Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

Urdu Section

16 Feb 2011, NewAgeIslam.Com

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s arrest and the Pakistani media
	The detention and release of the popular Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan by the DRI has stirred the Pakistani media into India bashing as usual. The editorials of the national dailies of Pakistan and the articles by the ‘noted’ Urdu columnists of the country were full of anti-India venom and the ‘bias and prejudices’ Indians reportedly have against their great singers, artistes and litterateurs. As usual, the Pakistani media men and Urdu intellectuals exhausted all their intellectual and journalistic ‘depth’ (like the strategic depth of the Pakistani government) in finding out the conspiracies behind the incident. Not only that, in criticising the Indians and the Indian government in particular, they crossed all the limits of decency hurling abuses against the Indians even calling them ‘Hindu baniyas’. A so-called columnist Sayeed Aasi addresses Rahat Ali Khan in the following words in his column in Nawai Waqt:“Arre Marhoom Fateh Ali Khan ki Rahat! Tujhe Hindu banyi ke liye resha khatmi Adnana Sami ke anjam se bhi Khauf nahi aya tha? Bade daawey karta phirta tha ke who Bharat ke teen aala aizaz hasil kar ke bada moazziz tareen hogaya hai.” -- Md Sanaullah Khan, NewAgeIslam.com

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s arrest and the Pakistani media

By Md Sanaullah Khan, NewAgeIslam.com The detention and release of the popular Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan by the DRI has stirred the Pakistani media into India bashing as usual. The editorials of the national dailies of Pakistan and the articles by the ‘noted’ Urdu columnists of the country were full of anti-India venom and the ‘bias and prejudices’ Indians reportedly have against their great singers, artistes and litterateurs. As usual, the Pakistani media men and Urdu intellectuals exhausted all their intellectual and journalistic ‘depth’ (like the strategic depth of the Pakistani government) in finding out the conspiracies behind the incident. Not only that, in criticising the Indians and the Indian government in particular, they crossed all the limits of decency hurling abuses against the Indians even calling them ‘Hindu baniyas’. A so-called columnist Sayeed Aasi addresses Rahat Ali Khan in the following words in his column in Nawai Waqt: “Arre Marhoom Fateh Ali Khan ki Rahat! Tujhe Hindu banyi ke liye resha khatmi Adnana Sami ke anjam se bhi Khauf nahi aya tha? Bade daawey karta phirta tha ke who Bharat ke teen aala aizaz hasil kar ke bada moazziz tareen hogaya hai.” (O the son of the late Fateh Ali Khan! Didn’t you learn any lesson from the fate of Adnan Sami at the hands of the Hindu baniyas? What about your claim of winning three big awards in India?) In the previous line, he says: “Ye lomad zehniyat wala shatir baniya hame dank marne ke siwa aur koi dhang nahi janta.” According to the learned columnist and a representative of the Islamic country of Pakistan, India lures their singers and artists only to blur the borders and ruin their culture. If his theory is to be believed all the Pakistani singers, artists and cricketers are the victims of Indian conspiracy. For instance, Shoaib Malik was framed by the Indian government with the help of his ‘first’ wife Aisha and was released when he was harassed to the heart’s content. Adnan Sami was another singer who was entangled in legal battle because of the bias of the Indian government, according to the learned columnist. Writings reflecting such mean mentality that are published in the national print media of Pakistan will not qualify for publication even in two penny local newspapers India. Another Urdu daily Express has carried an editorial titled ‘Bharati taassub kab khatm hoga’ (When will the Indian bias end?). It also says that the arrest of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan seems to be a part of a conspiracy as he was not aware of the rules. It appears, the editorial says, that the Pakistani artist has been arrested after handing over money to him as part of a conspiracy. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been involved in the Indian film industry and has sung a number of songs for Bollywood films. He has been visiting India for a long time in connection of his concerts. How can he claim that he did not know the rule that one cannot take more than $5000 with him? Actually, according to reports, he demands from the organizers of his concerts his fees in cash every time he comes to India apparently to avoid paying income tax to his country. Rahat was arrested only because he was carrying cash above the permissible limits. The Indian government intervened to get Rahat released to avoid bad blood and the Pakistani government thanked the Home Minister P Chidambaram for the friendly gesture. Therefore, Pakistani media’s furore over the matter was both unwelcome and undesired. Another columnist Dr Md Ajmal Niyazi, after expressing his disapproval of and displeasure over the ‘humiliating treatment’ to the Pakistani singer Rahat Ali Khan goes on to express solidarity with the Indian Muslims who according to him are treated like second class citizens in India. According to him Shah Rukh Khan has married a Hindu only to prove his love of India. He guesses that his wife may be a mole of the Indian agencies. He also sympathises with Salman Khan who, according to him, has been treated very badly in India. The Pakistani newspapers are full of writings of such lecherous level that evoke ridicule at the way of thinking of these so-called journalists and editors. We are presenting below an article from a Pakistani newspaper Nawai Waqt for our readers. URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=4130