
Never mind if isn’t me.#NationalInterest https://t.co/7pwgOzaliW

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) July 22, 2018

India being the most diverse country on earth consequently has a complicated political setup. No one issue can be identified as the single most decisive issue that an election hinges on. An array of issues and identities come together across various states to create an aggregated political mandate. Yet it is safe to say that especially for a country like India, polarisation is inimical to the overall political discourse, as it affects its ability to engage with issues and create issue-based political pressure groups that can influence much needed change.

India’s major news channels – referred to aptly as ‘Godi media’ by Ravish Kumar – debate over polarising issues for ratings or target the opposition while failing to speak truth to power or holding the government accountable over issues that matter. India suffers as a result.

Rahul’s approach, so far as it works towards addressing some of that polarisation, is commendable. If his approach can sanitise even some of the polarisation and help build bridges between communities, enabling us to empathise with one another, it will be entirely worth it, regardless of the taunts and scorn he may face in attempting to do so.

Because what India needs is an inclusive approach to politics that can open the space for meaningful debate on critical issues. Indian nationalism too wilts under the pressure of any militant ideology, as the nature of the Indian Union demands a certain moderation to flourish.

The caveat, of course, is that one must not read too much into a hug. But times are tough for moderates generally, and the Congress party in particular. The party is at the lowest point in its history, and its potential allies are driving hard bargains. Media channels are baying for the opposition’s blood and are attacking the party and Rahul for misdemeanours, both real and imagined, while keeping the party in power off the hook. Amidst these tough times, Rahul’s hug gives the impression that he will steadfastly plough his lonely, moderate furrow with a sense of satisfaction.

Our electoral process is far from perfect. A great democracy would have middle class and lower class representatives, performance-based elections, and sustainable policies on the manifesto. We have none of that. But arguably, we can still call our system a democracy. And that is why we need to salvage what we can.

This was probably the worst possible outcome of the election. The worst. Not because Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) couldn’t get a majority, or Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did so poorly, but because a total of six parties rejected the result. If we are to convert those figures in votes, then perhaps around half of the population has rejected this election. People and leaders are calling this a selection rather than an election.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) wholly rejects the results of General Elections 2018 due to manifest & massive irregularities. Form 45 was not given to our agents, results were stopped & votes were counted in the absence of our poll agents. This is both unbearable & unacceptable!

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 25, 2018

Now, Imran Khan was expected to win; his media management, performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), ambitious campaign and Nawaz Sharif’s conviction perhaps sealed that win. So why can’t half the population accept the results?

There are two narratives that seek to answer this question.

First, that Imran has delivered such a knockout blow to status quo candidates in Karachi, Punjab and K-P, that it is simply not acceptable to them that they have lost. And no one wants to admit defeat. It’s like boxing, where fighters even in the most lopsided matches rarely concede defeat.

The second narrative is that these parties have reasonable grounds to complain and allege rigging. If the votes are being counted without the presence of polling agents, then it certainly does not point towards transparency and a free and fair election.

It’s now past midnight & I haven’t received official results from any constituency I am contesting my myself. My candidates complaining polling agents have been thrown out of polling stations across the country. Inexcusable & outrageous.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 25, 2018

This narrative also rejects the election outright.

Getting reports of various polling stations in NA243 where MQM’s polling agents are being removed from polling stations and not given the form 14. ECP take note of this so called “Transparent elections” #ElectionPakistan2018

— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) July 25, 2018

This is the result Presiding Officers are giving in Khi. Secretary ECP is unaware till the desired results? pic.twitter.com/RT3iChAsCb

— Faisal Subzwari (@faisalsubzwari) July 25, 2018

The truth probably lies in the middle, that there may have been inaccuracies in the vote count, but not to the extent that opposition alleges; it probably made a marginal difference in a select few seats. But that is just my opinion, the truth could be anywhere on this spectrum.

So what should Imran do?

Well, he’s certainly familiar with the art of appeasement. That’s what he should do. Right after the 2013 General Elections, Imran alleged rigging and asked for re-verification of votes in four constituencies. His opponents did not grant him this minor wish, but that was a mistake. After all, no one knows rigging claims like Imran does. Since he’s all about fair elections, he should grant his opponents’ request to show he won fair and square.

Why?

Because he is the prime minister select of this country, and needs to act like it. If he really has won the elections, and has won it fairly, then there should be no cause for concern for him.

However, the matter is a bit different this time around. He needs to appease six different parties. Some, however, are a bit more relevant than others. Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) are unlikely to cook up a storm. The PML-N along with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Milli Muslim League (MML), certainly hurts the elections’ credibility. So he might need to do more for the opposition-to-be.

One reasonable remedy could be that he opens up two constituencies for each party. And before doing that, they agree upon a few rules. For instance, at what extent an inaccuracy will be deemed to have made the elections tainted? Perhaps, these are questions for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the judiciary to answer, but there needs to be prior agreement on them.

Imran fought a brilliant campaign, but he needs to stop fighting now. Accusations such as the ones levelled against him go into history books. For the betterment of Pakistan, this needs to be a clean victory, one that his supporters and party can be truly proud of, one that is not tainted. Concessions, after a brilliant victory might seem unfair, but it’s what is perhaps needed for Imran to proudly claim that that the country chose him, it is the people who chose him, and no one else.

The sight could not have been more vivid. Pakistan were reeling at 162-7 in their do-or-die Champions Trophy clash against Sri Lanka at Cardiff. The camera panned on Pakistan Head Coach Mickey Arthur, who was sitting on the balcony. Over the course of Pakistan’s run chase, he went from having a reasonably cheery smile on his face at 74-0, to gradually seeming worried, annoyed, disgusted, at times livid, and finally, sporting an expression of pure and utter disappointment on his face.  

Overs later, when Pakistan had mounted an impressive comeback to win the game on the back of a match-turning partnership between Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Amir, as well as some very good luck, the same Arthur was now seen beaming with joy and clenching his fists in celebration, as if he had just won the lottery. No player or member of the team management on the balcony looked as happy as he did.

