Fans mob Pakistani women writers in Jaipur
Fatima Bhutto speaks as Karan Thapar and Ayesha Jalal watch during the annual Literature Festival in Jaipur.—Reuters
JAIPUR (India): Celebrated Pakistani women writers — historian Ayesha Jalal and social activist Fatima Bhutto — were mobbed, applauded and loved at the Jaipur Literary Festival here on Sunday where they canvassed support for friendlier ties with India and pooh-poohed the prospects of a military coup in their country.
Clearly upstaging the top-billed American media star Oprah Winfrey who made a widely televised appearance at the festival at the same time, though at a separate platform, Miss Bhutto and Ms Jalal were roundly cheered for an incisive analysis of the evolving political situation in Pakistan and its impact on the world.
Ms Jalal evoked peels of laughter when she claimed that India had moved to the third spot and America had replaced it to become the enemy number one in common perception across Pakistan. Asked who was deemed the enemy number two, she smiled: “Israel.”
Pakistan’s High Commissioner Shahid Malik intervening in the discussion endorsed Ms Jalal’s claim that recent talk of a coup had flowed from media hype. “I don’t see a coup taking place as all the state institutions are working according to the constitution,” Mr Malik said.
He invited Indians to seize the moment for an unprecedented rapprochement with Pakistan, saying that it was for the first time ever that all stakeholders in Pakistan — the civil society, media, the opposition and the army — “are on the same page” for friendly ties with New Delhi.
The Bhutto scion thought it was demeaning for her country to be gripped by political arithmetic in parliament and the parties jostling for power outside as real issues faced by a vast majority of Pakistanis were being sidelined.
She listed Pakistan’s dismal investment in health care and the fact that millions were starving in the agriculture-rich country as scandalous.
Miss Bhutto was particularly severe on PTI leader Imran Khan for what she considered to be his support for obscurantist causes and his alleged anti-women stand on a landmark bill in parliament.
When she woke up to the call of Azaan in Jaipur, she was disoriented for a while because she had not anticipated the sound in India. That revelation tugged at the emotional chords of the audience and drew a long applause. A few thousand milling fans had crammed into an otherwise large enclosure.
Miss Bhutto slammed the “American occupation of Afghanistan” and cited what she said was a credible analysis to claim that US drone attacks were mostly killing innocent people — 30 possibly genuine militants in every thousand innocent people annihilated, she said.
Indian TV anchor Karan Thapar, who hosted the discussion, observed that the two women from Pakistan had drawn more serious people to listen to them than the American TV star next door.
As an Indian,i must admit Pakistan has many pretty girls.
I saw the whole thing in Jaipur online. I was so disappointed by Fatima's performance when she even couldnt explain her views and often didnt touch the question directly. I was suprised when she saying so much rubbish and bunch of lies about Imran Khan. Imran Khan is the only person who actually did something good for our country.
I was laughing when I saw Fatima trying to copy that British accent and wearing jeans to show off her articulate skills.
We dont need her at all , Pakistanis are better off without her. i will choose Imran Khan 1000 tims.
This was a literary affair. Please keep it this way and see how the two neighbours can work together for the people of the subcontinent.
Ms. Bhutto was right on the money in analyzing the cricketer turned politician Imran Khan. Khan has America as his favorite target because Pakistani people are against America.He has never articulated a vision to solve any of Pakistan's multitude of woes, he has simply taken advantage of them for political expediency. On issues of secularism and Islamist extremism, he is a bystander with no clear views. In my opinion, Pakistan needs a visionary leader who can unite its people to support Pakistani nation and moderate Islam. Only tolerant Islam can cure Pakistan's woes, and Imran Khan has never expressed support for moderate Islam. Mrs. Bhutto came close to being such a visionary leader prior to her premature death. In Egypt, moderate Islam is now in ascendance, and elsewhere in Arab countries moderate Islam with democratic roots is now taking shape. If Pakistan wants to turn the corner from its inner conflicts, people should rise up and promote a culture of tolerance, which the country sadly lacks now. If Imran Khan can not speak up on what is good for Pakistan, he will be swept away in the obscurantic tide of Islamic extremism, which is the face of Pakistan now. It is heartening to see Ms. Fatima Bhutto open up her inner feelings in the enemy territory.
very interesting article & great learning. Encouraging to read & hear about Literary side of "Pakistan"
Fatima has gr8 vision than Ik..:I totally disagree with those who undrstd that Bhutto's cldn't did any thng in pak…who bought atom bomb? Who care peasants 8 d grass root level fstly?plz ths qst0n 4 th0s who r syng bhutto did n0thng…
Please no more Bhuttos. We have enough of them.