LAHORE: One of the Middle East’s most celebrated contemporary artists, who recently showcased at the much talked about desert X AlUla’s inaugural art biennale in Saudi Arabia, Wael Shawky, brought his extraordinary work to Pakistan for the first time at the Lahore Biennale-- on display between Jan. 26 to Feb. 29.
Shawky’s spectacular ‘Cabaret Crusades’ installation along the walkways of the Lahore Fort Summer Palace draws on site-specific constructions and videos, playfully harnessing the boundaries between history and storytelling. This is the first time a platform for this kind of cross-cultural dialogue has been created by showcasing an internationally acclaimed artist in the backdrop of a local historical landmark.
“The summer palace was a gift,” Shawky told Arab News on Saturday.
“It’s incredible to see a Muslim city with a long history of transitions and transformations. (Lahore possesses) complexity that may be difficult to see in other Muslim Arab cities. At the same time, Lahore’s culture plays a big role in the Arab Gulf contemporary cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait...” he added.
Pakistan is not new to the Egyptian artist, who gained recognition when he gave a voice to Pakistani workers in the UAE through his award-winning musical project ‘Dictums 10:120,’ originally performed for the 2013 Sharjah Biennial.
After attending the 10th Sharjah Biennale in 2011, Shawky realized that there was an unintentional disconnect-- the majority of the South Asian workforce employed in setting up the event was missing at the public events.
Therefore he came up with the idea of an artwork to highlight their cultural roots; a project that eventually took him to Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi. After a series of workshops held in Sharjah over two years, translating fragments of curatorial talks from an earlier bienniale into Urdu, and asking workers to sift through the language for meaningful phrases- the output was eventually translated into an Urdu qawwali with the help of renowned professional Pakistani qawwals, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad.
This sound piece, which examined the relationship between arts establishments and local communities, stems from Shawky’s belief that the main purpose of biennales is to bridge the gap between the local community and contemporary art.
“Working with Farid Ayyaz and Abu Muhammad was so special, it was a way to give a huge Pakistani community in UAE a voice and a dominancy over and inside art institution,” Shawky said.
“The reaction was big and positive, I think it was one of the most successful performances I have ever done,” he said.
As for his work at the Lahore Biennale 2020, Shawky uses his filming of puppet-theater to tell the story of the Crusades. In his film series Cabaret Crusades, based on a book by the French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf, the story of the war is told from an Arab perspective. In 2011, the first part of the trilogy, The Horror Show File (2010), made Shawky famous overnight.
A large cluster of master professionals, from native classical singers, craftsmen, and puppeteers to a full film crew, crafted these intelligible videos on elaborate sets. The magnificent, handcrafted puppets are more than enough to hypnotize the viewer emotionally and intellectually.
The hundreds of Arabic speaking puppets are clad in sumptuously oriental clothing: embroidered capes, velvet corsets or metal armor. Shawky uses a bizarre mixture of the medieval and science fiction. Puppet theater is a popular art form in Pakistan as well, but a film made from this art as opposed to a live theater show, enthralled the audience.
Each video uses different puppets and a new approach, but overall the effect is dance-like, the camera movement invigorating, the sound wisely minimal, and the songs captivating. With each successive video, Shawky expertly juxtaposes historical narrative with the childlike world of puppetry, solemnity with gullibility, terror with humor, horror with entertainment, to emphasize events that were crucial to the development of an Arab Muslim identity. Shawky does not present Arabs as victims but as active players responsible for their fate.
“In Lahore, the audience were also celebrating Cabaret Crusades, I think mainly, because I care about details and I work a lot with historical Indian miniatures as a base for my film scenography,” Shawky said.
The artist’s ambitious, multilayered film renditions look at the ways in which history and folklores are recorded, highlighting the unreliability of cultural memory, while offering critical evaluations on our current narratives of uncertainty and change.
At first sight, the videos seem like a history lesson for children, but the project eventually raises essential questions about the history of identity and consequently the role of history itself. In his words, Shawky makes a critical attempt “to translate this experience as a society that lives on their ancestor’s history.”
As with all of Shawky’s work, these hauntingly beautiful videos navigate the territory between truth and myth to raise questions about history, culture and the effect of globalization on contemporary societies.
Arab artist Wael Shawky retells history at Lahore Biennale
https://arab.news/ntj6a
Arab artist Wael Shawky retells history at Lahore Biennale
- Shawky uses his filming of puppet-theater to tell the story of the Crusades in video installations at the Lahore Fort
- Says Lahore’s culture plays big role in Arab Gulf cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait
Pakistan arrests suspects in visa fraud targeting job seekers hoping to reach Gulf, Europe
- All three suspects, including a woman, took large sums from people before going into hiding
- FIA arrested them from different cities after they failed to deliver on promised overseas jobs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday arrested three individuals, including a woman, for allegedly defrauding job seekers by promising employment in Gulf countries and Europe, state media reported.