In many ways, these contrasting reactions are what give the best insight into who Arthur is – a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn’t hold back when it comes to dishing out criticism towards players he feels aren’t meeting his required standards. Often times, he’ll get angry and give players an earful (just ask Sohail Khan). But at the same time, he is also a man whose dedication towards his job cannot be questioned, and someone who seems genuinely committed to leaving Pakistan cricket in a better place than he found it in. The fact that his reactions while watching Pakistan play often echo those of every Pakistani watching the same match, are what define his passion towards his job.

Since being appointed the head coach in May 2016, Arthur has had a major influence in changing how Pakistan have played their cricket, and two years down the line, they seem like a starkly different side compared to the one that crashed out of the 2016 ICC World T20.

Under Arthur, Pakistan have experienced success in all three formats: ascending to the top of the ICC Test Rankings in 2016, winning the Champions Trophy in 2017, and establishing themselves as the most successful T20 team in the past two years with a number one ranking to boot. The inconsistency is obviously there as it always is with Pakistan, but the high points have been dizzying, especially considering Pakistan’s woeful track record in the past decade, and the fact that they seemed to be playing an outdated version of ODI cricket when Arthur took over.

Brilliant performance Pakistan. So good to see this young team deliver such great results under Sarfraz and Mickey Arthur. Memorable knock Fakhar Zaman, well played Shoaib Malik. Pakistan Zindabad pic.twitter.com/TRdPjsjuM2

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) July 8, 2018

However, the most refreshing thing about Arthur’s regime is that he isn’t focused solely on results.

“I like to think that when people look at what happened for the last one year, they look at structure. You are always going to be judged as coach on win-loss ratio but for me it’s a lot more than that. It’s about the environment, it’s about the standards and it’s about challenging players,” said Arthur.

And in many respects, he has established that structure and culture within the set-up from which he drove players’ attitudes. He is the man responsible for instituting monthly fitness tests, and his no-nonsense policy towards fitness can best be summed up by his decision to send Umar Akmal back home from England after he failed a fitness test prior to the Champions Trophy.

We will remain grateful to Mickey Arthur for ever.

— Dr Rafay Khan (@rafay77) July 24, 2018

By working closely with fielding coach Steve Rixon, he has ensured that Pakistan’s fielding has improved exponentially, minimising the dropped catches, misfields and the general sloppiness that in the past has so often been the cause of Pakistan letting oppositions run away with matches where they had the upper hand. And anyone who has seen Pakistan play in the past year would agree they have looked a far more professional side on the field than they did previously.

Then there’s his belief in the new generation of Pakistani talent, such as Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf, whom he has constantly backed and supported. Players who now possess the ability to carry Pakistan forward and are genuine match winners in their own right. This is of course something Arthur has wanted all along, as he once stated,

“For me, coming in and building a team is something that I really enjoy. I enjoy seeing young players given the opportunity and then perform and go on to have fulfilling careers.”

Fakhar Zaman “Mickey Arthur told me that if we win the toss we will bat first and then you have to get a double hundred and I did” #ZIMvPAK

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) July 20, 2018

This young pakistani team has everything in it. Credit should be given to mickey arthur and co.

— Taimoor Abbasi (@FracturedMalang) July 20, 2018

People often downplay or underrate the role coaches play in cricket, but the reality is that modern-day cricket is driven by high standards of professionalism and fitness that hinge on rigorous training, fixed dietary plans, as well as guidance that helps players realise the areas in which they can be better. Until Arthur came along, Pakistan seemed completely oblivious to all of these things; unfit players were regularly selected, horrendous fielding performances showed no signs of improvement, while sloppiness and indiscipline would rear its ugly head time and time again. It was like the world of cricket had moved far ahead and Pakistan had been left far behind, stuck with the same medieval and outdated mindset.

Luckily, Arthur, who spent nearly his entire coaching career in countries like South Africa and Australia, realised the long-term importance of structure and how crucial it was to changing the team.

“It’s about not tolerating mediocrity and that’s the stuff I would love to leave behind so the next coach that came in would come into a structure that functions. Players know what standards are and live up to those standards. Otherwise I’m wasting my time. Hopefully that’s going to be my legacy – a thoroughly professional structure.”

For a team plagued by inner politics and an often cancerous team culture in the past, Arthur has also done remarkably well to create a healthy environment of camaraderie and mutual respect in the dressing room, where players feel the freedom to be themselves while keeping their egos in check.

Once legend couch said and i think Pak is heading toward it
Mickey Arthur"The best part of this job is being involved in a country where cricket is so passionate and so followed. I love every minute of it but most of all I love the skill levels of the Pakistani players"#PAKvZIM pic.twitter.com/FNrketLLAX

— Michal John (@Michaljohn70) July 20, 2018

It goes without saying that Arthur has already left a lasting impact on Pakistan cricket and has been a force of continuous change within the set up, but the fact that he believes there is still a lot of work to be done is heartening to hear, because it shows how deeply focused and driven he is towards making Pakistan a professional, consistent and world class cricketing outfit. If Pakistan are to have any chance of winning the World Cup, it would have to be with Arthur’s steady hand at the helm, pushing the players to achieve their very best.

In the midst of an agonising election season, and after the incredible success of Coke Studio Explorer, we just witnessed the release of the Coke Studio season 11 trailer. Leaving us utterly speechless with its ravishing and inclusive rendition of ‘Hum Dekhenge’ by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the song previewed many of the artists who will make their Coke Studio debut this season.

Coke Studio has perhaps finally caught on to showcasing new artists that needed mainstream public attention for so long. These new artists are not only well-versed in their melodic symphonies, but also carry a cultural reminder, exemplifying what Pakistan’s diversity means. We also saw some of our favourite legends from previous seasons such as Abida Parveen, Ali Sethi, Ali Azmat, and the dynamic duo, Momina Mustehsan and Asim Azhar make a comeback. The song gave us promising scents of exciting music, culture and youth.

