SMOKERS' CORNER: GOD'S WRATH OR NATURAL SCIENCE?

Byline: Nadeem F. Paracha

Last week, Tariq Jamil, a prominent evangelist, was roundly criticised for insinuating that the deadly Covid-19 pandemic was because of the misdeeds of 'immodest women'.

Over the years, Jamil has gathered a significant following among segments of the country's urban middle classes and also from Pakistan's sporting and show-biz circles. He had been invited by Prime Minister Imran Khan to speak during a telethon raising money to address the economic challenges posed by the pandemic in Pakistan. The event was broadcast live by a private TV channel.

Many of Jamil's middle-class fans find his soft-spoken demeanour endearing, even though, of and on, some of his statements do raise a few eyebrows. Nevertheless, as a commentator on Twitter said, 'It was only a matter of time when this likeable preacher would end up sounding like any other self-appointed scion of morality.'

What I understand from this is that the nearer one gets to certain points of power, the more likely it is for him or her to lose their bearings in a bid to please their patrons. Especially if these points of power include a government that seemingly measures loyalty with varied degrees of sycophancy exhibited by its patrons or a fickle media that is as quick to kick one off the pedestal as it is to put them there.

Jamil himself understands well where his traction lies. It is in the way he has positioned himself: as someone who does not unsettle middle-class sensibilities and ideas of morality, unlike preachers such as Khadim Hussain Rizvi. That's why, within days of making his controversial statement, Jamil offered an apology. Many of his fans belonging to the entertainment industry and some TV anchors almost immediately launched an attack on those who were critical of his stated views.

Muslim scholars have a host of explanations for their followers, about the causes of natural catastrophes

Even Shireen Mazari, the current Federal Minister of Human Rights wasn't spared; she had denounced Jamil for blaming female immodesty for the outbreak of the coronavirus. The irony is that Mazari belongs to the same government whose PM not only invited Jamil to his telethon, but remained silent during his tirade.

Another interesting bit to come out of the debate was a sudden realisation of a somewhat not-so-sudden phenomenon: there is an increasing number of show-business personalities from India and Pakistan who are often quick to defend decisions or statements which...