PESHAWAR: A live performance was staged here the other day, featuring the theme of climate change, peace, right to expression as well as Maulana Khanzeb.

The Pashto play titled ‘Habs’ (fug) was arranged under the auspices of ‘Mafkoora’, a private research and development organisation at its open air space attended by young graduates, and rights activists.

Hayat Roghani, the CEO of Mafkoora, while opening the event said that live theatre performance was part of the series of literary and cultural activities covering various aspects of the fine arts, both visual and performing. The live theatre being a very effective medium was used to advance the cause of highlighting social issues including climate change, peace and the right to expression, he added.

Scripted by Hayat Roghani, around 11 young performers acted out different roles in the play divided into four sections, featuring climate change, right to expression, peace and Maulana Khanzeb. The lead role in the first scene played by Baryaal Afghan, a child star portraying how human being around the globe were facing climate disaster causing the entire universe to turn asthmatic, being unable to breathe.

The second act was devoted to the right to expression in which Mahi Gul, Rubiq Jameela, Mah Rukh, Idrees Khan, Elam Khan, Sangeen Janan, and Maraam Khan explored how people were deprived of their right to expression in the name of ethnicity, gender, religion and several other pretexts that paved the way for extremism, and violence in the society.

Mahi Gul and Zarthusht Afghan explained through third scene of the play that peace could come by acknowledging diversity, rights of ethnicities, gender equality, religious and political thoughts.

The final act was designated to acknowledging the contributions of Maulana khanzeb Shaheed. The role of Maulana Khanzeb was performed by Naeem Mukhlis. The act meant to highlight selfless services of late Maulana Khanzeb, who had turned 16 acres of barren Bajaur mountain into a green forest, authored books and articles and educated youth through his inclusive politics.

The live performance was followed by traditional event titled ‘choori’ an ancient ritual in which Pashtun used to distribute broken pieces of sweet bread mixed with dry fruits, symbolising strengthening of ties with married sisters. The event, used to be marked in the fourth month of the ancient Pashtun calendar, is also known as ‘khowaga khor (endeared sister).

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025