The arrests were made during raids in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Multan, and Lodhran. The suspects, identified as Abid Hussain, Hira Noor and Ajmal, are accused of collecting large sums from citizens in exchange for fake overseas job arrangements.
“These suspects were arrested for their involvement in visa fraud and human smuggling,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said, adding all three went into hiding after failing to deliver on their promises.
The report further said Abid Hussain received Rs800,000 ($2,800) from one victim for a job in Saudi Arabia. Hira Noor allegedly took over Rs2.9 million ($10,150) from another individual, promising work in Europe. Ajmal is accused of charging Rs400,000 ($1,400) to arrange employment in Dubai.
The arrests come amid renewed efforts by Pakistan to crack down on human smuggling networks after a series of deadly boat tragedies in recent years involving Pakistani nationals trying to reach Europe as undocumented migrants.
Despite enforcement drives, criminal syndicates continue to exploit economically vulnerable individuals seeking better opportunities abroad.
Pakistan calls for united Muslim strategy to counter Israel, pledges diplomatic support to Iran
- Defense Minister Khawaja Asif urges Muslim countries to sever diplomatic ties with Israel
- Iran refuses to join nuclear negotiations with the United States while Israeli strikes continue
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday urged Muslim nations to adopt a unified strategy to counter Israel, warning that failure to act collectively would leave them vulnerable, as he expressed full diplomatic support to Iran in a speech to the National Assembly following Israeli strikes.
Israel launched surprise attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities in the early hours of Friday amid Tehran’s negotiations with Washington over its nuclear program. The strikes killed several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, according to Iranian media, and also caused civilian casualties.
Israel, at war in the region since October 2023, initially launched a military campaign against Gaza following a Hamas assault, which the Palestinian group said was retaliation for decades of oppression. Since then, the Israeli government has expanded its military operations to neighboring Muslim states such as Syria and Lebanon before targeting Iran.
Pakistan condemned the Israeli action and said Iran had the right to defend itself under international law.
“Just as Israel is currently targeting Yemen, Iran, and Palestine, if the Muslim world does not unite today and continues to prioritize its own interests and agendas, then everyone’s turn will come,” Asif told lawmakers.
“An OIC meeting should be convened, and all Muslim countries must come together to devise a strategy through which Israel can be confronted collectively,” he continued. “There is a need for an initiative that reflects the unity of the Islamic world. Wherever there are diplomatic ties with Israel in the Muslim world, they should be severed.”
The Pakistani minister added the Muslim world remained “militarily vulnerable” and voiced what he described as Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with Iran.
Later in the day, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told the assembly Pakistan had presented a “robust position” at the United Nations Security Council a day earlier, where it denounced the Israeli strikes.
He said Iran’s permanent representative at the world body had acknowledged and praised Pakistan’s support.
Tarar reiterated that under the UN Charter, Iran had the right to self-defense and emphasized that Pakistan had consistently condemned the suffering of Palestinians.
“The Palestinian cause is close to our hearts,” he said. “We have always raised our voice for our Palestinian brothers and sisters at every international forum.”
The Iranian foreign ministry announced earlier in the day it would no longer take part in planned nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, calling them “meaningless” while Israeli attacks continued.
“It is obvious that in such circumstances and until the Zionist regime’s aggression against the Iranian nation stops, it would be meaningless to participate in dialogue with a party that is the biggest supporter and accomplice of the aggressor,” an Iranian spokesperson said according to international wire agencies.
Israel’s defense minister also warned “Tehran will burn” if Iran continued to launch missiles at Israeli cities.
Iran had retaliated on Friday night by launching a barrage of missiles at Israel, with explosions lighting up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
A day earlier, Pakistan’s envoy to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, condemned Israel’s strike on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, calling it a violation of international law.
“Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter,” he said, urging all sides to avoid further escalation and emphasizing the need to resolve tensions through diplomacy.
Pakistan PM calls for quick EV policy with stakeholder input to promote clean transport
- Shehbaz Sharif seeks ‘priority measures’ to promote electric motorcycles, scooters, cars and buses
- He says charging stations and battery-swapping centers must be ensured to strengthen EV rollout
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government on Saturday pledged to promote electric vehicles (EVs) across all segments of transport, with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif calling for a national policy on the subject to be finalized in consultation with stakeholders.
The move comes amid a steady rise in EV adoption in a market long dominated by Japanese automakers such as Suzuki, Toyota and Honda. Increasingly, Chinese and Korean brands are entering the space, with electric vehicles becoming more and more visible in cities like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
The government is hoping to ride this momentum to cut fuel imports and reduce emissions.
“Priority measures will be taken for the promotion of electric motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers, cars and buses,” the prime minister said while chairing a meeting in Lahore to discuss the adoption of EVs.
