On the Fourth of January, 2011, Salman Taseer, a liberal politician and Governor of Punjab, was assassinated. His murderer was his own body guard, a man who claimed to have killed Governor Taseer because he had publicly defended Asia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy. The rights of minorities and the existence of a strict blasphemy law have both been subject to intense debate and discussion in Pakistan – in fact, a few years later after the assassination, a Barelvi mosque was built in Islamabad and named after the assassin.

The Taseer family was left reeling and horrified having had to watch adoring masses applaud the murder of their father, and then… mere months after his death, Salman’s son went missing.

Kidnapped by militants in Lahore on his way to work, Shahbaz Taseer was held in captivity for a staggering four and a half years. Currently working on a book based on his kidnapping, Shahbaz agreed to speak to us at Pax Femina.

Pax Femina: How is it being back home?

Shahbaz: Every time someone asks me that, I try my best to give a smart answer – but in all my wisdom, I can only think to say that there is no place like home. I’ve actually had to climb a few mountains and literally had to cross a desert to get to mine, so trust me when I tell you: it’s the most amazing feeling, and every morning that I wake up in my bed I’m more thankful and more grateful. Having said that… there are a lot of people in this world that cross mountains and deserts because they have to leave their homes. Never stop having empathy for these people and never close the door of your home to them. 

Pax Femina: What is the most important thing you want to share with our readers?

Shahbaz: Whenever you’re faced with adversity, be patient, be humble and have faith. I’m a man of extremely strong faith, and one of the pillars of my faith is that Allah is always with those who are patient. 

Pax Femina: Your father fought for minority rights, he lost his life in the fight. Are you considering going into politics yourself to carry his torch and help minorities and protected groups? 

Shahbaz: I don’t think anyone can carry my fathers torch, only Asma Jhangir, but we’ve lost both of them, haven’t we? There is a huge void in Pakistan. Bilawal is a great hope for the people, and if I ever join politics, it’ll be by his side… but I’m a strong believer that you don’t necessarily have to go into politics to help people. I look at Edhi Saab, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Asma Jhangir and so many more amazing Pakistanis who left huge legacies in this country as inspirations. 

Pax Femina: So soon after your father’s death, how did your kidnapping affect your family? What helped them through it?

Shahbaz: My family is amazing! My mother is our rock. She’s an incredibly strong woman and I remember this one time my kidnappers had a gun to my head and they were on the phone with her saying “Agree an amount, or we are pulling the trigger!” I was begging her… I still remember. She screamed from the other line and said “Shahbaz, listen to me! Allah will protect you and these people will not harm you! Be strong like your ABBA”! At the time, I thought she’s mad and they will pull the trigger, but when they hit me on the head with the gun and threw me to the side to take the phone and abuse my mother – for a second I was like ‘I’m not dead! God heard my mother!’ They did shoot me in the leg later, but let’s just be positive! Jokes aside, my family’s strength and belief that nothing would happen to me, and that I will come home is something that almost became my purpose. I wanted to prove to them in some silly manner that they were right to never give up and I’m glad they didn’t. 

Pax Femina: After your experience, you may have an understanding of where the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, or I.M.U., stands on women’s rights and their role in society. Could you give us an idea where that may be? 

Shahbaz: To keep it short: They believe women to be property. Tools. It’s got nothing to do with Islam or our Prophet’s teachings. By the way, I learned the hard way to stop caring about what they think and I think it did me a world of good. I don’t believe any movement that strives for basic fundamental rights of any human being regardless of gender colour religion should care about where these groups stand on their role in society. 

Pax Femina: Noted. Would you consider yourself an Ally to the #MeTooPakistan movement? 

Shahbaz: I think men should listen and not really have an opinion. The movement is relatively new globally, and sometimes when things are at a ground level there is miscommunication. I think men tend to get offended and basically shut down debate or conversation. So the first thing is: Let’s be real. #METOO isn’t going anywhere. The statistics in pakistan for sexual harassment are so alarming that I’m too embarrassed to ask the women in my house if they have faced it. I’m sure they have. Which shows how absolutely insane things are, but my personal opinion is… this is a good time for men everywhere to learn a little bit about treating women as equals. I’m sure every man including myself can be honest and say “Maybe I’m not the worst!” But I’m no role model, and I need to educate myself. I have a 2 year old daughter and I will never ever allow someone to treat her in a lesser way or treat her as an object or tool, and if I feel like that about my child, then I’m sorry, I have to feel like that for every woman – or I’m a hypocrite. 

Pax Femina: How do you feel the #MeToo movement in Pakistan is different to that of the global #MeTooMovement? 

Shahbaz: Fundamentally speaking, I think they have the same narrative… which is ‘women being treated as objects that you can extort for sexual favours or harass without repercussions’? I could be wrong, but obviously in the U.S it started with workplace harassment or being asked to perform sexual favours for a promotion and in Pakistan, I think it’s booming because frankly we as a country, as a society, have really backward views of what we expect of our women and that’s women included by the way! 