SO HYPED FOR THE NEW COKE STUDIO LINEUP AHHHHHH

— alice (@someaningless) July 22, 2018

Here are three things to look forward to in this season:

1. Inclusive environment

After the country had shown incredible support for Marvia Malik, Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, the whole nation has come to celebrate a certain sense of inclusivity and tolerance, or at least has taken the first step towards it.

Thanks to some of the more prominent media platforms and influencers like Muniba Mazari, Bijli and Roshni Baji, from the transgender community, have entered the limelight into mainstream treatment. However, Coke Studio has taken it a step further by including two trans women as part of their season 11. Lucky and Naghma, the two names that have become the centre of attention for holding the song’s representation on social media, are heard voicing the verse,

“Jo main bhi hun aur tum bhi ho”

(What I am, and you are too)

The verse gives a strong message of trans equality and integration into the society as they still face major disparities in all institutions of social life. Education, economics and employment are still forms of sparse convenience for them. The line perhaps tries to award a sense of affiliation that “we are in every way as human as you are”.

Not only has Coke studio introduced transgenders this season, they have carefully selected them to sing the khalq-e- khuda (Jo mai bhi hun aur tum bhi ho) line, sending a very clear message to a lot of us who treat them differently. pic.twitter.com/hOJkJNtEud

— nma (@namaloomafraaad) July 22, 2018

Simultaneously, giving them a chance to showcase their talent means a more inclusive and tolerant media environment that channels down into public behaviour. Let us await, and show support, for Lucky and Naghma to leave us “shook” by the end of the season.

Side note: I’ve heard and seen the video at least 24 times by now, and my body fails to stop vibrating from the goosebumps and excitement that runs through me whenever these two cameo.

2. Hip hop

The preview song also gave us an insight on the more unorthodox genres of music that we are expected to hear from this season. Some of the more indigenous bands like Lyari Underground and Mughal-e-Funk will exhibit their music styles along with many other melodious musical concoctions.

Hip hop was not a very prominent musical form before some of the viral bands and singers like Young Stunners and Ali Gul Pir, with their satiric music, came onto the youthful trends. Then considering the growing social media influence and musical variability assorted by artists like Faris Shafi and Abid Brohi, the perception of hip hop and rap obscurity has changed.

However, these were all independent people making music to their liking and were not included in the mainstream television by big scale media companies. Now, because Coke Studio has involved Young Desi and Lyari Underground to the scene, we may witness a more wholesome lyrical ambiance after they give their drums a beat. This kind of gesture by Coke Studio gives everyone a taste of their preference.

Photo: Giphy

3. Culturally native artists

Throughout the years, Coke Studio has attempted to include more culturally diverse music by showcasing native artists and their music such as Mai Dhai and Arif Lohar. This season, accordingly, has seen the incredible addition of some of the growing bands like Khumaariyan, a Pakhtun amalgamation, and Sounds of Kolachi, along with the return of The Sketches, a celebrated Sufi band from Jamshoro, Sindh that last appeared in season four.

With the success of ‘Pareek,’ the Kalash culture is also represented in the season by the talented duo, Ariana and Amrina. As Vishnu and Shamu Bai stole our hearts in ‘Faqeera’, we will perhaps experience more heart-warming music by the young talents.

This season seems to have made a very strong effort to cast an all-inclusive and representative musical spirit, painting a vibrant picture of Pakistan for the world to see. It is perhaps to show us how togetherness is what makes us beautiful, to prevent a divide and to convey solidarity amongst the nationals. The culturally pluralist amalgamation was perhaps made also to make the election time a bit more peaceful.

Okay so um this years coke studio looking like it might just heal my soul and fix my life and teach me to feel all over again

— h (@bananapeppersx3) July 22, 2018

Overall, in the literal and metaphorical heat of the moment that Pakistan faces, Coke Studio has brought a breath of fresh air. Through showing inclusivity and giving a platform to young talent, it has taken on a responsibility that most media platforms should take. Perhaps this attempt would bring the country together through cultural exposure.

I think we finally have the best line up for #CokeStudio!!!! I AM OVERWHELMED @mzohaibkazi & @hamzasays thank you for bringing the spirit of coke studio back: https://t.co/urHCwoZb6U

— غیر حتمی غیر سرکاری فریحہ (@Fay_Alif) July 22, 2018

Music has been a cohering force for many nations and such inclusivity will hopefully inculcate a sense of respect for the Pakistani social groups living in obscurity. Promoting tolerance and a sense of a unified national identity is the overarching theme for this season, as their motto goes, “celebrating unity in diversity”. So let us hope this season brings all that we expect and more.

This is the most politically relevant Coke Studio in years. I joked that I didn’t know how they’d outdo the national anthem from last year. But Hum Dekhenge was an inspired choice at this moment in time. God protect them for their resistance.

— Zeerak Ahmed (@zeerakahmed) July 22, 2018

Cheers to season 11!

All photos: Screenshot

I started following Imran Khan when he used to be that kid who had a penny in his pocket but wanted to buy everything at the grocery store. He had one seat in the parliament, but he roared his opinions like one was more than enough. From one seat in the parliament for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to winning five seats as ‘Imran Khan’ alone, he has come a long way.

All eyes were glued to the television screens when he first addressed the nation as the prime minister in waiting. Challenges awaiting Imran and his party are piled up like Jenga blocks; one wrong move could mean the entire tower of blocks collapses. However, if the victory speech is anything to go by, then Imran has already won our hearts.

Imran Khan ticks all the right boxes during his first speech after winning the elections. Mature and on the dot. #ElectionResults2018

— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) July 26, 2018

Here are a few moments that touched my soul as Imran addressed the nation after a dominant victory.

