Author Mohammed Hanif says Urdu publisher of his bestseller raided
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Celebrated writer Mohammed Hanif on Monday said that some people claiming to be from an intelligence agency had raided the offices of his Urdu publisher today and confiscated all copies of the translated version of his 2008 bestseller A Case of Exploding Mangoes.
Taking to Twitter, Hanif said the persons, claiming to belong to the Inter-services Intelligence (ISI), after barging into the offices of Maktaba Daniyal had also threatened its manager and sought "information about our whereabouts".
He said the people would come back tomorrow to get lists of booksellers selling the novel.
Pakistani military satire Mangoes, which chronicles the final days of hardline dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq’s rule and the myriad conspiracies behind the plane crash that killed him in 1988, was released in Urdu late last year.
Hanif in another tweet said they had last week received a defamation notice from Gen Zia’s son demanding Rs1 billion for maligning the former military ruler's name. "Our lawyers are preparing a reply. Is ISI acting on Ejazul Haq’s behalf?" he asked.
A former fighter pilot turned journalist, novelist and librettist, Hanif noted that his novel has been in publication for 11 years.
"Nobody has ever bothered me. Why now? I am sitting here, wondering when will they come for us. ISI is World’s No 1 spy agency. I am sure they have better things to do. I have my school run tomorrow," he wrote.
While Mangoes was set in Zia’s Pakistan, it was first released in English during the violent rule of another military dictator, Pervez Musharraf. It coincided with Hanif’s return to Pakistan after spending nearly 12 years in London with the BBC.
Internationally, the novel earned glowing reviews and was longlisted for the Booker Prize, with critics comparing Hanif to famous satire writers Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) "deplored" the raid at the publishing house.
"The authorities must revoke this action immediately," HRCP said in a tweet.
"This is a craven attempt to stifle artistic freedom of expression. The original work, a political satire set in Gen Zia-ul-Haq's time, came out 11 years ago and has remained a bestseller in Pakistan and abroad for years. @mohammedhanif was also awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz," the HRCP said in a subsequent tweet.
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Comments (56) Closed
Jan 06, 2020 10:51pm
A satirical story on fire? Some like it hot.
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Jan 06, 2020 10:58pm
His book satirized private family members of military officers.
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Jan 06, 2020 11:31pm
cant stop telling the truth
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Jan 06, 2020 11:39pm
Highly deplorable.
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Jan 07, 2020 12:05am
General Zia's son . . .
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Jan 07, 2020 12:17am
He should ring Zia son to find authenticity.
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Jan 07, 2020 12:28am
Somebody got around to reading his book finally.
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Jan 07, 2020 12:53am
While I respect the freedom of expression, a political satire is in bad taste because it brings real people (living or deceased) into disrepute & ridicule - whereas the narrated events or discourse may or may not be true & without any proof or standards of authenticity & veracity.
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Jan 07, 2020 12:59am
Gen Zia, with all his faults, was an outstanding leader. However, I know that the media will not allow me to list any of his credits & achievements.
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Jan 07, 2020 01:34am
Zia is alive and kicking through his protégés in government and the security apparatus as the raid proves
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Jan 07, 2020 01:43am
He should publish a digital copy and sell on Amazon.
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Jan 07, 2020 02:12am
What a grave and great tragedy?
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Jan 07, 2020 02:37am
Zia was a self absorbed tyrant who thought of himself as Gods gift to Pakistan
This happens when one is promoted beyond your capabilities.
He had started to believe his own hype and thought of himself as indispensable.
Little did he realize that the grave yards are full of these kind of indespensables.
His family road on his coat tails esp Ejaz. They thought of the Army an Pakistan as there own fiefdoms . Still remember Zias daughter in
Military uniform giving salutes.
His chapter was of corruption nepotism and continued intolerance .
Zia’s scion now suddenly woke up?
They must be running short of I’ll gotten money.
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Jan 07, 2020 02:52am
And you live where?
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Jan 07, 2020 03:06am
I don’t think ISI would introduce themselves as such.
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Jan 07, 2020 03:10am
Gen. Zia is the architect of the current Pakistan. Drugs, klashinkov, corruption, religious intolerance and linguistic riots all started in his era. Never able to recover after that.
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Jan 07, 2020 03:20am
A recent court decision has set all the untouchables on fire!
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Jan 07, 2020 03:27am
This shows the weakness of powers to be, How they are getting desperate.
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Jan 07, 2020 03:34am
Keep the good work Sir, truth is bitter !
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Jan 07, 2020 03:40am
Were these Ejaz's thugs in disguise?
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Jan 07, 2020 03:43am
Many years ago while returning from Pakistan I utilized my remaining Pakistani currency by purchasing this book from the Karachi airport bookseller. Initially it was a good read but when the author started describing the gory details of Zia's bedroom, I without any hesitation tossed this filth at Dubai airport garbage bin.
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Jan 07, 2020 03:49am
I would like to read this book and remind the son of late Gen, that according to the law of torts, and the information is part of law torts, one cannot the same a person who is no longer living. It is settled law in England and the law of torts as applicable in England are being taught here in the law colleges across the country.
I would therefore suggest that the lawyer should brush up his laws of defamation. Because it would be thrown out, even before the case is argued on merits.
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Jan 07, 2020 03:51am
Being an ex officer myself can relate to Sir Amir and can see why he has no fear of ISI as we know who works there and what is their calibre.
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Jan 07, 2020 04:15am
This guy has an illustrious carrier including in PAF.If people like him are not left alone by then who is safe?
