Karachi’s assistant commissioner Hazim Bangwar is telling everyone in Pakistan that he is a man, not a woman or trans person. He is also giving lessons on gender stereotypes.
The singer-turned-commissioner, 29, is actually responding to all the hate he got after his appointment in North Nazimbad. He became a local celebrity, but screenshots of his alleged tweet from the 2018 pride march holding a rainbow flag started making the rounds.
Eunuch, gay, ‘sissy’ were some of the insults hurled at Bangwar. Because of his distinctive gender-fluid fashion sense, he has often been called ‘transgender’ and ‘feminine’ on social media. A Twitter user even questioned his appointment. She tweeted “He doesn’t qualify physically, emotionally and mentally to serve. If real men live in Karachi, revert his appointment. Shame on this society. Don’t let [him] promote #LGBTQ agenda.”
At a press conference, Bangwar clarified that his ‘transgender’ label is a misconception and that he had “never held a colourful flag”.
He further added, “I am not a transgender. I am not a woman. I’m male. However, I did find the accusations offensive, not to me personally, but [due to the fact] that the term ‘woman’ was used as an insult. By doing so, you reinforce a stereotype that being a woman is bad. Are you promoting the stereotype that being a woman or the third gender is bad?”
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Problem with the personal
Hazim Bangwar is a ‘man’ donning many hats. He is also a singer and social media influencer often hailed for breaking stereotypes associated with bureaucracy.
While his work is often applauded, it is his personal life and preferences that have drawn both intrigue and irk from many Pakistanis.
The Twitter user who posted the photo with Bangwar reportedly holding the pride flag said they had ‘no beef with the new AC Nazimabad and his lifestyle but [his] open endorsement of LGBTQ is simply unpalatable’. The tweet, now deleted, was posted by Hazim on his Instagram story, and the internet was quick to react. While most came out in Bangwar’s support, others criticised it and called him a liar. Many also asked the Twitter user to apologise to Bangwar for being “sexist”.
Adviser to chief minister of Sindh Murtaza Wahab also tweeted in support of Hazim, saying, “People should be judged on [their] work, not personal lives.” Wahab also called Bangwar an “efficient” and “compassionate officer”.
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Road to global stardom
Hazim Bangwar holds a degree in fashion and marketing from a UK university. During that time, he embarked on a singing career after American songwriter Evan Rogers heard his demos. In 2013, Bangwar released his debut mixtape One Man Army. The main song in the album, Run Em, was then sampled by other artists, including Havana Brown. Bangwar has also worked with T-Pain, Jason Derulo, and Nicki Minaj.
In November 2019, he launched his debut single Haram that ranked no. 5 in South Korea, no. 1 in Hungary, and no. 1 in India.
In February 2020, Bangwar released his second single Hell Ya that made him widely popular in Ghana, France, South Korea, and Austria. He published his debut Urdu song Tujhko Bhulaya in 2021.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)