Dawn, Pakistan
Was it really Imran Khan’s year or did Reham beat him to it? Find out here
In Coldplay’s words, let’s go back to the start.
Pakistan has had a rocky year on social media… yeah, it’s a fair amount to process.There was Imran Khan’s third marriage which broke the internet, the ‘Khud khana garam kar lo’ sign which was the final nail in the coffin for desi men — right in the feels, as one would call it, but most importantly, this year was a defining moment as celebs actively used their social media platforms for the greater good and stood up for social justice.
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, 2018 was a year to be reckoned with, it saw a significant change in which women rose above, stood their ground and demanded their rights be met, and to honour that we start with…
* Win – When local celebs came forward with their sexual abuse stories.
It takes tremendous courage to come forward with one’s MeToo story especially in a country so heavily obsessed with warped ideas about a woman’s izzat. So Frieha Altaf, Maheen Khan and Nadia Jamil need to be lauded for being among the first local celebs to share their childhood accounts of sexual abuse publicly.
The three woman posted their sexual abuse stories on Twitter in January this year, breaking the silence in Pakistan and encouraging other women to do the same as well as listen to their children and other victims.The movement had a snowball effect in Pakistan as a few months later Meesha Shafi shared her sexual harassment allegation against Ali Zaar on social media.
* Fail – When evidence emerged on social media that Patari’s co-founder had committed sexual misconduct
Patari’s co-founder and CEO Khalid Bajwa was accused of sexual misconduct by three women in April this year.
Patari cofounder Khalid Bajwa resigns as evidence of sexual misconduct surfaces
The women shared their accounts on social media and soon they were being circulated online. Patari immediately released an official statement online which read: “In light of recent events, Patari’s CEO Khalid Bajwa will be stepping down from his post with immediate effect.” And that an investigation was underway.
A few months later, Patari’s leadership resigned citing “it is a company where we can no longer work freely under the values that brought us to it – and which are now under threat.”
* Win – When Zara Noor Abbas clapped back at models for mocking her runway walk
Khamoshi actor Zara Noor Abbas walked the ramp for Fnk Asia at Fashion Week Pakistan and gave an energetic performance on stage. However, some chose to make fun of her walk.After the show pro model Areeba Habib put up a video of her colleagues Farwa and Javeria mocking Zara’s exuberant walk. What they probably weren’t expecting was Zara’s clapback.
The actor was a good sport about the video but didn’t shy away from calling the models out for their mockery, and in return, Zara got a lot of support from a number of people, including her husband Asad Siddiqui, fellow celebs Kubra Khan and Sonia Mishal — and Areeba also eventually apologised.
* Fail – When Momina Mustehsan defended ‘Ko Ko Korina’ by quoting Uncle Ben from Spider Man
Let’s forget the fact that Coke Studio’s rendition of Ko Ko Korina created a nationwide hue and cry, what really created clamour was the clash between PTI’s Minister of Human Rights Shireen Mazari and Momina Mustehsan over the former calling the song “horrendous” and a “massacre” of a classic.
Mazari’s criticism did not go well with Momina who pointed out that Mazari as Pakistan’s Minister of Human Rights should appreciate Coke Studio for giving artists a platform to exercise their freedom of expression.
Mazari didn’t appreciate her office being brought into a non political matter and said it was her “personal opinion,” to which Momina showed her just how her bashing of the ‘Ko Ko Korina’ cover was, in fact, a human rights issue.
* Win – When Imran Khan’s third marriage was all Twitter talked about
PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s third marriage was a national affair, though nobody was invited (boohoo!). Khan tied the knot with Bushra Maneka, a respected pir [faith healer] in “a simple ceremony” in February and Twitter erupted with comments – rightfully beygani shaadi mein Abdullah dewana.
The royal wedding didn’t get as much attention in Pakistan as IK’s marriage, of course his personal life is of national interest and everyone feels the need to weigh in on it. Hell, even our neighbour’s covered the event.
Although many were genuinely happy for the now PM, some were critical of his choice to marry a veiled woman, to those we say, Bushra Imran’s veil is none of your business.
* Fail – When Reham Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi had a Twitter spat over her new book
It started with Hamza Ali Abbasi claiming to have read Reham Khan’s book and basically calling it garbage, and accusing her of furthering the agenda of PTI rival PML-N.
Next, Reham and Hamza each posted what they alleged were genuinely incriminating email exchanges of the other’s.Throughout the fight, Reham was savage, telling Hamza to ‘bring it on’. It was enough for Hamza to leak contents of the ‘manuscript’ he had of Reham’s book. And while he was adamant about showing the world what her book says, what he really wants to know is why Reham is being so cruel to him.
* Win – When Pakistan lauded the PIA pilots who became the first female crew to land a plane in Gilgit
Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) Captain Maryam Masood and First Officer Shumaila Mazhar made history by becoming the first women to fly an aircraft via the difficult Islamabad-Gilgit route.
The Islamabad-to-Gilgit flight is desribed by PIA as a “very challenging and requires a lot of precision and technique” and the duo’s success went viral over social media.
* Fail: When desi men had a MAJOR meltdown over the ‘Khud khana garam kar lo’ sign
What is it about a sign telling men to do their own work that upsets them?
At the Aurat March held in Karachi on Women’s Day, a sign which read Khud kahan garam kar lo received unpleasant flak online from desi men, more like outrage. It came to a point where these men resorted to insults, abuse and ignorant comments.All of this had us scratching our heads. Thankfully some women and men on social media clapped back using logic.