Mekaal Hasan, who spearheads the music group Mekaal Hasan Band and also moonlights as a gifted music producer, has time and again shown his empathic side by lending support to causes that matter.
Coming together: Mekaal Hasan and crew, seen here with Strategic Reforms Unit Director-General Salman Soofi.
Mekaal Hasan, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Faran Tahir reflect on the inauguration
of the Violence Against Women Centre (VAWC) in Multan and its importance.
Mekaal Hasan, who spearheads the music group Mekaal Hasan Band and also moonlights as a gifted music producer, has time and again shown his empathic side by lending support to causes that matter. Hasan, often called ‘Mahjraaj’ by friends and industry insiders, recently landed in Multan with his folk ensemble at the recent inauguration of the first Violence Against Women Centre (VAWC) of South Asia in Multan this past Saturday.
With Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Rubina Shaheen onboard as its official ambassadors and backed by the Chief Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit that has Salman Soofi as its Director-General, the performance was meant to be a tribute to “all the women who have suffered and are victims of acts of violence.”
MHB, stated a press release, is collaborating “with the Strategic Reforms Unit to create a platform for women, whereby providing them a space to display their musical talent and raise their voice against all acts of violence”.
Days later while reflecting on the importance of this particular effort and why he has endorsed this initiative, Hasan told Instep: “The Chief Minister’s resolve in taking concrete, positive and proactive steps towards the redressal of violence against women on multiple fronts is a welcome and heartening one for all. It is my belief that when such positive measures are implemented and encouraged, the people will have a ready recourse to justice and the rehabilitation of affected members of society.”
(Right Side) Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Left Side) Faran TahirReiterating his point further, Hasan added: “To this end, I wish to offer my support, be it in the capacity as an artist, a producer or a project director, towards this initiative and toward the wonderful unit headed by Mr Salman Soofi and his colleagues. Thanks to the vision and tireless efforts of Mr Soofi, I was given the chance to add my expertise and experience on the occasion of the opening of the VAWC.
The inauguration of the VAWC in Multan on March 25 offered me and my fellow musicians the opportunity to express through music, the unity of our common goals, our aspiration to proactively address social ills, and through the words of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, find our inspiration in Faiz’s call for us to awaken and take action.”
Apart from Hasan, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Pakistan’s “guerilla” filmmaker who has picked up the Academy Award twice and uses her work to highlight social issues also recorded a special message on the occasion of this inauguration. She noted in a video that the opening of the centre in Multan is an important step, one that will hopefully provide protection to the women in Punjab. It is a space, Chinoy explained, where women can go and register their complaints, sought medical treatment, meet lawyers and just be protected. She also spoke about her role as ambassador which includes creating awareness about the centre and noted that hopefully other provinces will follow suit.
Others who have endorsed this initiative include artists such as Faran Tahir who also recorded a short video message during which he said: “I want to bring your attention to a very worthy cause. Quaid-e-Azam once said that a nation is judged by the way they treat their women. This center for violence against women is a much-needed initiative taken by Chief Minister and the Strategic Reforms Unit. This is only the beginning. It is our moral, social and personal obligation to make sure that the women of our country have the dignity and respect that they truly deserve so please join me in supporting this wonderful and most important initiative.”
Given the fact that violence against women is so commonplace and acceptable in this country where nearly 1000 women are killed annually as part of the horrific patriarchal honour killings, monumental changes are needed and this VAWC is the first step in that direction. Endorsements from the likes of Mekaal Hasan, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Faran Tahir will therefore create goodwill and may even inspire others to follow suit. Here’s hoping the optimism and the determination with which this initiative has been launched doesn’t lose momentum.
