We were disappointed, became disillusioned: Azfar, Mani share why they stopped supporting Imran Khan

The iconic Azfar Mani Show has long been a fixture in Pakistan's media landscape, tracing its roots back to the early days of Radio FM before transitioning seamlessly to television and now finding a new home on digital platforms.

Azfar and Mani, the dynamic duo behind the show, recently sat down with Independent Urdu to share insights into their journey and aspirations for the future of their beloved program, persevering through bans and other hurdles. 

The revival of the show came as a surprise to many, but for Azfar and Mani, it was a spontaneous decision born out of their mutual availability and a shared passion for engaging with their audience. When asked about why they started the show, Mani joked, "This is quite a deep question." 

He continued, "We attempted it many times, but lost heart on the way. The reasons aren't how many views we get or don't get. We can't base it on that. But we start doing other things. Azfar starts direction, I start a film. Now, we had the long stretch of time, and decided to go for it." Azfar added, "The original show was not planned. New radio shows were starting and (Mani) was in talks with them. He asked if we should do a night show."

According to Mani, "pehle show se game ban gayi thi (we were set from the first show)." The decision to relaunch the show was similarly impromptu. During another interview, the idea was floated, and Azfar and Mani seized the opportunity to reignite their collaboration. They decided to speak about a topic close to both of them, and also one that seemed like it pierced their hearts. That show ended up being on the former premier of the country, Imran Khan. 

Imran's transformation from a revered cricketing icon to a polarising political figure provided fertile ground for discussion. Mani, who had been associated with Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for nearly a decade, shared his personal journey of disillusionment and eventual departure from the party. "We were with Imran Khan first. In the middle, when he changed, we changed," said Azfar. He continued, "And we're the kinds of fans who, from childhood, considered him a hero. We explained why we changed." Mani quipped, "I was with PTI too...I was with them for eight to nine years. I took quite a hit."

The duo had done interviews, met the former prime minister, and had been to Bani Gala as well. When he became the prime minister, Azfar recalled pondering over what had or had not been achieved by the former cricketing legend. "We were disappointed and became disillusioned," recalled Azfar. The duo insisted that they did not badmouth anyone, but received backlash and insults nonetheless. "Who isn't being abused these days?" whispered Mani to Azfar, with the latter agreeing. Once Azfar and Mani realised that people were watching, they decided to continue down the same path.

Talking about his time in PTI, Mani shared, "In 2011, I actively joined PTI. Elections were going to take place, though they had been delayed. I joined, and I started making videos against [Muttahida Qaumi Movement] (MQM), especially against Altaf Hussain. I was that person in Karachi. I used Facebook, and I got a ton of backlash." 

He added that Mustafa Kamal was his friend. "I was very vocal in the 2013 election," stated Mani. "I remember I was doing the whole campaign in Karachi. I was in. When he lost, we even joined the protest, including Hira. We even put up a picture. I would take Hira everywhere. The poor thing doesn't even have her own political view." The Karachi-centric figure then decided in 2017 that Imran wasn't the right fit for the city. 

The duo also opened up on the transition from radio to television, which was a strategic move driven by the show's history of bans and temporary closures. Azfar's leadership role at a local channel provided the perfect opportunity to bring the show to a wider audience. However, a fair amount of reluctance preceded this decision. Moreover, the show's irreverent content often courted controversy, leading to encounters with regulatory authorities. Despite these challenges, Azfar and Mani remained undeterred, viewing such incidents as a testament to the show's impact and relevance.

"Once I said that there are so many Chinese that they're like ants," recalled Mani, explaining how many misheard his usage of the Urdu word for ants. The duo was called in by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and had to go in. "Traffic police cops were PEMRA heads," said Mani. At another point, they recalled talking about women who frequent dance parties not getting married. They asked women who fell in the same category to call in and many did, thereby creating an engaging back-and-forth. Recalling the time they did a show about people taking bribes, Mani said jokingly, "Bribes should be halal." 

Talking about shows that did not air, Azfar revealed that it was an interview with Imran. "The tape was 'lost,'" said Azfar. The interview, dating back to around 2008, was possibly done with the two staring at the politician in reverence, given their timeline of being his fans, they remembered. 

A digital shift, alongside the material becoming "stale" led to the eventual closure of the show. Looking to the future, Azfar and Mani emphasised the importance of adapting to the digital landscape. They recognised the freedom afforded by digital platforms, allowing for greater creativity and flexibility in content creation. Political interviews remain a cornerstone of the show, although they acknowledged the reluctance of some individuals to participate. "Maryam Nawaz etc will not give an interview, we know," asserted Mani candidly. "No one from PML-N will come, we know this too."

When asked about doing interviews in exchange for money, Mani shared that an offer had been made. Refusing to name the party, Mani shared that an "unknown person who is running from Karachi" made a financial offer. The duo chimed in that taking money and interviewing someone would result in them praising the individual, thereby defeating the purpose of sharing their own views. Dropping a fascinating nugget for his fans at the end, Mani revealed, "Hira and I are doing a drama." He continued, "After so many years. We're finally doing it, we just signed it yesterday."

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