Fatima Noor, a 14-year-old girl who fearlessly races a motorcycle inside the "Wall of Death," says her biggest dream is to meet Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and to one day perform in front of her.
The young girl performs across Punjab with her father and has drawn crowds with her unique riding skills and confidence.
“I want her to come and see what I can do,” says Fatima, who views the CM as a role model for girls across the province. “She’s doing so much for women, I’m a huge fan.”
Fatima’s journey into the world of death-defying stunts began early.
Initially a passenger behind her father, Munir Ahmed, she soon began riding solo and has now spent the last four years mastering the circular wooden track that surrounds her like a cage.
“I don’t have any brothers,” she said. “So I decided to be like my father and support myself.”
Munir, who has two daughters, admits he was initially against the idea.
“I used to tell her that girls don’t do this, people will talk,” he said. But Fatima’s passion eventually won him over. “She insisted, and I saw how serious she was.”
The performance comes with risks.
Though Fatima says she’s careful, she admits that wearing a helmet isn’t possible inside the Wall of Death due to limited visibility.
At festivals, spectators often try to hand her money mid-performance, which her father, riding a second bike, collects on her behalf.
Now a regular on Punjab’s fair circuit, Fatima has caught the attention of many with her unmatched confidence and control, rare for someone her age.
Though she doesn’t have a driver’s license yet due to her young age, she only rides inside the wall.
“I only ride inside the wall. But when I turn of age, I’ll get a license.”, she smiles.
She believes individuals with unique talents like hers should be supported, and urges the government to offer proper training and safety measures for performers in this field.
“There should be proper training and safety systems. We have a talent that needs encouragement,” she said.
Her father, Munir Ahmed, says he has two daughters, and Fatima is the eldest.
“She isn’t very educated,” he admits, “but the skill with which she rides a motorcycle is worth more than a degree.”
He believes every parent should equip their daughters with both education and a skills to help them become independent.
The motorcycles used in their stunts are standard bikes, with minor adjustments like removing mudguards for quicker tire replacements in case of punctures.
According to Munir, accidents in the Well of Death usually happen due to carelessness, much like dangerous stunts performed on public roads.
Fatima’s story is one of grit, resilience, and breaking barriers, a girl who chose to take the handlebars not just for the thrill, but to become her father's pride and partner.
In a world where daughters are often underestimated, Fatima Noor is a testament to how courage and talent can rise above tradition, poverty, and risk, and ride straight into the hearts of many.
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