New Delhi: Pakistani TV presenter Anwar Maqsood has hit the establishment with his sharp satire and the message hasn’t been lost on anyone, with some demanding a ban on him. What followed his college visit in Karachi, where he aired comments criticising the military and politicians, was a barrage of phone calls at his residence inquiring whether he had been abducted by the state.
At the event in Karachi on 5 December, Maqsood said, “The most dignified people in the Pakistan Army are in the Navy—Kyunki wo doob ke marr jaate hain (Because they drown and die).”
“You will find illegitimate children everywhere in the world, but you’ll only find an illegitimate government in Pakistan,” continued the 85-year-old satirist adding that “The constitution has been prostituted here.”
Soon after the event, reports of his alleged disappearance flooded social media. #ReleaseAnwarMaqsood was trending.
Some Pakistanis can’t understand why ‘his boomer humour’ is being discussed in the first place.
But it seems, for others, Maqsood’s brand of humour, which often targets the establishment, had finally crossed a line.
One X user remarked, “Anwar Maqsood is the court jester in the darbar of Khaki Raj. The day he gets abducted, we’ll know we’re in a situation worse than Zia’s rule.” Some, however, weren’t so forgiving.
One particularly angry X user wanted him banned, “It’s time someone stopped Anwar Maqsood from speaking. If not, he should be arrested and used as an example. No apologies should be entertained.”
Due to rumours of his abduction, Maqsood had to issue a clarification after relatives and fans frantically called his home to check on him.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Urdu festival on 8 December, Maqsood assured everyone that he had not been kidnapped. He also addressed the criticism about his Navy comment, apologising for any offence caused and reiterating that he would never mock martyrs.
Many Pakistan also came in defence of his humour.
“It’s a sad reality when the people of #Pakistan can’t even take a joke. #AnwarMaqsood’s satire stings too much for some, but what’s worse is the silence on real issues. Attacks on free speech are common—it’s only a miracle he hasn’t been arrested yet”, one X user wrote.
She added in another tweet, “Meanwhile, our peaceful protests are met with shoot-on-sight orders, while the army attacks our people for speaking out. I honestly feel like Maqsood’s humor hits too close to home for this cowardly regime.”
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False alarms
In March, too, rumours of his abduction made waves until his son, singer Bilal Maqsood posted a video of his father cooking biryani, saying, “If I were injured, bones broken, who’d be making biryani? I’m cooking this myself!”
Maqsood had also issued a statement about his well-being.
“I am 84 years old. I won’t survive after a slap. How could I be subjected to a heavy beating? It didn’t happen. I am fine,” he added.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)