New Delhi: A political crisis in Pakistan is the best time for a video-meme? Why not if it gives people a good laugh. When Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa speaks in Kaleen Bhaiya’s voice and PM Imran Khan dubs as Munna, the two central characters of AmazonPrime Video’s hit crime drama Mirzapur, it is bound to be a rib-tickler.
A short clip created by Murshid News and edited by Waqas Abbasi of Pakistan replaced the characters in Mirzapur’s second season trailer with Pakistan’s military and political elite whilst keeping the dialogues intact. And it has turned out to be a perfect fit, depicting Pakistan’s current political situation.
Gaddi pe chahe hum rahein ya Muna, niyam same hoga. Mirzapur season 3. pic.twitter.com/k78is25rW7
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) March 30, 2022
Know the context and you will understand how well this meme, that has gone viral, sits with the current political situation in Pakistan.
In Pakistan, the twists and turns of the no-trust vote against the Imran Khan government in the National Assembly continues, with allies Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) withdrawing support to the government on Wednesday.
Soon after these parties pledged allegiance to the opposition camp, reports emerged that Imran Khan would address the nation. Reports also claimed that the PM would resign to save face. However, after a meeting with General Bajwa, the address to the nation was cancelled.
Encapsulating this political saga and games being played in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, this Mirzapur meme nails drama unfolding in Pakistan.
Social media reactions
The trending video has brought several reactions on Twitter.
Rezaul Hasan Laskar, the foreign affairs editor of Hindustan Times, someone who has also reported from Pakistan in the past, shared the video asking, “who made it”. He tagged Murtaza Solangi, executive editor of Pakistan’s NayaDaur Media and Kamran Yousaf, a journalist with the TV channel Express News Pakistan.
Who made this? #Pakistan #voteofnoconfidence
cc @murtazasolangi @Kamran_Yousaf @umashankarsinghpic.twitter.com/jBgVUw4ToO— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) March 30, 2022
The makers of the meme replied to Laskar’s tweet—taking credit for the video and thanking him for the share.
I made this. Thanks to all for your compliments ❣️
— Murshid News (@waqasabbasi555) March 30, 2022
A Twitter user described the editors of the video as “genius.”
To the video editer. ? ? pic.twitter.com/9wXwoyhidT
— Papa Ka Ladla ?? (@MaaKaLadla13) March 30, 2022
Another user even drew a parallel between Imran Khan and Navjot Singh Sidhu, who recently lost his seat in the Punjab assembly elections, saying that they both can now do “IPL commentary”. However far-fetched that may seem.
Gaddi pe chahe hum rahein ya Muna, niyam same hoga. Mirzapur season 3. pic.twitter.com/k78is25rW7
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) March 30, 2022
Replacing Mirzapur with Pakistan
All the important stakeholders in the current no-trust vote saga—Imran Khan, Qamar Javed Bajwa, Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto, amongst others feature in the video.
Murshid News’ edited video starts with a voice-over from Mirzapur where Kaleen Bhaiya, a local strongman in the show, says, “Jo aaya hai wo jaaeage bhi. Bas marzi hamari hai (Whoever has come, will go too, the decision will be mine)”.
While the voice of Kaleen Bhaiya from the show remains, the video shows army chief Bajwa speaking to Imran Khan, instead. Perhaps, fittingly pointing to the army’s control over power in Pakistan.
In another scene swap, Bajwa can be heard telling Imran Khan that he will assure him of all the votes needed. While in the show, Kaleen Bhaiya informs the chief minister of his support. Given the larger context of the no-trust vote, the characters have been aptly swapped.
Nawaz Sharif features as Guddu Pandit from the show. Guddu has a rivalry with Kaleen Bhaiya and comes back in the second season to take revenge. Drawing parallels, the no-trust vote can be seen as a chance for a comeback for Sharif.