This tweet was from Marvi Sirmed, a correspondent of Daily Times. Love for your soil is something that comes naturally, you cannot make an effort to love anything or anyone, just like you cannot hate your parents or siblings no matter how many arguments and disagreements you have with them.
My reply to her was about how those who aren’t considered controversial like Edhi Saab deserve a state funeral and if she has forgotten that how Edhi Saab was honoured. She was basically referring to the requests of some who demanded a state funeral for Asma Jehangir. Marvi Sirmed isn’t the only one. Many others like Hussain Haqani after enjoying the perks and privileges of foreign office of Pakistan has started anti-Pakistan hashtag spree where he keeps on tweeting with #Pakistan.
One was a legendary actress and one was a lawyer been admired by some for her human rights’ activism and criticised for her anti-establishment, pro-india stance by others. Both have lead very different lives in very different ways… Hence both are unparalleled.
Reham Khan in her latest interview to an Indian tv channel criticised Pakistan’s judiciary. She said that, “They have been lenient towards Imran Khan and judiciary should be explaining it to the people on what grounds did they declare Khan ‘Sadiq and ameen’ and if thats the case then Donald Trump should also be awarded with a label of protecting women’s rights in Pakistan”. On this and other comments on Imran Khan she earned disgrace and massive criticism. Also people wondered why did she have to say all that about her country’s most supreme institution at a platform provided by a country which is considered the enemy state.
I would say she probably wanted to remind us that though there were rumours of Imran’s third marriage at that time, she still existed. Mahmood Achakzai is another such character unfortunately found in this country who calls Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, a part of Afghanistan.
Read more: UN Secretary General pays tribute to Asma Jahangir
Altaf Hussain requires no introduction when it comes to anti-Pakistan statements. And now many believe that he has a huge problem even with the existence of Pakistan, although whatever he has in London is because his parents migrated to Pakistan after partition.
Having said all that, let me remind you about something which is unforgettable and is said by none other than our disqualified ex Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about India at a press conference in the past. He said that we both worship the same god. He further more said things which negated the two nation theory and clearly spoke volumes of how he doesnt believe in the two nation theory. He also said that the border line is merely on the ground otherwise we are both one nation.
Sri Devi was an icon and I dont think anybody would have any second thoughts about it. There are a millions reasons for why people just admired her and fantasized about about her. She performed in more than 300 movies and earned international acclaim for many of her performances.
Sadly, a few of Pakistani journalists have also started walking on the same road following Tarek Fateh, Mahmood Achakzai, Hussain Haqqani, Altaf Hussain, etc. I hope Marvi Sirmed doesnt demand a state funeral for any of the above mentioned people because I will now take this opportunity of assuring her in advance that none of them are getting one.
All the people that I have mentioned above and many that I havent mentioned are followed by thousands of people and are looked up to, but are the first ones to malign Pakistan – and that too for no good reason. Whether Pakistan or Pakistanis do something worth criticising or not they would just rant about Pakistan. Maybe thats a cheaper way of getting twitter followers.
Read more: Asma Jehangir: Remembered fondly by most but not by all
We have lost some of our very important television personalities this year; the great veteran actor Qazi Wajid and culinary queen Zubaida Aapa. No doubt Sri Devi was a sensation not just for Indians but for Pakistanis as well. But the coverage given to Sri Devi’s death is just way more than that is required – that too when they just released a notification reinstating the ban on Pakistani actors.
Sri Devi was an icon and I dont think anybody would have any second thoughts about it. There are a millions reasons for why people just admired her and fantasized about about her. She performed in more than 300 movies and earned international acclaim for many of her performances. People like Marvi would only see the grass greener on the other side and I think they dont know that many in India are unhappy with state funeral been given to Sri Devi.
Wrapped in tricolour, the mortal remains of #Sridevi accorded state honour. The "dushman mulk" knows how to honour her remarkable citizens.
— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) February 28, 2018
Many hindus go against hindutva & any sane person would go against hindutva when its politicians wud say Muslim women shud be dug out of their graves and be raped, she supported Pak actors because they worked together but there was nothing that involved anti nationalist approach https://t.co/MZpwkucjeF
— Shiffa Z. Yousafzai (@Shiffa_ZY) February 28, 2018
Asma Jahangir and Sri Devi have lived completely unparalleled lives hence cannot be compared… https://t.co/b4WiDVLe0P
— Shiffa Z. Yousafzai (@Shiffa_ZY) February 28, 2018
And all those who have started to say how India honoured Sri Devi and Pakistan didn’t honour Asma, need to keep in mind that both cannot be compared. One was a legendary actress and one was a lawyer been admired by some for her human rights’ activism and criticised for her anti-establishment, pro-india stance by others. Both have lead very different lives in very different ways… Hence both are unparalleled.
Shiffa Yousafzai is a TV presenter & producer with Hum TV. She is an International Alumni Ambassador for Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, where she studied Multimedia Journalism. Earlier, she graduated with business and marketing at Air University, Islamabad. She had been vice-president Air University Cultural Society; She is a singer and has performed in cultural events. Shiffa could be followed on twitter @Shiffa_ZY and on facebook @Shiffa Z. Yousafzai. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy.