KARACHI: Amjad Sabri’s untimely and unfortunate death has gripped the entire country in grief, leaving the artist community in complete shock that they are now demanding foolproof security just the way politicians get in Pakistan.
Politicians are no different than us (artists), actor and host Fakhr-e-Alam chanted on behalf of the entire Pakistani artist community in an open letter to the government.
In a video posted on Facebook, traces of fear and anger were visible on the faces of Fakhr-e-Alam, Faysal Qureshi, Faakhir, Tipu Sharif and Maria Wasti along with other fellow artists who gathered to raise their voice in unison.
They condemned Amjad Sabri’s murder who was travelling without any security protocol and explained how his death made them realise that they too are vulnerable to such attacks because there is absolutely no one to protect their lives.
“When we ask VIPs, higher and government officials of our country, as to why you get tight security but we (artists) don’t. The answer we get is that we are high-profile people, spend high-risk lives and can be shot anywhere, this is why we (they) get bullet-proof cars and police escorts,” Fakhr-e-Alam begins in the video.
Dismissing their argument, Fakhr-e-Alam said Amjad Sabri’s massive funeral procession showed what sort of a high-profile personality he was.
He continued to say, “So, my colleagues and artist who stand with me and many more who are not present at the moment, we all are also high-profile people and there is no difference between your and our lives.”
Fakhr-e-Alam also supported the same demand through Twitter.
What we are asking for is symbolic, the idea behind it is simple..equal security or equal vulnerability..thats all.
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) June 23, 2016
People in bomb/bullet proof vehicles cannot understand threat or fear of a common man & hence cannot give us security against our threats.
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) June 23, 2016
How can anyones life be more valuable then the others…so either u give us the same security or give up yours & be as vulnerable as us.
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) June 23, 2016
“Since we’re also high-profile people, we appear on TV every day and people know us more than you, please provide us with the same bullet-proof cars and police mobiles that follow you – on taxpayers’ money – and we all demand similar security.
And if you cannot do this for us, kindly return your bullet-proof cars and police escorts to the government, so that we [artists] get satisfied that both of us are equally vulnerable on the streets of Karachi, Fakhr-e-Alam demanded.
He also dropped a hint while ending his statement that the artist community was planning to expand their protest if their demands were not met.
“If you fail to do this, then we will multiply our protest and will develop a future plan of action after taking the media and fellow artists on the same page.
We again request you, either to provide equal kind of security or equal kind of vulnerability to everyone because we are all Pakistani citizens and our lives are equally important.”
