Pakistani drama breaks silence on blasphemy killings

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Updated 22 March 2025
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Pakistani drama breaks silence on blasphemy killings

Pakistani drama breaks silence on blasphemy killings
  • Hum Network’s 11-part television drama began airing in December, handling the taboo topic with sensitivity
  • Producer Sultana Siddiqui calls it her duty to ‘raise awareness about crucial social issues’ that impact society

KARACHI: An axe-wielding mob chases a terrified group; a daring Pakistani television drama has for the first time tackled the deeply sensitive issue of the dozens murdered for alleged blasphemy.
Islam is the official religion in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and accusations of insulting religious sentiments can easily incite mob violence.
Blasphemy is an incendiary charge, and the issue is rarely discussed by major media broadcasters due to security concerns.
But producer Sultana Siddiqui challenged that with an 11-part television drama, which has earned praise since it began airing in December for handling a taboo topic with sensitivity.
“This issue has not been raised before because of fear,” Siddiqui, founder of the Hum Network media company, told AFP.

Her drama “Tan Man Neelo Neel,” or “Bruises on Body and Soul,” tells the stories of people in a small Pakistani town, and has generated millions of views and widespread praise on social media.
“I took the risk in a careful manner,” she said. “That’s why people appreciated it.”




Sultana Siddiqui, director, producer and founder of the Hum Network media company, speaks about her television drama ‘Tan Man Neel-o-Neel’ or ‘Bruises on Body and Soul,’ during an interview with AFP in Karachi, Pakistan, on March 11, 2025. (AFP)

In the drama, the case of blasphemy centers around a character who falsely claims a dance performance takes place in a mosque, rather than the abandoned mansion it happened in.
That storyline of false allegations is an echo of reality.
Pakistan’s independent Human Rights Commission, in a report last month, described the “impunity for perpetrators of hate and violence.”
It detailed cases of people killed, and followers and places of worship of Pakistan’s minority religions, including Christians and Hindus, being attacked over false claims.
“Law enforcement... have often failed to rescue blasphemy suspects from vigilante violence,” the commission said.
“A careful examination of various blasphemy allegations shows that these are invariably based on fabrications, malicious disinformation and fake news.”
Siddiqui said she was motivated by a 2017 case in the city of Mardan when a mob beat 23-year-old journalism student Mashal Khan to death after accusing him of posting blasphemous content online.
“I couldn’t sleep after hearing Mashal’s mother say that ‘not a single bone in his body was left unbroken — even his finger bones were fractured,’” she said.
“I kept wondering: How brutally must they have beaten him?“




Pakistani tv actor and producer Saife Hassan (center) talks with actor Usman Javed (right) and Sehar Khan (second left) on the set during the shooting of a scene of TV drama serial ‘Tan Man Neel-o-Neel’ or ‘Bruises on Body and Soul,’ in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on November 2, 2024. (AP)

Mohammad Iqbal, the murdered student’s father, said that the producer had chosen the “right topic” and had “honored his son.”
“We, those most affected, have rarely spoken about it publicly,” he told AFP.
“At last, this conversation is happening on television.”
Siddiqui said she had long wanted to address the issue and had been carefully collaborating with fellow directors and writers to address the subject matter appropriately.
“I, too, fear extremists who might not like me and could harm me,” she said.
“However, I believe we should address these issues with them in a respectful manner.”
Siddiqui said it was her “duty to educate people” and “raise awareness about crucial social issues” that impact society.

Pakistani dramas boast a massive viewership and their popularity serves as a powerful vehicle for social change.
A Gallup survey conducted in October 2023 suggested that two-fifths of the country watch dramas.
“We should have spoken about such issues much earlier,” said Mustafa Afridi, the writer of the show.
“If we had, perhaps we wouldn’t be in this situation today, perhaps our children wouldn’t be dying.”




Celebrities gather at the residence of Sultana Siddiqui, director, producer and founder of the Hum Network media company, during an event held to celebrate the success of her television drama "Tan Man Neelo Neel", or "Bruises on Body and Soul", in Karachi on March 12, 2025. (AFP)


Pakistan’s media industry has been wary of the topic — and fallen foul in the past of accusations of creating blasphemous content.
The release of the 2019 award-winning film “Zindagi Tamasha,” or “Circus of Life,” was halted after the Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) objected to its portrayal of a cleric they deemed “blasphemous.”
In 2020, a music video shot at Lahore’s Wazir Khan mosque sparked furious protests after singer Bilal Saeed was filmed dancing with actor Saba Qamar.
Police filed a case against them, and they apologized — and were eventually acquitted two years later.
Arafat Mazhar, the director of the Alliance Against Blasphemy Politics group, said Siddiqui’s show had “sparked a viral critique of blasphemy-related mob violence.”
He called the reaction “unprecedented.”
“It wasn’t just that people were watching a drama about mob violence — it was that the conversation centered on mob violence at such a large scale for the first time,” he told AFP.
“The battle against blasphemy violence is not just about speaking out against mob killings. It is about challenging the structures that create and sustain them.”


