Entertainers, intellectuals and liberals in Pakistan are being squeezed. They were already a threatened species, thanks to the policies of successive governments which have resulted in the rise of the religious right. But, the ill-conceived and ill-timed introduction by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of the 15th Constitutional Amendment (CA 15) has triggered off fears that such people may actually become extinct — a worst-case scenario that is not as unlikely as it once seemed. After all, neighbouring Afghanistan too once harboured educated, liberal thinking individuals. Those who are left there now dare not reveal their true colours, others have Bed the country or been killed.
Opposition to the amendment has been projected by the government and the country´s right-wing forces as heresy. Religious zealots have gone as far as to urge their supporters to kill those who oppose it. One of them has even asked his followers to launch a crusade against journalists, whom he describes as kafir (infidels). "They are ridiculing the enforcement of Shariah. Kill them wherever you see them," he told a Peshawar congregation in October.
But the atmosphere of repression and fear has done nothing to curb cultural expression, at least not yet. It seems that the more repression there is, the more people clutch at this straw. The rock band Junoon has never been as popular as it is now, after being ´banned´ by the government for its allegedly anti-Pakistan statements during a tour of India this summer (see page 37). Classical dancer Naheed Siddiqui, recognised as one of the world´s leading Kathak exponents, back in Lahore from her base in Birmingham, says she has never encountered as much interest in dance as there is now, when it seems that dance will again become as taboo as it was in Zia-ul Haq´s time, or even more so. The privately organised Music Conference in Lahore, an annual event held in the last week of October, drew record audiences. On the last night, there was not even standing room in the 3000-seat open air theatre and the performance went on well past 3.00 am. Record numbers of people and performers attended the Fourth International Puppet Festival (theme: Peace). As many as 38 troupes from 27 countries, including India, showed up and 150,000 tickets were sold.
Such festivals – dance, drama and music – take place against all odds. Most have to be privately organised, given the lack of government support and funding. In fact, events are actively hindered by officials uncertain about what the cultural policy is. Over the years cultural events have taken place under a lengthening shadow of religious militancy, bigotry and threats of violence.