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KARACHI, March 20 — An axe-wielding mob chases a terrified group; a daring Pakistani television drama has for the first time tackled the deeply sensitive issue of the dozens murdered for alleged blasphemy.
Islam is the official religion in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and accusations of insulting religious sentiments can easily incite mob violence.
Blasphemy is an incendiary charge, and the issue is rarely discussed by major media broadcasters due to security concerns.
But producer Sultana Siddiqui challenged that with an 11-part television drama, which has earned praise since it began airing in December for handling a taboo topic with sensitivity.
“This issue has not been raised before because of fear,” Siddiqui, founder of the Hum Network media company, told AFP.
Her drama “Tan Man Neelo Neel”, or “Bruises on Body and Soul”, tells the stories of people in a small Pakistani town, and has generated millions of views and widespread praise on social media.
“I took the risk in a careful manner,” she said. “That’s why people appreciated it.”
‘Malicious disinformation’
In the drama, the case of blasphemy centres around a character who falsely claims a dance performance takes place in a mosque, rather than the abandoned mansion it happened in.
That storyline of false allegations is an echo of reality.
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