So the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has decided to go a giant, gaping leap further to intrude upon what happens within the confines of a private event. Apparently, the nursing staff of Ganga Ram Hospital cannot have a private party that holds glimpses of celebration and festivity without the moral police interfering and getting into a tiff over it. The said party was held at the nurses’ hostel to mark the passing of their examinations and to generally celebrate a new phase in their lives. Now, like with any party, there was music and where there is music there will definitely be some song and dance. Some nurses started dancing to the tune of a Punjabi folksong and the Medical Superintendent (MS) who was in attendance started clapping. That, it seems, was enough to bring about his downfall. A private television channel caught this party on film and showed it to the viewing public, which lapped it up. Now, it seems, everyone and their aunt is flying into a fit of rage over the non-event of a few women dancing and the MS appreciating their performance.
The PML-N particularly has taken offence and has taken steps to make sure that the moral brigade is satiated and given its pound of flesh. The MS has been sacked and the Chief Minister (CM), Shahbaz Sharif, has ordered an inquiry into the party. It is unbelievably absurd how the PML-N is playing to some extreme-right gallery in which a little harmless fun and some singing and dancing can cause an uproar of this kind. One wishes the health ministry and provincial government would haul up people and demand explanations when patients die in our hospitals because of neglect and lack of available facilities and infrastructure. But what is a life when our ‘morality’ is in question? What is wrong with this government? This is not even Talibanisation because the ideology of Talibanisation has some sort of conviction (however disagreeable and contrived). This here is an example of lunacy of the highest order. Today, we come under question for celebrating with a little dance and merriment, tomorrow will we be brought to book for flashing a smile or wearing something less than sharia-compliant clothing? The PML-N cannot pander to an absurd ultra-right agenda that feeds off limiting other people’s pleasure and sanity in life. It cannot advocate a suffocating existence of the extremist variety. We do not live in a dark, colourless place; we are people who need to live, not exist in drudgery and silence. The Shahbaz Sharif government needs to back off from people having innocent fun and private television channels that act as a moral police should be restrained.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/18-Oct-2015/dancing-a-sin
No comments:
Post a Comment