Pakistan approves fast-track plan to privatize loss-making national airline

Pakistan approves fast-track plan to privatize loss-making national airline
Updated 1 min 10 sec ago
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Pakistan approves fast-track plan to privatize loss-making national airline

Pakistan approves fast-track plan to privatize loss-making national airline
  • Cash-strapped Pakistan wants to privatize debt-ridden PIA to reform state-owned enterprises
  • Pakistan hopes the restoration of PIA routes to Europe will boost the airline’s appeal to buyers

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to endorse a plan to fast-track Pakistan International Airlines Corporation’s privatization, state media reported on Tuesday, while reiterating its resolve to offload loss-making public entities from the national exchequer.
Cash-strapped Pakistan is looking to privatize the debt-ridden PIA to raise funds and reform state-owned enterprises as envisaged under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program secured last year.
The decision to endorse the new privatization plan follows Pakistan’s failed attempt last year to offload a 60 percent stake in the airline, which drew just a single offer that was well below the asking price.
The issue PIA privatization came under discussed at a meeting in Islamabad chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar.
“Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP) on Tuesday approved a fast-tracked plan for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIACL), including the divestment of 51-100 percent share capital together with management control,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
“The deputy PM emphasized the government’s commitment to PIACL’s privatization to unlock its full potential and reduce financial burden on the national exchequer,” it added.
APP did not provide further details of the revised plan or explain how it would differ from the previous unsuccessful effort.
Earlier this month, the government appointed Muhammad Ali, formerly the special assistant to the prime minister on the power sector, as adviser for privatization.
Last year, PIA got permission to resume operations in Europe after a 2020 ban by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which had raised concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.
EASA and UK authorities had suspended PIA’s operations in the region after Pakistan launched a probe into pilot licensing irregularities following a 2020 crash that killed 97 people.
Pakistan hopes that the restoration of routes to Europe and anticipated approval for UK operations will boost the airline’s appeal to potential buyers.
 


WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India

WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India
Updated 12 min 41 sec ago
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WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India

WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India
  • Freshwater ecosystems have seen an alarming 85 percent decline in wildlife since 1970, WWF says
  • Pakistan’s Indus Basin, in particular, faces threats from pollution, dams and climate change

ISLAMABAD: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the GSK global biopharma giant have launched a five-year initiative to conserve and restore freshwater resources in water-stressed regions of Pakistan and India, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday.
The collaboration, running until 2030, will focus on the Indus River Basin in Pakistan and the Sutlej River Basin in India, key areas for medicine production. The initiative aims to replenish over 300,000 cubic meters of water and benefit more than 100,000 people by implementing nature-based solutions.
Key efforts include restoring freshwater habitats, protecting endangered species like river dolphins and otters, and promoting sustainable water management in local communities and farms, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
“Ensuring sustainable water supply is critical to delivering life-saving medicines,” Regis Simard, president of global supply chain of GSK that operates three manufacturing sites in these regions, was quoted as saying by the APP.
“Partnering with WWF allows us to drive meaningful change in these vulnerable ecosystems.”
Freshwater ecosystems have seen an alarming 85 percent decline in wildlife populations since 1970, according to WWF’s Living Planet Report. The Indus Basin, in particular, faces threats from pollution, dams and climate change.
The partnership aligns with global biodiversity goals, including the Freshwater Challenge that seeks to restore 300,000 kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands by 2030.
“Pakistan faces severe water scarcity and pollution,” said Hammad Naqi Khan, director-general of WWF-Pakistan, highlighting the urgency of water conservation.
“Companies like GSK are leading by example not just reducing water use but actively replenishing resources.”


Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held

Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held
Updated 25 March 2025
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Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held

Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held
  • Omar Hayat, an agricultural worker, had rescued a stray dog with broken legs and nursed it back to health
  • Hayat’s body was buried under a heap of cow dung, which was then set on fire to destroy any evidence