Humility, even at his peak

For 22 years, this nation has humiliated and ridiculed him in politics; for not even 22 seconds of his speech did he try to get even at his critics. From being labelled a ‘Yahoodi agent’ (Jewish agent) to ‘Taliban Khan’, Imran had spent an eternity fighting campaigns that tried to malign his name from one extremist ideology to another. He was speared with personal attacks day in and day out when he became a threat to other mainstream parties. Yet he let go of the past in one sentence.

Impressive and mature speech by Imran Khan “Our institutions will be stronger, everyone will be held accountable. First I will be subjected to accountability, then my ministers and so on".

— Nazia Memon (@NaziaMemon01) July 26, 2018

If Imran can refrain from passing comments at his opponents on a day that took 22 years to come, then supporters of PTI should take a leaf out of their leader’s book. His selflessness when talking on issues facing Pakistan, rather than hailing his knock-out punch to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after defeating them, was admirable. He started speaking extemporaneously right from his heart, as if the issues ailing this country have been circulating in his mind this entire time. This was new because usually the ‘parchi’ tells our leaders what the problems are of the local hopeless citizens. 

The missing ‘parchi’

Nothing has been more embarrassing to me as a Pakistani living in the US than watching Nawaz Sharif sit in front of President Barack Obama and read sentences off his little ‘parchi’. To be clear, this doesn’t have anything to do with being fluent in English, because he could have chosen to use a translator. However, the timid body language and communication skills, that even the most lenient of professors would give an ‘F’ grade to, was painful to watch. The pain is aggravated particularly when you have friends from across the border having a chuckle at your prime minister.

Imran Khan’s speech was amazingly fresh & original; after a long long time Pakistan has a leader who can speak his mind & lay out a vision without reading from a piece of paper & who is cognisant of internal & external challenges facing Pakistan

— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) July 26, 2018

Watching Imran talk like a leader and someone I could aspire to speak like one day has been a breath of fresh air. This wasn’t the first time we saw Imran talk. After all, this man had the stamina to deliver a speech for 126 days straight during the dharna without a single parchi. I never had doubts on his ability to speak, but nevertheless, this was the first time he was going to address the nation as a prime minister in waiting. This speech wasn’t exactly from the top of a container, addressing a local crowd with some music. Each word from his mouth was going to reach the whole world through the international media and leave an impact. His composed body posture and the delivery of speech were both captivating. This time when the Pakistani prime minister visits the US, I’ll be sitting with my head held high next to my Indian friends.

Relations with India

Talking of my Indian friends reminds me how I was surprised when Imran touched on the relationship he plans to build with India, because the real foreign policy makers were not present in the camera frame. I am not sure how this will sit with the powers that be when it comes to peace with India. Nonetheless, Imran was brave enough to talk some sense in regard to building a relationship with our neighbour. Patriotism bodes well for the nation, but overdose of patriotism leads to illogical decision-making. Imran’s message to India had the right mix of patriotism and sensibility.

Imran Khan says it is the Pakistani national interest and the betterment of South Asia to have friendship between India and Pakistan. He promises dialogue with India.

Bravo Kaptaan!

— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) July 26, 2018

Gone are the days when guns and bombs could decide a dispute over a piece of land. Pakistan and India both possess weapons of mass destruction, therefore shallow slogans loaded with shots of patriotism aren’t going to get us anywhere. If any progress is to be made on Kashmir, it has to be done diplomatically over the table. I was impressed to see Imran open the door for talks with India despite our opposition in Kashmir, but that wasn’t all. He opened the door for his political opponents as well to help investigate rigging allegations.

Gesture of conciliation

Pakistan is the only nation where candidates participating in the election must all be declared winners otherwise it’s not a fair election. As far as I can remember, I haven’t seen a single election where the losing parties have not cried foul, including PTI. Thus, the rigging claims in this election from PML-N and other parties are like consuming the same junk food in a different package.

Imran’s offer to open whichever polling stations the opposition demands is a welcoming gesture that even his critics must appreciate. He has lived up to the standards he had set for himself when he demanded four polling stations to be investigated after the 2013 General Elections.

I could keep picking more talking points because I loved every single second of the speech. For the first time, a victory was taken as a responsibility to serve the people. It isn’t exactly an opportunity to shout a few slogans at a crowd and go home to live the luxurious life for the next five years. Time will tell if Imran can practically implement his plans, but thus far, I like what my ears are hearing.

Today Imran Khan has graduated from a politician to a Statesman. Very humbling & Inclusive speech!

— Maria Memon (@Maria_Memon) July 26, 2018

Pakistani politics is that pothole on the side of the road that everyone notices, but no one takes the ownership to fix. With time, filth from the society starts to accumulate in that pothole. It gets to a point where it’s clearly unhygienic, but every passer-by thinks it’s too late to be fixed. Imran could have crossed that pothole in a fancy car without having to bat an eye. However, he was a crazy, stupid, stubborn man who decided to get out of the car, fold his sleeves and dirty his hands in an effort to clean this corruption-filled pothole.

Thank you Imran Khan – our nation is indebted to you.

We all have our own desired fitness goals, whether it is six-pack abs or big muscular biceps. But only few are able to achieve their targets. This is an account of how I was able to overcome my setbacks and eventually transform my thinly-framed body into a muscular one. My motivation behind working out One day after coming home from school, my mother noticed something weird about my back; like an extra bone has been attached on the right side. I inspected it myself and felt there was something wrong for sure. Those days, I used to have lower back pain and didn’t know the reason behind it. We decided to get it checked by a professional doctor, so my mother and I went to my uncle who is an orthopaedic surgeon. He told us that I have scoliosis, which is a spinal deformity involving a lateral curvature in your spine.

“It’s not a serious concern but to get to know the degree of the curvature, go for an X-ray,” he said.

“Exercise karo,” my uncle advised me.

