Mohammed Hanif claims Urdu publisher of satire bestseller raided

Says he also received defamation notice from General Ziaul Haq’s son

Writer and journalist Mohammed Hanif took to Twitter alleging that people claiming to be from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) raided his Urdu publisher Maktaba Daniyal’s offices and confiscated all Urdu copies of his satire book A Case of Exploding Mangoes.

This afternoon some people claiming to be from the ISI barged into my Urdu publisher Maktaba Daniyal offices, confiscated all copies of Urdu translation of A Case of Exploding Mangoes. Threatened the manager, wanted information about our whereabouts. Coming back tomorrow... 1/3

— Mohammed Hanif (@mohammedhanif) January 6, 2020

“[They] threatened the manager, wanted information about our whereabouts. Coming back tomorrow,” Hanif tweeted.

The author also said that he received a defamation notice from former military dictator General Ziaul Haq’s son, Ejazul Haq demanding Rs1bn for tarnishing the late general’s name.

“Is ISI acting on Ejazul Haq’s behalf?” he questioned.

To get lists of booksellers. Last week we received a defamation notice from General Zia’s son demanding Rs 1 billion for maligning General Zia good name. Our lawyers are preparing a reply. Is ISI acting on Ejazul Haq’s behalf? 2/3

— Mohammed Hanif (@mohammedhanif) January 6, 2020

“A Case of Exploding Mangoes has been in publication for 11 years now.  Nobody has ever bothered me. Why now? I am sitting here, wondering when will they come for us,” Hanif said. “ISI is World’s No 1 spy agency. I am sure they have better things to do. I have my school run tomorrow.”

A Case of Exploding Mangoes has been in publication for 11 years now. Nobody has ever bothered me. Why now? I am sitting here, wondering when will they come for us. ISI is World’s No 1 spy agency. I am sure they have better things to do. I have my school run tomorrow. 3/3

— Mohammed Hanif (@mohammedhanif) January 6, 2020

Featuring bumbling generals, assassination plots and homosexual romance, A Case of Exploding Mangoes was released in Urdu November last year.

The book chronicles the final days of hardline dictator General Ziaul Haq’s rule and the myriad conspiracies behind the plane crash that killed him in 1988. Zia, a pious and far-right dictator in real life, is portrayed by Hanif as a paranoid buffoon backing the Afghan jihad against the Soviets, while battling a case of rectal worms.

Although Mangoes is generously salted with heavy doses of humour, the book also unleashes harsh criticism at Pakistan’s military.