‘Aik Aur Ghazi’ blamed for inciting intolerance

Aik Aur Ghazi”, a new film that has been recently slammed by many is now being actively condemned by Christian groups for its possible connection with the killing of Salmaan Taseer. Though Syed Noor, the film’s director, has denied that this film has anything to do with the former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassination, the main slogan of the film is, “Punishment for Blasphemers — Decapitation” – enough to incite strong emotions from the religious minorities, who have been jailed occasionally for allegedly blaspheming yet never being proved guilty.
Joseph Francis from CLAAS, a Christian organisation, says that he is currently starting a movement of the Christian community by making announcements about the film every Sunday in the church, and soon, once the movement takes off and demonstrations are done, in collaboration with other members of the civil society, they will take the case to the court. “I don’t expect much from the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, because he himself is a fanatic, but this kind of condemnation is needed,” says Francis.
“It was useless even attempting to talk to Syed Noor about this issue because the film has already been made and has gone for censorship. Why would he pull his film back for us?” ‘WHAT ARE YOU ACHIEVING BY THIS?’: Nadeem Farooq Paracha, a journalist and one of the biggest film and music critics in Pakistan, says that Noor has probably ‘chickened out’ and that his film seemed to be loosely based on some small-time incident in 1929 when a man was hanged by the British. In short, says Paracha, he seems to be glorifying the issue of having a ‘blasphemer’ being killed – but this excitement faded a little after the liberal section of the society started becoming enraged and demanding the film not be released.
He says that Noor was probably testing the waters to see where the film stands, as in the present day, even an extremist was unsafe from another extremist. “Light hearted films that have nothing controversial like Tere Bin Laden and plays like Burkavaganza have been pulled off public screenings by the PNCA. Why is this film even being considered? What is Syed Noor even imagining of achieving from making this film? I seriously expect it to be offensive to a large section of society and in this case, this man should be taken to court.”
‘THE INDUSTRY? IT’S A SET OF CONFUSED, BARBARIC IDEAS’: Meanwhile, veteran filmmaker Salman Peerzada expresses his disgust at the lack of quality the Pakistani film industry has been maintaining for decades now. “The Pakistani film industry should not even be termed ‘industry’”, he says. “It is only a market for churning out silly movies that reflect the mindset of the people who make these films. These people have never promoted any good, progressive thoughts, instead they have propagated their own ideas about Islamist nationalism and these are based on extremely confused ideas.”
Peerzada says barbaric acts were being portrayed by the entire media as simple matter-of-fact-incidents and killers were being glorified as heroes. “I am not suggesting that this topic should not be discussed because this is a ‘sensitive’ time as they say, in fact I think there should be a forum for a debate. However, the problem is that the debate is only one-sided and only one side gets to express its ideas, most of which supports such inhumane cruelty and acts of violence. No one else argues for fear of losing their lives.” .
‘THE INDUSTRY? SIGH…’: Nadeem Paracha too condemns the film ‘industry’ in Pakistan. “In the past few decades no quality work has been produced,” he says. “Maybe films like Majajan and some others were good, but these too, only served the market for one region of the country. They did not approach the mass audience as a whole. So what else should we expect from these people?”
PROVOKING EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS: Meanwhile Christian groups say that the media had been playing a significant role in propagating religious intolerance, especially since a Geo show Alim Online provoked the killing of three Ahmedis the next day.
“Religious intolerance is increasing speedily and no one is able to do much about it,” says Francis. “We are worried and have reservations that the film is an open call for extra judicial killing in the name of Islam. Therefore, we need the support to stop such campaigns. We also appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of this film.”