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Jan 07, 2020 04:37am
Such acts are destructive to budding democracy and rule of law. As far as Zia's son
and his lawsuit are concerned, he is blissfully ignorant of the fact that there's nothing outside of Zia's own acts that can defame him more than what enormous damage he has brought to the country by violating his oath, subverting the constitution and overthrowing the people's elected government.. His was the darkest page in the history of Pakistan and hopefully, InshaAllah,not a fraction of such darkness shall ever visit the glorious land of Pakistan.
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Jan 07, 2020 04:40am
Lets buy the book, the damage that awful Zia ul Haq did to Pakistan society and culture is like Hitler, want more then the truth will keep coming out, Zia's end was decided by himself.
One cannot celebrate Zia's death but cannot condone his life either that caused 25000+ Palestinian refugees dead in camps (Jordan Black September massacre) plus 70000+ Pakistanis dead fighting terrorism, he accepted and imposed on the ordinary folk. Pakistanis still bear the scars of his laws and after effects, he destroyed a Paradise.
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Jan 07, 2020 05:16am
Very sad !!
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Jan 07, 2020 05:25am
"Gen Zia’s son demanding Rs1 billion for maligning the former military ruler's name... " Look at the nerve! He was a religious bigot who pushed Pakistan into becoming terorristan.
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Jan 07, 2020 05:35am
Not sure Why the author and the publisher stepped into forbidden territory.
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Jan 07, 2020 05:50am
Is it correct that work on atomic bomb was stopped at the end of Mr. Z. A. Bhuto regime. It was completed by Gen. Zia-ul-Haq.
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Jan 07, 2020 05:54am
I have this English version with me, and in all honesty it is very boring book.
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Jan 07, 2020 05:56am
Let the poor writer be! There is something to be said about freedom of expression.
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Jan 07, 2020 06:18am
a case of attention seeking perhaps!
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Jan 07, 2020 06:34am
He must be joking.
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Jan 07, 2020 06:36am
Nation must support Hanif sahib for writing the truth. Ijazul Huq is a failure leader and just trying to pass time
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Jan 07, 2020 06:49am
Why should anybody try to act on behalf of Zia whose tyrannical rule has brought misery, and cancer of extremism and terrorism which has cost thousands of precious lives. Thousands of our valiant soldiers have laid down their lives trying to eradicate the seeds of cancer sown by Zia.
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Jan 07, 2020 07:08am
In fascist states, intellectuals are considered the priority threat. Its not a good time to be intelligent in Pakistan!
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Jan 07, 2020 07:36am
Zia was the architect of today's Pakistan. The institutions still work for him. When the nation is driven by his vision we must respect him
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Jan 07, 2020 07:38am
Those mangos were very powerful which liberated the country from a vicissitude dictator.
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Jan 07, 2020 07:47am
@Malikone, agree with that. His other novels are just as boring. The Red Birds is particularly boring with the annoying and uneccasary charector of Mutt.
I have attended a number of literary festivals as well as book launches in Pakistan. I found the literary scene of Pakistani "English" writers is pretty much dependent on who you know rather than talent. It is a very tight knit community.
It also has a strong connection with Indian publishers, as almost all of them get published from India. This also explains why controversial subjects, especially involving the military are sure to be published and lauded.
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Jan 07, 2020 07:55am
Best book. Must read!
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Jan 07, 2020 09:00am
@Ajmal Hussain, common sense please if ZA time it was stopped and Zia completes it. Was there anyone else in the middle. ZAB started it and he was hanged for that
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Jan 07, 2020 09:00am
good point that ISI has better things to do to protect citizens from 'external' enemy of state
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Jan 07, 2020 09:26am
You are an ex forces person, a brilliant writer etc. then why create such conspiracy that ISI is after you. No where in the world people blame their armed forces for their misfortunes, but here in Pakistan every thing is blamed at armed forces and particularly on ISI, who are doing a great job protecting our country for various front.
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Jan 07, 2020 09:41am
What the hell is this? Are we a democracy??
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Jan 07, 2020 09:47am
The government should do everything it can to defend those who raided the publisher’s office and confiscated all the Urdu copies of “A Case of Exploding Mangoes” :D Defending dictators is the only job of this government!
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Jan 07, 2020 10:22am
@Malikone, Very true, the dry narrative is like reading poor news copy!
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Jan 07, 2020 10:32am
If it was in kindle-I could buy it on-line as living abroad . Mr. Author pl keep it in kindle sale. Thanks.
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Jan 07, 2020 10:50am
Musharraf and violent rule? Where did you get this from?
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Jan 07, 2020 10:56am
@Malikone,
"I have this English version with me, and in all honesty it is very boring book."
Actually it's excellent, and highly recommended for all Pakistanis to read.
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Jan 07, 2020 10:57am
"Violent rule of another military dictator"? Was Musharraf's rule that violent?
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Jan 07, 2020 10:59am
@Daud,
"Musharraf and violent rule? Where did you get this from?"
Welcome to the balanced, unbiased world of Dawn journalism - where black is white, night is day, and Musharraf is the sole culprit of absolutely all of Pakistan's (possibly the whole world's) problems.
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Jan 07, 2020 11:07am
They probably don't know that it is fiction....lol
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Jan 07, 2020 12:13pm
@Amir Shah, true.
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Jan 07, 2020 02:57pm
@M. Emad, what does he do?
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Jan 07, 2020 03:01pm
@SachBol , you are an excellent recorder of history.
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