I live in the US but I am visiting Pakistan for the 2018 General Elections, and am proud to have witnessed an amazing electoral process, voted myself, and seen the making of a ‘Naya Pakistan’. I was in the US in 2016 when the presidential elections were going on, however, the burst of activism and political awareness among the youth, alongside the will to work for the betterment of the country, is rather distinct here in the homeland.

Politics is discussed over cups of ‘karak chai’ at local dhabas and elite coffee shops alike. Another difference I observed from the US is the generosity in expressing your political opinion and the political party you are going to vote for in Pakistan. Debate is mundane in households, within families, among friends, and in offices as well.

This heightened political awareness in Pakistan was reflected on July 25, 2018. Here are just some of the good things to come out of these elections:

1. The voting experience and turnout  

There were long lines at the polling stations – on a hot and humid day of July no less! Women, young and old, stood in lines in the sweltering heat. People from all walks of life came together with their families to vote, first in the scorching heat and suffocating humidity in the morning, and then during the rain in the afternoon (talking about Lahore).

For me, the voting experience was no less than great. We were in and out of the polling station in 20 minutes at most. Voting itself gives you a strange gratification, it is a sense of belonging, a responsibility, an authority, and consolidates a strong relation to your country. My newsfeed was swamped the whole day with a thunderstorm of thumbs, happy faces with their dark thumbs. Looking at the enthusiasm in voters, I think the turnout was great. I also felt that women in Pakistan were more eager to vote than their male counterparts, which was a pleasing sight.

Women turn out in large numbers in Panjgur, Balochistan.
Brave Balochs defy terrorist threat #NikloPakistanKiKhatir pic.twitter.com/uEOockQ0fw

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) July 25, 2018

My favorite picture from the elections 2018 by far. Thank @dawn_com for sharing it!!! Women of Pakistan can make the difference. So proud of all the women who have come out to vote despite the hurdles and the difficulties. Thank you for your courage and your fortitude✌️ pic.twitter.com/YxndMRxeRi

— Roshaneh Zafar (@RoshanehZafar) July 25, 2018

2. Imran’s road to premiership in a country like Pakistan was not easy

An hour after polling ended, I took to the main roads of Lahore, where the streets were flooded with supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Once results started pouring out and PTI was gaining the lead, the crowds only grew in number, and the air was filled with the ultrasonic slogans of “Wazeer-e-Azam Imran Khan” (Prime Minister Imran Khan).

After 22 years of a staggering struggle by this iron-willed individual, I repeat, 22 years of fierce struggle, where he had one seat in the National Assembly (NA) representing his entire party and was mocked by the “old players of the game”. Multiple attempts later, this man is on the path to becoming the elected leader of this nation.

This is a romantic tale of struggle, resistance and persistence. He may have done many things wrong on his way, but if there is one thing in this man that is extraordinary, it is his unbelievable capacity to persist. Anyone else of his stature would have given up on this idea of politics and premiership (a lofty goal) and would have been living in the UK or Dubai watching cricket in a luxurious home.

The tale of Imran’s victory will become a motivational tale for every child in Pakistan, giving them hope that politics and premiership is not only for feudal lords or veteran politicians; rather, it’s for those who persist and do not succumb to the pressure.

22 years later, after humiliations, hurdles and sacrifices, my sons’ father is Pakistan’s next PM. It’s an incredible lesson in tenacity, belief & refusal to accept defeat. The challenge now is to remember why he entered politics in the 1st place. Congratulations @ImranKhanPTI

— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) July 26, 2018

3. Religious clerics rejected outright

Another interesting, or shall I say blissful, event that unfolded in these elections was that all the religious political parties were rejected outright by the people of Pakistan.

– Hafiz Saeed, an internationally blacklisted terrorist, was only seen on posters and flyers.

– Ahmed Ludhianvi, from the banned Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), was pulverised by a woman, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, by almost 30,000 votes and didn’t win a seat anywhere else.

Female candidate of PTI Ghulam Bibi Bharwana has defeated ASWJ leader Ahmad Ludhianvi (at NA 115) #NayaPakistan #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/Mdpu5ORTw8

— Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) July 26, 2018

– Khadim Hussain Rizvi and his party were obliterated from the NA before they could step foot in it.

– Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) was able to gather very few seats in the NA from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

– Even Maulana Fazlur Rehman did not win any seat in the NA.

When you remember that Maulana Fazlur Rehman wont be in the National Assembly. pic.twitter.com/5VGqNPaeWC

— SIR .. (@SirJohnRoe) July 26, 2018

On the surface, Pakistan seems to be a country full of religious fervour, which is true to some extent as well. However, as a nation we have rejected with our vote all political parties who had nothing but religion to flaunt as their manifesto. I guess Pakistanis decided that no matter what, we aren’t bringing these clerics in power.

4. Progressivism in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)

One of the most pleasant ironies stemmed from FATA. Traditionally portrayed as conservative and backward, it gave a mandate to Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, both of whom are known for their liberal, left-leaning ideas.

Two of the most significant victories this election are Mohsin Dawar’s from NA-48 North Waziristan & Ali Wazir’s from NA-50 South Waziristan. #PashtunTahafuzMovement will now have a legitimate voice in the Parliament. We needed this. Mubarak! #PakistanElections2018 ✊

— Usama Khilji (@UsamaKhilji) July 26, 2018

Mohsin Dawar winning his seat. Ali Wazir winning his. Jibran Nasir bagging more votes than he ever has, while politcizing a number of young leaders and instilling in them the correct political ethic. TLP losing.

Aahista aahista jeetein ge, Inshallah. Aahista, aahista jeetein ge.

— No (@Bluemagicboxes) July 25, 2018

5. Jibran Nasir’s force to be reckoned with

This election led to the emergence of a phenomenon called Jibran Nasir, who secured more than 6,000 votes in NA-247 while standing in the face of open bigotry and hostility. This was no less than a victory. In our country, where confronting ultra-religious organisations is like playing with fire, Nasir never hesitated to face them. I see an emergence of a new leader in these elections who will go a long way in politics of Pakistan. His success might be slow, but Nasir has left a certain impression of his bravery on Pakistanis. After all, Imran struggled for 22 years before finally coming into power.