 

Pax Femina: Do you feel there’s a class divide evident in this current feminist movement? 

Shahbaz: I really like the Aurat March that’s organised here because I see people from all walks of life, but there is a class divide that’s evident in our society and that’s not restricted to gender. We have to address it as a whole or it’ll be attached in every movement about basic rights. 

Pax Femina: The #MeTooPakistan movement has received a lot of criticism in the patriarchy that is Pakistan. Especially now that many high profile men have been called out. What are your thoughts on it? 

Shahbaz: I’m just happy that I was raised by my mother. I think when I was a kid, my dad used to be in jail a lot because he was fighting against Zia Ul Haq and Nawaz Shariff and my mother was young and had to protect us and literally save him! She became very strong but she was also treated in a repulsive manner by judges, police officers and army personal who were under instructions to make her life hell – and she always handled it with grace and showed us that this is how women are treated for doing the right thing. Powerful men will always do what they can to undermine you and discredit you. Be strong. If you’re on the right side of history, then I promise you: You will always be successful. 

Pax Femina: We’ve heard that your mother is the head of your family’s company, is this true? If so, how would you say your mother handles things different to how your father did?

Shahbaz: My father was a business genius. His friends say when he touched something, it became gold. When I started working for him, it was harder than boarding school and maybe even my first 2 days with the Taliban! No – I’m kidding! He was a tough boss, but everything I know about life is from him. my father used to say “Be brave, just be brave”! That applied to any and every thing. Adversity, school, sports, relationships and work. And when he used to say “Be brave”, what he meant was ‘Be honest and hold your ground’. The way he handled “life” and what he taught me is what got me through my ordeal. But I’ve actually spent the majority of my working career under my mother. She came in to my group when we were crippled by debt and were under attack from any and everyone who could take something from us. Like I said, she was our rock. She’s taught us how to be strong and work hard for what’s ours and more importantly, she’s taught us that despite any setback, you must get back up and move on. They are both amazing and they are both different, but I can see why they were so happy and so compatible.

Pax Femina: What do you feel is the biggest threat to feminism in Pakistan?

Shahbaz: Khadim Rizwi and the lunatics that support him. They are a threat to everything in Pakistan!

Pax Femina: How do you see women’s rights faring in Pakistan’s far future? …And the near future?

Shahbaz: I don’t think you can deny anyone their basic fundamental rights. Watch out for senator Anny Marri and Sherry Rehman who are working on and passing legislation to protect women. These are baby steps, but all in the right direction. 

Pax Femina: In your article for the New York Times, you mention that your father was persecuted by Zia Ul Haq. “He would say physical pain touches only the surface; you must never let it break your spirit.” Why do you think he would say that?

Shahbaz: My father was tortured by Zia Ul Haq, so when he said physical pain touches only the surface, what he means is that your ideals are in your soul. No one can break your spirit unless you let them. He was an extremely strong man. There aren’t many like him left anywhere. 

When I was at my lowest and being tortured every day for about a month, I actually saw him in a dream and he just held me and said “You’re not made from a wood that burns easily”. The same words he wrote to my mother when he was in solitary confinement… I was a different person after that day. Got a lot more beatings! But mostly for not being submissive and that was a big win for me.  

Pax Femina: What is your book called? We’re definitely looking forward to reading it. 

Shahbaz: HA! Good one. So far my publisher, manager and I have a tentative name but I may hold a poll on my Twitter with a few options so watch out for that! 

Pax Femina: When will it likely be published?

Shahbaz: Shhhh! I’ve gone past submission dates!

Pax Femina: Can we please see a snippet? 

Shahbaz: You’re going to get me sued.

Pax Femina: Is there something that you would like to say to other families affected by politically motivated kidnappings? 

Shahbaz: I remember when I got back, I thanked everyone for not giving up and for praying for so long! I know how frustrating it can be. You have no control and time is your biggest enemy. You can never get the time you have lost back but if there is any proof that you can go through very hard trials and tribulations and still come out normal and still strive to be happy, then let me be that example. I live everyday trying to normalise what happened to me, even laugh and joke about it as proof that I can. And you can. The human spirit is beautiful – it can heal and more importantly: it can forgive. When I left the taliban prison in Hakran, Afghanistan, I told my Uzbek guard who found himself in jail, that I had to leave this experience right here. I couldn’t take even a second back with me otherwise I’d always be a prisoner. Sometimes you don’t choose the bad that happens to you, but you can choose to be strong and you can choose to move on.  

Pax Femina: On a lighter note… Favourite Man-United chant? 

Shahbaz:

“Ole’s at the wheel!

Tell me how does it feel!

WEV got Sanchez Pogba and Fred,

Marcus Rashford! A Manc born and bred!”

– Lots of ‘hey hey hey’ after that. Teaching it to my daughter so she can sing it to my brother in law – who I love very much but he’s an Arsenal fan and it’s a thin, thin line. 

Image courtesy BBC Urdu