LAHORE, April 27: Ajoka theatre head Madeeha Gauhar whose play about burqa or veil was banned by the federal government says ban on the play has exposed the government’s enlightened moderation, and it seems as if military and mulla have made an alliance.

Ms Gauhar was addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Friday. Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s (MMA) women MPs raised the issue in parliament on Thursday that Burqavaganza, a play by the Ajoka, was against “Quranic injunctions on the veil”. Reacting to their complaints, Federal Culture Minister GG Jamal said the play had been banned.

Ms Gauhar is, however, determined to stage the play, saying the venue of the performance will soon be announced.

Ms Gauhar said such tactics employed by the government were not new to the Ajoka as it was one of the oldest theatre group in the country, and had faced censorship before, particularly during the military government of Gen Zia. She said the group had not received any official notification of the ban and had just heard the news from the press, adding that “the government has not contacted us so far”.

She said the government instead of banning her play should resolve the issue of Jamia Hafsa students who had taken law in their hands.

She said fundamentalists and extremists wanted to turn Pakistan into another Afghanistan and “the government overlooks them, but we will not be quiet on this issue”.

She said the government’s functionaries went to America to please their hosts by telling stories that they were fighting extremism but reality was otherwise.

She called the culture minister a “cowardice”, who on the complaint of women MPs banned the play.

She said the MNAs had levelled baseless charges that the play ridiculed the burqa and hence the writer and the producer of the play should be punished.

She said if the government was serious in enlightened moderation and promotion of art and culture, it should forcefully snub pro-Taliban elements and their backers in the ranks of the MMA.

“They have committed blasphemy against the Islamic junction,” Razia Aziz, a female parliamentarian told the National Assembly.

She said the Ajoka condemned the “irresponsible and provocative” remarks by MMA parliamentarians in the National Assembly, and said she was disappointed from the knee-jerk reaction by the government.

“We will challenge ban in the court of law,” she said.

According to Ms Gauhar, Burqavaganza does not ridicule Hijab, Islamic teachings, burqa-wearing women or Pakistani culture.

“What is ridiculed in the play is terrorism, exploitation of religion, double standards, politicians’ double-talk, discrimination against girls and police incompetence.”

She said it was not the Ajoka ridiculing burqa but Jamia Hafsa students who were harassing shopkeepers in Islamabad.

Ms Gauhar said the play used burqa a metaphor for a certain mindset and value system, which tended to hide the truth and beauty.

“We appeal to civil society organisations, human rights groups, artists and writers to condemn culture minister’s announcement of banning the play,” she said.