Islamabad: The media was taken for a ride after being barred with an ‘excuse’ from the coverage of a multi-media presentation of selected plays with the activist playwright and co-founder of Ajoka Theatre Group, Shahid Nadeem, organised at the National Art Gallery here on Friday.

The event was planned by the Asian Study Group and prior invitations were sent to the media. However, on Friday the organisers announced that the event is postponed due to some unavoidable reasons. But after an initial query, ‘The News’ learnt from reliable sources that though the show was very much on, yet reservations were expressed by the officials at NAG for media participation due to the recent controversies with regard to Shahid Nadeem related to his PTV affairs, hence the media was offered an excuse by the organisers.

On a question, reliable sources, requesting anonymity, said “Though the venue was permitted to ASG much earlier, yet due to the recent controversies associated with Shahid Nadeem after he was ousted from the PTV, it was decided not to publicise the event, as PNCA is after all a government department”.

Though ban and bars were a regular practice under various dictatorships, but such state of affairs under a democratic set-up comes as a surprise for many. And then Shahid Nadeem’s revolutionary play ‘Bullah’ was recently staged by Ajoka at the same venue along with a presentation on the translations of his play in English. Due to its spacious facility, the National Art Gallery has become a popular venue for various cultural activities organised by both official and private organisations. However what was just another ‘cultural event’ for the capital-based reporters at the same venue, turned into an annoying situation due to the ‘sham excuses’ put forward, as a cover up. It is surprising that none of the officials were ready to offer any ‘official version’ of the episode. Perhaps it was considered an easy escape, as it could all be denied later as ‘misinformation’, as it happens in many such cases.

It is equally surprising that a progressive and revolutionary playwright like Shahid Nadeem gets involved in ‘official controversies’. For creative personalities, controversy is an added eminence only if they manage to stay out of ‘official perks and privileges’. Once entering the circle, there is no getting out without getting some taste of the dust and dirt of the official corridors. And Shahid Nadeem seems to be the latest one facing the tunes.
Source: The News
Date:11/29/2008