Final Official Count from ECP is#PS111 – 6109 (5th Position) #NA247 – 6462 (7th Position)
I salute my team & congratulate my voters. Despite hate speech, false blasphemy accusations, mob attacks and violence we've shown the strength of love and tolerance. Hum Hein #Aik

— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) July 26, 2018

Instead of patronising Jibran Nasir, Insafians should actually encourage him. Imran Khan has been urging the youth and middle class to enter mainstream politics for years now and Jibran is doing exactly that.

— – (@omairraslam) July 26, 2018

6. Win for women

Dr Fehmida Mirza, former Speaker of the NA of Pakistan, became the fist female lawmaker in the country to be elected five times.

Another exciting outcome was Zartaj Gul defeating actual feudal lords in Dera Ghazi Khan to become a part of Legislative Assembly of Pakistan – something to be proud of when we talk about the integration of women in national politics.

Congratulations Zartaj Gul Wazir. A dedicated, hardworking female candidate from South Punjab who defeated the regressive feudals in her area to reach the National Assembly! pic.twitter.com/NE5q6u8uG2

— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) July 26, 2018

7. Small but consequential step for minorities

Another feather in the cap of this election was the victory of not one but three Hindu candidates, including Mahesh Kumar Malani’s NA win for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Malani has become the first non-Muslim to win an NA seat in Pakistan.

BIG RESULT: Only @PPP_Org can do this!! #PPP gave 3 tickets to #Hindu candidates in #Sindh on general seats & all three WON! Gyanchand Esrani-PS81, Hari Ram Kishori Lal-PS47, & DrMahesh Malani-NA222. This shows both #PPP & Sindh are progressive! This is inclusive #PakistanForAll. pic.twitter.com/swMMPDGFqY

— Kapil Dev (@KDSindhi) July 26, 2018

🤗 #PPP “Naya Pakistan” #equality #minority – more imp our three Hindu candidates won & the terrorists that magically escaped scrutiny lost –#PakistanVictory https://t.co/qf0LW6i2O6

— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) July 27, 2018

8. Boost to the economy

Imran’s powerful and positive speech was welcomed by the stock market with over a 700-point increase. On another positive note, the rupee also stabilised a bit as compared to the dollar.

– Stock market up
– Dollar is stable
– Celebrities of Pak celebrating
– Celebrities of India celebrating
– Overseas Pakistani celebrating

After only 19 hours of #ImranKhanVictory speech ✌

— Josh-e-Junoon (@Taimoor_ul_Haq) July 27, 2018

Overall, I think this may become an unprecedented moment in the history of Pakistan. I see a wave of hope smeared all over Pakistan, as people are feeling confident in their choice. We are entering into ‘Naya Pakistan’, a purported change! Right?

However, change will mean changing ourselves, our attitudes and behaviours, not just waiting for Imran to sweep a magical wand for tabdeeli. On our part, a few things we can do right away are as follows:

1. For God’s sake, follow traffic rules. Stop at lights, stay in your lane. There is a specific lane for bikes on almost all roads which means bike should stay in that.
2. Don’t litter. Put trash in dustbins, trash cans, please.
3. Please make queues while submitting bills or waiting at the airport.
4. Stop cutting trees to stop climate change. We have the highest rate of deforestation – take care of the little greenery that is left.
5. Improve our work ethics. If you are holding a public office, you are a public servant, not a lord.
6. Please, facilitate and create an environment conducive for women to work. Pakistan can’t prosper without half of our population’s contribution to our economy and development.
7. Respect minorities. Believe in whatever you like but don’t shove it down other’s throats.

PTI supporters have the responsibility to start with these if we want to see real tabdeeli in Pakistan. Currently, we are all high on the narrative of change. Hold on to that motivation and do these few basic things that we need exigently. A new government can’t succeed without a new approach of the people.

I congratulate every Pakistani being so actively involved in politics, taking time out from their personal lives on voting day for the greater good, and for believing in democracy. Hopefully, good things will come Pakistan’s way.

#NayaPakistanZindabad

With countless security threats lingering around the time of elections every five years, along with general political uncertainty, many citizens are afraid to step out of their comfort and safety zones in order to fulfil the responsibility of casting their votes. There has been a deadly and heart-breaking series of bomb blasts that have taken place in Quetta, killing numerous civilians and politicians, especially the most recent one taking place directly outside a polling station on Election Day.

At a crucial time like this in the country, where voter turnout has been relatively low in the past, perhaps encouragement to the masses from every corner of the nation is needed more than discouragement. To everyone’s surprise, that too a pleasant one, many young and elderly women came out to vote in the highest of numbers this time. In fact, in this year’s tightly contested elections, there was a phenomenal history-making turnout of voters from conservative areas, where women are typically not allowed to partake in any activity that takes place outside the four walls of their homes. According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 46.73 million female voters cast their vote nationwide.

One such example is of the women in Panjgur, Balochistan, who came out in large numbers despite serious death threats, especially after the Quetta attack earlier that day. In response to this news, many people went on social media to hail this as a big achievement.

Women turn out in large numbers in Panjgur, Balochistan.
Brave Balochs defy terrorist threat #NikloPakistanKiKhatir pic.twitter.com/uEOockQ0fw

— Arshad Sharif (@arsched) July 25, 2018

However, Sara Taseer – daughter of the slain Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer – went on to tweet a highly ignorant, elitist, sexist, and classist comment, targeting those very brave women instead of acknowledging their effort.

Sara stated she would not be too sure about letting these woman decide what to cook in her kitchen, let alone letting them decide the fate of the country. Funnily enough, this came across like an ironic joke, not only because it’s highly sexist, but also because Sara doesn’t even reside in the country she is so “concerned” about. Her tweet is sexist because being a woman herself, she assumes that is all these women are capable of, and classist in the purest sense, as she automatically presumes that these women would be servants working for her, and goes on to generalise that all underprivileged people must be “uneducated”.