The draft Electric Vehicles Policy 2025 was reviewed at the meeting, with Sharif calling for its urgent finalization “in consultation with all stakeholders” before being presented to the cabinet.
“Charging stations and battery-swapping stations must be ensured,” he said during the meeting. “Industries will also be facilitated to increase the manufacturing capacity of two- and three-wheelers.”
While EVs offer a way to reduce the country’s petroleum import bill and carbon footprint, the lack of infrastructure, frequent power outages and limited financing options remain key impediments to their widespread adoption and scale-up.
Yet industry experts believe existing players in Pakistan’s auto market will face stiff competition from various EV brands, with many seeing electric vehicles as poised to consolidate their place in the domestic market.
Pakistan delegation in Brussels says Islamabad can develop counterterror partnership with Delhi
- India blames Pakistan for supporting “terrorist” attacks in the part of disputed Kashmir it governs
- Islamabad, Washington thwarted attacks in Pakistan, US and Europe, says head of delegation
ISLAMABAD: The head of a delegation visiting Brussels to present Pakistan’s point of view regarding the country’s recent military standoff with India said on Saturday that Islamabad can develop a “phenomenal” counterterror partnership with Delhi, similar to the one it has with Washington.
India blames Pakistan for arming and funding militants who carry out subversive activities in the part of disputed Kashmir it governs, an allegation Islamabad has always denied. The two countries engaged in a military confrontation for four days last month after India accused Pakistan of supporting an attack at the Pahalgam tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in the attack.
Pakistan enjoys counterterror cooperation with several countries, including the US, which includes intelligence sharing and other forms of coordination to thwart militant attacks. The head of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Kurilla, this week praised Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counterterrorism efforts during a testimony.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is the head of the Pakistani delegation, pointed out that the US and Pakistan have thwarted “terrorist attacks” in Europe, the US and Pakistan through counter-terror coordination.
“Will we be more effectively able to combat terror if India and Pakistan sat together and coordinated, conducted intelligence sharing,” Bhutto Zardari asked in response to a question.
Citing Kurilla’s statement, Bhutto Zardari said Islamabad can develop a counter-terror partnership with New Delhi similar to the one it enjoyed with Washington.
“We can develop that phenomenal partnership with India as well,” he added.
He lamented that there was no cooperation or coordination between the two nuclear-armed nations on combating “terrorism,” adding that the two countries last had a dialogue on counter-terror in 2012.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the nine-member diplomatic group last month, headed by Bhutto Zardari, who is a former foreign minister and the head of the Pakistan Peoples Party.
He has been leading a team to visits in New York, Washington DC, London and Brussels since June 2. Another delegation, led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, has visited Moscow.
While the ceasefire between the two countries continues to remain in place, tensions continue to simmer as India says it is holding in abeyance a decades-old water-sharing treaty with Pakistan.
Islamabad had said after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty that it considered any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan to be an “act of war.”
About 80 percent of Pakistani farms depend on the Indus system, as do nearly all hydropower projects serving the country of some 250 million.
Pakistan and India, bitter rivals, have fought two out of three wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir that they both claim in full but govern only parts of.
Pakistan says 700 army personnel killed in militant attacks in last 2 years
- Pakistan has suffered a surge in militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces recently
- Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif blames New Delhi for supporting militant outfits in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Around 700 army personnel have been killed in various militant attacks over the past two years, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Saturday, accusing India of supporting terror outfits in the country.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since November 2022 in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces bordering Iran and Afghanistan. In KP, the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) outfit has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against law enforcers.
In Balochistan, separatist ethnic Baloch militant groups demand independence from the state, accusing Islamabad of denying locals a share in the province’s mineral resources. Islamabad denies the allegations.
“In the past two years, 700 of our soldiers have been martyred,” Asif told lawmakers during a televised parliamentary session. “Our civilians have been martyred. Several districts of a province of ours are being targeted by terrorism.”
The minister said that militant outfits such as the TTP or the separatist Baloch Liberation Army are “agents of India,” alleging that they were fighting New Delhi’s war on Pakistani soil.
“Any person who even has a speck of sympathy toward them is not a Pakistani,” Asif said, vowing that Islamabad would win its war against militancy.
India and Pakistan have traded allegations of supporting militant groups for years. New Delhi blames Islamabad for supporting militant outfits who carry out attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir, an allegation that Pakistan has always rejected.
The two countries engaged in a military confrontation for days last month after India attacked Pakistan with missiles, accusing it of supporting an April 22 attack in the Pahalgam tourist resort in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan denied the allegations and called for an international, credible probe into the incident.
The defense minister expressed solidarity with Iran over Israel’s recent attacks against it, vowing to extend support to the neighboring country.
“In this hour of trial, we are with them in every way,” Asif said. “Whatever help they need at the international level, at the United Nations or any other institution or at the Islamic conference, we will defend their interests there.”