KARACHI: A stray dog rescued and nursed back to health by a Pakistani agricultural laborer led police to its owner’s buried body, exposing a murder plot allegedly orchestrated by the victim’s wife and her brother, officials said on Tuesday.
Omar Hayat was killed last month in a village in Tehsil Chichawatni, located in Punjab province. His wife, Shamim, and her brother, Fida Hussain, were arrested and sent into judicial custody on Monday, according to Station House Officer (SHO) Shahzad Ahmed.
“Omar Hayat had found the dog on the roadside months earlier, with both of his legs broken,” Ahmed told Arab News over the phone. “He took it in and treated its legs. After approximately two months, the dog was able to walk again. Since then, the dog stayed with Hayat all the time.”
The SHO said that when Hayat went missing, the dog began searching for him.
“It sensed its owner’s scent and started digging a pile of burnt cow dung with its legs. It continued this for two days until the legs of the body appeared,” he continued, adding that a local resident, Bilal Shah, saw the remains and informed the police.
“We called the crime scene unit and began collecting evidence,” the police official said.
According to him, the victim’s face had been completely burned, making identification difficult. His wife also refused to identify the body and “continuously misled the police,” he added. However, Hayat’s mother recognized the legs, saying they resembled her son’s, and subsequent DNA testing confirmed the body’s identity.
“We arrested Shamim’s brother, Mudasir, a week ago, and Shamim was arrested two days ago,” the police official said. “Yesterday, both were sent to jail on judicial remand.”
During interrogation, both suspects confessed to murdering Hayat and burying his body under a pile of cow dung, which they set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and hinder identification.
“Hayat’s wife said that her husband used drugs and had affairs with other women,” Ahmed said. “After catching him with a woman, his wife went to her brother, and they both murdered him.”
Originally from Multan, Hayat worked at a farmhouse in a Chichawatni village, where he lived with Shamim and their four children.
Shamim belongs to Khanewal, and the couple had been married for 15 years.
 


Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan

Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan
Updated 25 March 2025
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Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan

Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan
  • Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently navigating a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program
  • The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, on Tuesday reviewed various proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan, the Pakistan foreign office said, amid Islamabad’s push for increase trade and investment in the South Asian country.

The development came days after Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and called for joint ventures with Pakistan in defense, energy, economy, logistics and transport sectors to expand Baku’s strategic partnership with Islamabad.

It followed a visit by Sharif to Baku, where he announced the two nations would sign deals in April to boost bilateral investments to $2 billion. Multiple agreements for cooperation in the trade, energy, tourism, education and other sectors were signed during Sharif’s visit in Feb.

On Tuesday, DPM Dar presided over an inter-ministerial meeting on possible investment projects with Azerbaijan and reviewed various proposals in this regard, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

“DPM/FM directed to accelerate the implementation of decisions to boost economic growth and development through viable investment projects,” it said in a statement. “He reaffirmed that strengthening Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties remains a priority as both countries collaborate across various sectors.”

Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently navigating a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations and regional and international allies, focusing on export-led growth.

In September last year, Azerbaijan bought JF-17 Block III fighter jets from Pakistan, reportedly in a $1.6bn deal.

During President Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan last year, a joint committee was set up to materialize projects in trade, commerce, information technology, tourism, telecommunication, mineral resources and other sectors. Sharif said at the time the current trade volume of $100 million did not reflect the “true” trade potential between the two countries.


Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume

Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume
Updated 25 March 2025
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Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume

Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume
  • Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the Muslim-majority country and has been embroiled in controversy for years
  • In a recent video, since deleted from social media accounts, Butt launched his ‘295’ perfume which refers to blasphemy legislation

LAHORE: A Pakistani YouTube star has been charged with blasphemy after launching a perfume named after the very law he has fallen foul of, police said Tuesday.
Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the Muslim-majority country and has been embroiled in controversy for years, including over his brief custody of a lion cub.
In a recent video, since deleted from his social media accounts, Butt launched his “295” perfume which refers to blasphemy legislation in the penal code.
He said it followed a case filed against him last year, over an earlier video that was deemed blasphemous.
His perfume publicity sparked further ire, prompting the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to file a complaint late Monday.
“Our religious sentiments have been hurt,” said TLP leader Haider Ali Shah Gillani, whose party puts blasphemy as its central concern.
“There are numerous sections in the penal code but why did he choose blasphemy-related sections to name a perfume?,” he told AFP.
“This means you acknowledge the offense and are celebrating it. This is essentially an attempt to normalize such actions,” he said.
A police charge sheet seen by AFP and authenticated by a police official on Tuesday details the accusations against Butt, including blasphemy and cybercrime.
Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated accusations can incite public outrage and lead to lynchings.
In both cases against him, the social media personality risks up to 10 years in prison.
Butt issued an apology video on Sunday, asserting he is not against the country’s blasphemy laws.
“I apologize for the words I uttered during the launch of the perfume,” he said while holding the Holy Qur’an.
“I apologize and announce the discontinuation of this perfume,” he added.
Butt has previously drawn a parallel with his “mentor,” the slain Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who released a song titled “295” in reference to religious incitement.
In other legal troubles, Butt pleaded guilty in January to owning an undocumented wild animal after accepting a lion cub as a wedding gift.
He avoided jail by promising a judge to post animal rights videos for a year.