Sara Taseer wasn’t in Pakistan to cast her vote but she is questioning the right of thousands of women who live in Pakistan and despite facing difficult circumstances every single day still showed up to exercise their democratic right today. Poetic really.

— . (@lightermachis) July 25, 2018

As a Franco-Pakistani democrat having had the privilege to interact with many of those women you would not trust for your kitchen, let me share a few info with you: they are not stupid, they are brave and they mean business. Seems they are also far more dignified than your lot…

— Valerie Khan (@valekhan) July 25, 2018

To defend her stance later, she tweeted that like Plato, she believes only the “educated” should be allowed to vote, which in my opinion is quite ironic and contradictory, for if this is the kind of mentality the so-called “educated” elites are banking on to be considered above the rest, then I deeply fear what’s to come.

The father of Western philosophy Plato, believed one must elevate oneself in thought & learning prior to being able to delve in democratic tradition. I must admit I've always felt one must attain a level of education prior to attaining voting privilege #justsaying

— Sara Taseer (@sarataseer) July 25, 2018

This has nothing to do with wealth. In most evolved democratic tradition, universal education preceeded universal suffrage. Its the ability to make an informed decision. Without which the outcome of any election can be a scary proposition. https://t.co/v2XfHnOKx2

— Sara Taseer (@sarataseer) July 25, 2018

Following this tweet, there was a huge uproar unveiling Sara’s elitist views regarding women of the tribal area. People often say that with money comes power, and with power comes responsibility. However, this particular case shows precisely the opposite of that saying, considering Sara has acted rather irresponsibly, shaming an already marginalised sect of Pakistani society; looking down upon them simply because of their socio-economic status being inferior to hers.

Oh and demeaning the economically underprivileged by saying you wouldn't let them decide what to cook let alone vote, and that too underprivileged women who are already a marginalised group in the country due to their gender is what you call "elevated thought"? Laughable.

— mshaiq (@mshaiq) July 25, 2018

I am so proud of my women from the tribal areas who defeated bigotry & patriarchy & jumped on the bandwagon of initiating a change by casting vote. While Sara Taseer eats her designer jewerley in lunch away from Pakistan as she's too privileged to eat normal food.

— Khadija Abbas (@TheKhadijaAbbas) July 25, 2018

One would assume Salmaan’s daughter – a man who gave his life defending a poor Christian woman from being falsely accused against Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws – would not publicly go against the core principles of humanity that he defended so fiercely. Additionally, Sara’s tweet and her subsequent defence of her own ignorance proves that money cannot buy integrity.

The stink of your elitist, classist snobbery is unbearable. Sara, you're disgusting but then so is most of your lot and the waste they are. https://t.co/6zQdNQLaav

— Hafsa Khawaja (@Hafsa_Khawaja) July 25, 2018

This by Sara Taseer, daughter of Salman Taseer who was a champion of civil rights in #Pakistan & died for it, is an example of why an anti-elitist message is so powerful. Her defenses speak volumes. That she is a PTI supporter is a reminder that elitism exists in all parties. pic.twitter.com/PYrySKg83P

— Adam N Weinstein (@AdamNoahWho) July 25, 2018

The fact that there were 1.81 million registered female voters in Balochistan proves that these women were clearly aware enough of the significance of their vote and of the elections in general and had a vision of change for their nation, which is why they came out to contribute their vote in these trying times. Women belonging to the tribal areas are like all other women in Pakistan – they own the right to choose their leader. There is no reason to mock others because of their presumed lack of education, simply because they are unable to afford something as basic as fundamental and constitutional rights, or are not allowed to exercise that right because of the suffocating environment they are raised in, while also not having access to an educational institute or proper means of transportation to get to a school in the first place. There are so many incremental factors, like the ones stated above, which cannot be overlooked or demeaned.

This is how Pakistan's ruling elite see our women.@sarataseer "These ladies" are

Mothers to the missing
Daughters to the tortured
Sisters to the martyred

They see in a day what most see in a lifetime
They've parented the valiant Baloch & r very much able to decide their future pic.twitter.com/J2H3wKAQMM

— Bhawal Mengal (@BhawalMengal) July 26, 2018

1. Imagine acting so privileged you view women from unprivileged backgrounds as lower class citizens
2. Imagine as a woman putting another woman down who have turned up in numbers despite the dangers they could face to fulfill their right to vote

— Ghousia (@yeldazahra) July 25, 2018

Sure, class privilege is great. You get to enjoy all possible perks in life, but don’t let that privilege desensitise you to the point that you forget other people’s struggles or demean others who haven’t had the same opportunities as you to thrive. Instead, use your education and power in a positive way. Women in particular need to start seeing more clearly across the spectrum, instead of belittling other women based on their different intersectionalities, including gender, class, socio-economic status, education, and so on.

We need to be more understanding, accepting, and analytically smarter to able to progress, not only as a gender but also as a nation. We expect our government to incorporate more policies that will protect women and other at risk minorities, but if we fail to see other’s strengths and weaknesses for what they are, the factors and reasons leading up them, then there will be no argument to make. Making isolated comments like Sara did is a clear indication that there is so much work to be in done in regards to forming true solidarity amongst women, especially between the elite and lower classes.

In the summer of 2010, Mesut Ozil burst onto the scene of international football. Already making waves at Werder Bremen, the then 21-year-old playmaker became the fuel for the German machine. His creativity and pace went on to define German football for the next six years, with Ozil being a vital part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning squad.

It was also that summer that my obsession began with Ozil. His creativity and pace defined German football but his relentlessness and commitment defined why I fell in love with the sport.

The five-time German Player of the Year, who has earned 92 caps for his country and assisted a record of 40 goals, however, hung up his black and white shirt. Scapegoated by German media for the team’s recent performance in Russia, racially abused by the German Football Federation’s President and disowned by many of his sponsor partners, Ozil said,

“Enough is enough.”

