We have all grown up listening to the music of dear old Abrar ul Haq.
Who doesn’t remember dancing to his music and jamming to the likes of Bilo and Majajan.
But musicians in Pakistan do not tend to stick to the same field for long thanks to lack of a viable career in the creative arts
Abrar is also of the same streak but he chose the path less taken, and that is politics.
He is well known for his association with PTI and the bandwagon calling out for a change in the country.
While all of that is okay, what is not okay, according to many Pakistanis, is his selective humanity.
Here’s how
And then there’s this
Prominent member of Pakistan's @PTIofficial and singer @AbrarUlHaqPK releases video message in support of Islamists who want restrictions on minority #Ahmadiyya Muslims pic.twitter.com/OdJ4Hdakcm
— Rabwah Times (@RabwahTimes) November 11, 2017
Do you see what’s wrong?
According to Pakistanis, the stance that he has taken in both of the videos is very hypocritical. The reason being that out of feelings of Pan-Islamism, he is ready to stand up for the Muslims of Rohingya but is not ready to stand up for the minority community in his own country. He is advocating for strict action against them, despite knowing how sensitive the issue is and how eager our people are to take justice into their own hands. This, they believe, is selective humanity. It means that the person accused of it only wants to save a particular kind of beings and thinks that the rest, who are facing violence and scrutiny, deserve what they are going through.
How is that hypocritical?
A person who genuinely cares for humanity and believes in principles of peace, diversity, coexistence and nonviolence never resorts to differentiating between people who deserve help and people who don’t purely based on their belief.
Even if someone does this, why is this wrong?
Religion is a very private matter. Offering help based on belief is not only wrong but against the spirit that religion promotes. Wouldn’t it be best to leave matters to the Almighty – to decide whether or not an individual is Muslim enough?
Another thing to consider
Right now, people professing to such beliefs are in majority. But what if you are not in majority one day and people choose to indulge in violence against you. Do you think that that’s a good position to be in? Because remember, what goes around comes around!
Here’s what the Twitter sphere thought of his statements and it seems people are no longer Billo fans
Due credit to .@PTIofficial. I mean it’s not really easy to gather bigots, misogynists, and boot-polish-aay under one banner. PTI does it well. #AbrarUlHaq #Ahmadis
— Jaffer Abbas Mirza (@jafferamirza) November 12, 2017
In America, we see celebrities like @Madonna & @MarkRuffalo express support for minority Muslims. In Pakistan, celebrities either stay silent or open express support for Sunni supremacists/extremists against minority Ahmadi Muslims. Shame on @AbrarUlHaqPK https://t.co/YCAAofOfgU
— Kashif N Chaudhry (@KashifMD) November 12, 2017
Run, Billo, run, or Abrar-ul-Haq will declare you an infidel.
— Nadeem Farooq Paracha (@NadeemfParacha) November 12, 2017
When the extreme right gains, the center moves right. This is an old truth and is evidenced by people like abrar ul haq scurrying to gain favour with labbaik
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) November 12, 2017
@AbrarUlHaqPK Shame on you. One expected better from you. How is persecuting an already persecuting community help Pakistan? https://t.co/VAYBLddXeF
— Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) November 12, 2017
Hypocrisy runs in the blood of Pakistani politicians & this time its singer turned politician Abrar ul Haq. I used to be fan of his music but after his support for terrorists & hate preachers, i am done. "Billo is dead for me now" pic.twitter.com/A5WuPRNE7F
— ANNIE (@bluntfactor) November 12, 2017
Its not the love of Islam but Hate of @betterpakistan that force you to say this and support intolerance. Use of religion in politics is the wrong way of cheapest form of politics.
— B.A.Mirza (@BilalSays_) November 12, 2017
Do you think people are rightly pointing out hypocrisy? Let us know what you think.
Cover image via: dunyanews.tv