My name is (Sadiq) Khan

Several local Britons, I am told, are peeved with election of Sadiq Khan

Just like Barack Obama made news for being America’s first black president, one, Sadiq Khan grabbed international headlines for becoming the first Muslim mayor of London, the world’s most famous multicultural metropolis. No mean feat given the acute Islamophobia that’s prevalent in the West. But I’m not sure if Pakistanis and Muslims should be rejoicing and claiming that this is their victory. Khan would probably say that his Pakistani/Muslim identity was his biggest impediment during the campaign and that he got elected as mayor not on the strength of his Pakistani origin but perhaps despite it. The unfortunate reality is that no matter what he achieves or how hard he works, he will always be viewed by the world through a prism of extremism and religious fanaticism. He will always be accused of having links to extremist figures. Pakistanis who are excited that the son of an immigrant Muslim bus driver has become London’s mayor should ask themselves if they would be gracious enough to vote in a Christian as the mayor of Lahore.



Several local Britons, I am told, are peeved with the result, which was partly made possible thanks to London’s vast Muslim population who voted Khan to the post. The big question is how many non-Muslims voted for him. I’m guessing a significant number did because this has been the highest ever turnout in a mayoral election.

So, does Khan’s appointment as Lord Mayor imply the death of racism in Britain and raise the flag of enlightened secular pluralism? I say, not quite. If anything, the city which chooses to pride its ethnic diversity can get racist and I’m not even a Muslim. I’ve lived in London for six years and have never been at the receiving end of a blatant racist attack, yet I am perceptive enough to grasp the undertones. British tabloids did not mince their words in ridiculing the new mayor. They did not contain their contempt for the announcement by printing awfully condescending and sardonic headlines about Khan and the Labour party. This in itself is reflective of how Britain’s mainstream press is going to view and treat Khan in the future. More than his predecessors, he is going to be judged microscopically for his performance in office. Eventually, that is what counts, and for his sake, I hope he proves his detractors wrong.



Tailpieces

1) Those who found Brazil’s scantily clad carnival dancers racy will be in deep shock to hear about an adults-only theme park being developed. Will the fire exit be in the shape of the human derriere?

2) It’s heartening to read about Janet Jackson having her first baby at 50. At her age, it wouldn’t be all natural, but that is immaterial. Women who feel that delayed motherhood isn’t acceptable, safe, healthy or possible, should look at Janet, Kim Basinger, Halle Berry, Brooke Shields and the ilk: all illustrious examples of how to successfully fulfill one’s professional and maternal needs. For those who believe that children deserve a mother when she is younger just because she is more energetic and patient, I say that a mother deserves a career just as much.



3) Everyone said that there was a God up there when Shahbaz Taseer returned safely from abduction not so long ago. And just when everyone’s hopes about the kidnapped Ali Haider Gilani’s return went racing up, the youngster made an almost miraculous comeback after spending three years in captivity in Afghanistan. The Taseer and Gilani families are obviously relieved. A joint dinner by the two with an exchange of anecdotes is something that would make for a wonderful ‘and they lived happily ever after’ kind of story.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2016.

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