The past couple of weeks have given me time to reflect, and time to think over the events of the last few months. Consequently, I want to share my thoughts and feelings about what has happened. pic.twitter.com/WpWrlHxx74

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

II / III pic.twitter.com/Jwqv76jkmd

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

III / III pic.twitter.com/c8aTzYOhWU

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

To delve into the politics of it all is something that I do not want to do. To disagree with the politics that he propagated, is one thing. To use that to cross a line and use a player’s lineage and religion against him is another.

“When we win, I’m German. When we lose, I’m an immigrant.”

The damning words used by Ozil in his open letter echo those of other immigrant football players.

“When I score I’m French, when I don’t I’m an Arab,” France’s Karim Benzema said.

In the same vein, Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has spoken about how when the national team wins he’s Belgian, but when they lose he is a Belgium player of Congolese descent.

For Ozil, this has been nothing new. In his autobiography Gunning for Greatness, he spoke about his childhood and how during football trials someone with a German name would be chosen over him, even if they were not necessarily better than him. Ozil has fought racism at the grassroots level to get where he is. This is what makes Ozil’s stand even more powerful. Ridiculous to even think that racism persists at the highest level of German football and is the reason why one of the most talented players of our generation has been forced to hang up his international jersey.

Imagine being born & raised in a country, representing that country with the highest honours and than made to feel unwanted because you have Turkish heritage…Standing up to racists, I am so proud @MesutOzil1088 is an Arsenal player #IstandwithMesut pic.twitter.com/AvxWbE7k6z

— Durchiga ℹ (@Durchiga) July 22, 2018

Ozil has always been an introverted player, both on and off the field. However, he has always been committed to bettering others. On the field, he does that with his feet. Off the field, he has started a worldwide dialogue on racism and refused to stand by and take the injustice.

What hurts the most is his lonely farewell. Having worn the Germany jersey for over nine years, one would expect Ozil’s German teammates to come out and speak against what Ozil has faced. To realise that this is bigger than football. Resignations of Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski saw a flood of social media messages by their German teammates. In Ozil’s case, there has been mainly radio silence.

The French Football Team’s recent World Cup win raised the issue of immigrant players and dual identity in the 21^st century. Many of the World Cup winning squad have an immigrant heritage to an extent that comedian Trevor Noah congratulated Africa on its World Cup win. The comment led to a spar between Noah and the French ambassador who said the players belonged to France and reflected the diversity of the country.

“I watch what politicians say about African migrants when they are unemployed, when they may commit a crime, or when they’re considered unsavoury, they are ‘African immigrants’,” Noah added.

However, “when their children go on to provide a World Cup victory for France, we should only refer to it as France”.

The French ambassador to the U.S. @GerardAraud criticized Trevor for congratulating Africa on France’s World Cup victory. Trevor responds #BetweenTheScenes: pic.twitter.com/5nJklXRyY8

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 19, 2018

This echoes the sentiments of Ozil, Lukaku, Benzema and any other player who has faced discrimination for their immigrant background. Only when they win, are they included into the team. When they are losing, their immigrant background makes the headlines.

As my favourite football player hangs up his international jersey, I am hit with a gulf of sadness that I will not see him play on the international stage again. However, already a World Cup winner and five-time German Player of the Year, his retirement only solidifies his legacy. A man committed to better the lives of young immigrant players; he has started a dialogue on the false narratives peddled against immigrant players like him.

#IstandwithMesut
You are not alone #Ozil
You're never alone… pic.twitter.com/Kk3EtbPJae

— ~GOONERETTE~ (@MarianaKa2) July 22, 2018

His genius may be overshadowed by the racism in Germany, but at Arsenal, I can sense a season of magic awaits.

YOU ARE NOW HALF TURKISH AND HALF ARSENAL OZIL. ⚪️ #IStandWithMesut pic.twitter.com/k0ZHnzYqPM

— Frimpon (@FrimponOnline) July 25, 2018

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is the sixth iteration in what is now an already established and long-running franchise. It is as synonymous with Tom Cruise as Robert Downey Jr is with the character of Iron Man (Mission: Impossible series of feature films predates Iron Man series mind you). It is directed and produced alike by Christopher McQuarrie, who also directed the franchise’s previous rendition of Rogue Nation in 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiHiW4N7-bo Henry Cavill (The Man of Steel), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown) and Angela Bassett are the newbies joining the franchise with this movie. Actors reprising their roles from previous films include Simon Pegg (Star Trek/Shaun of the Dead), Sean Harris, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin and Michelle Monaghan respectively. I will try to give away as little as possible in this blog. The story of this chapter starts when an Impossible Mission Force’s (IMF) mission goes appallingly wrong, and Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his band of teammates must undo what has happened and create a counterbalance to make sure that the proverbial good always triumphs over evil. Furthermore, the plot exhibits Ethan coming head-to-head with the antagonist Solomon Lane (Harris) who is hell bent on unleashing a nuclear attack onto the world, thanks to his anarchist cum megalomaniac disposition which borders insanity at best. Although Solomon doesn’t exude any classical traits when it comes to being the signature bad guy and villain, he seems like all talk and no show. In fact, the real menacing antagonist for Ethan can be the moustache-sporting August Walker (Cavill) who is CIA’s Black-Ops assassin. He is put in charge to “watch” and supervise Ethan’s team to make sure they don’t mess up. However, without spoiling anything, let’s just say that Ethan and Agent August don’t always see eye-to-eye. Ethan would rather be on his own rather than be “hawk-eyed” by a CIA watchdog all the time. As CIA chief Erica Sloan (Bassett) so eloquently puts it in the movie,

“If Ethan is a scalpel who’s tactical and exhibits finesse in his work, Agent August is a hammer exerting sheer blunt force trauma in order to get the job done.”