Daily Times

The national carrier did not have much to celebrate this Independence Day. Indeed, it found itself in a spot of bother with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). All over a light-hearted promotional video meant to boost tourism in Pakistan.

At the centre of the fracas is a Polish video blogger, Eva Bianka Zubeck. And the so-called Kiki Challenge. The latter refers to jumping out of a car and dancing along to the song “In My Feelings” by Canadian artist Drake; all the while miming a love heart and pretending to drive a car.

Thus Eva and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) joined hands to record the video with the blogger showing off her moves inside a stationary aeroplane as well as on the runway immediately in front. This did not sit well with NAB. The contention being that PIA had failed to secure permission from the relevant body. In this case, most likely the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

This rap on the wrist is deserved. For had anything happened to Eva — both PIA and the CAA would have been held liable. Yet what was uncalled for were NAB’s charges that this young Polish woman had disgraced the national flag by wrapping it around her body. In short, this veers dangerously close a toxic combination of body-shaming and unadulterated misogyny. One that exempts from rebuke the countless young men who year after year take to their motorbikes to circle city streets, Pakistan flag in tow, to celebrate their freedom; while harassing any woman who dares get in their way by merely challenging their monopoly over public spaces.

Of course, the question of white privilege does come into play here. As does the need for the brown man’s validation from those associated (rightly or wrongly) with the imperial West. But this is not really the point here. Pakistan is a country known to be fixated with showing its soft face to the world. And here was a young woman who wanted to do this from the bottom of her heart. Thus NAB’s unnecessarily harsh response, combined with PIA’s attempt to conveniently wash its hands of the matter, simply serve to harden the country’s image on the world stage.

Meaning that next time it looks in the mirror, it certainly will not be the ‘fairest’ of them all.  *

Published in Daily Times, August 17^th 2018.