Pakistan's Art Scene Attacks Taliban, Suicide Bombings

"Pretty woman, pretty woman ... ... take my heart, take my heart take my heart." One of Pakistan's biggest pop sensations is taking on one of its biggest challenges: terrorism. Abrar ul Haq's new video, "Remember Allah and Stop," shows how young boys are motivated to become suicide bombers. "Remember Allah, because all of us are going to die one day." Throughout the song, Abrar keeps begging the boy to stop and consider the consequences of his actions. I feel bad whenever I hear about suicidal attacks and people dying. And I thought it was my responsibility to contribute in whatever little capacity. The Taliban's rise in Pakistan once brought all cultural activities to a halt. But now, the art scene has started fighting back. "Once again, your desire is calling me." Recently, Lahore hosted a four-day fashion event. The "fashion week" was the largest-ever public gathering at a fashion event in Lahore. It took place despite threats and security concerns. We're making an economic, social and political statement at the moment, because of the way international media is particularly focused on Pakistan and Talibanization. The fashion industry's statement is a very powerful statement. That sentiment is shared by theater icon, Madiha Gauhar. I think it's very important to come up with something which is a comment on whatever is happening in Pakistan these days: Talibanization, rising fanaticism and fundamentalism. Gohar's weapon against the Taliban is laughter. Her latest play is entitled "Burqawaganza." We also wanted to do it not in a grim manner, as the topic would suggest, but as something which is light-hearted. Only women wear the veil known as a burqa. But it shrouds both the female and male actors in this play. The message: In a Talibanized society, a veil is cast over the freedoms of choice and expression that Pakistani men and women enjoy today. Basically, it's a take on the whole concept of covering up a woman and issues of fundamentalism, issues of curtailment of women's rights and their empowerment, growing intolerance within society. These messages in plays, spectacles and songs seem to be having an effect on the public. Such songs should be made so that people can get a good message. And we should not be frightened of the Taliban. We should face them. We are Pakistani. We are a brave nation. In singer Abrar's song, there is a happy ending: the boy embraces society, and refuses to blow himself up. In the end, I have tried to give a ray of hope. A positive ray of hope to all those who are maybe in process. Yes, my friends told me not to do it. They thought it was very risky also. But my family members and my elder brothers and myself, we were convinced that this is something that we have to say. Abrar-ul-Haq, who has released multiple music albums and countless hits over the past ten years, says this was his most challenging song yet. In real life, these efforts come at a price: numerous personal threats. One singer has been murdered. But playwright Gauhar is adamant to continue. One has to be fearless, one has to have courage and one has to take risks, because if you stop taking risks and just shut up and close the doors and sit inside your home, I think that is a very meaningless existence.