When the 'aalim' met his match

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published July 02, 2012 |  By A Woman

SAN JOSE, CA: Back in 2005 when Geo TV’s Aalim Online host Dr. Amir Liaquat Hussain was the Minister of State of Religious Affairs in the Musharraf government, I chanced to come across this shameless individual at Dubai Airport and then again at Karachi Airport.

Let me tell you what he and his entourage said and did.

Dressed in an expensive sherwani and grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, the doctor came charging into the main terminal as if he was entering a boxing ring, waving vigorously and chatting with whoever caught his eye or fancy.

Then smoothly and efficiently, his handlers maneuvered him into the queue specifically designated for women and families. Here he continued to progress to the head of the sizeable waiting column of women and children until his thugs tried to push me out of the way.

“Minister sahib kay leeyay jagaa choraain. Aaagay say hatto (Make way for the minister. Move aside),” said one particularly obnoxious individual with a bristly moustache dressed in a chocolate safari suit.

This was just too much.  Tired after being in the queue for the better part of an hour and having to take care of my daughter who was just two at the time, I was in no mood for such bullying tactics. I snapped.

“Oye... This is Dubai, not Pakistan. If this guy is a minister then he is a minister in Pakistan. Not here. And what is he doing in the women’s and families’ queue. Does he have no shame? Is he a woman?”

Shamelessly the doctor pretended not to hear a word. He mumbled something under his breath. His guards on the other hand looked on worriedly as I gestured to one of the on-duty shurtas (police officers) to come to my aid.

“Jab Pakistan poncho gay phir tum say baaat karein gay (We will speak to you when we get to Pakistan),” said one of the men. After that, very quickly the ‘aalim’ and his group melted away into the crowd. When I next saw them they were at the rear end of one of the general queues looking rather aggravated.

In the plane I did not see the so-called ‘aalim’ and neither did I see his buddies. However, as soon as I reached Karachi I began to regret tangling with his group in Dubai.

This overdressed show-off was greeted warmly by another group of men, two of whom were armed. There were policemen to escort him out of the airport.  There were fans who garlanded him.

He was getting the kind of protocol I thought only presidents got.

Then just as I almost reached the immigration control desk, I suddenly realized he had stopped and was looking in my direction. He said something to the men and they all laughed. I almost fainted, recalling their threat at Dubai Airport.

But then he moved on, swept forward in the movement of his adoring fans and patrons.

I guess I was lucky just to be the recipient of some ‘smart’ remark from the state minister, some rude laughter, and nothing worse.

Earlier this year I saw the video in which he shamelessly says hurtful and mean things about a woman who had sought his religious advice for her troubles. He had callously laughed and joked with his fellow maulvi. I was disgusted.
A man once came to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and asked: "O Messenger of Allah, who is the person who has the greatest right on me with regards to kindness and attention?" He replied: "Your mother." "Then who?" The Prophet replied: "Your mother." "Then who?" He replied: "Your mother." "Then who?" He replied: "Your father."

Respect of women is a quintessential part of Islam. If this so-called expert on religion does not know this much than what is he an aalim of?

(This piece was sent in by a JournalismPakistan.com reader from the United States. She requested not to be identified)
 

Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning

 April 11, 2025:  Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.

AJK government registers case against newspaper and staff

 April 10, 2025:  The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.

Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges FIA threats, possible arrest over reporting

 April 08, 2025:  Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.

Noorani’s missing brothers: Court orders IG to produce individuals

 April 07, 2025:  The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.

Journalist Farhan Mallick granted bail

 April 07, 2025:  Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.

Ghulam Abbas Shah joins Discover Pakistan as Head of Programming

 April 03, 2025:  Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.

PFUJ condemns Pakistani journalists' visit to Israel as an ethical violation

 April 02, 2025:  The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.

Can films fight terrorism? Dawn raises doubts

 March 30, 2025:  Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?