When asked about her favourite collection of the evening, Dr Fauzia could not even recall the names of the designers.
Guess who we spotted sitting silently in the front row on Day 2 at FPW? Dr Fauzia Siddiqui and Pasban President Altaf Shakoor! But rather than enjoy the show, the two looked awkward and uncomfortable and preferred to concentrate on their smartphones.
“We were invited by designer Hasina Khanani and her husband,” Shakoor told The Express Tribune. “Her collection was scheduled to be showcased last or second last at the event,” he said, adding that they “were stuck in a very awkward situation”. He explained that Khanani’s husband Fahad Topra is an ardent supporter of Dr Fauzia Siddiqui. “They [Hasina and Fahad] insisted that we attend and invited us with such love and earnestness that we could not refuse.”
He quickly added, “I did not even turn my head up to look at the ramp — I had not gone there for this [to watch the fashion show] purpose to begin with,” he said. “We were there merely to support Hasina and Fahad. I continued to send emails and SMS from my phone because I was not concerned about what was happening there. It was the first time that I had attended such an event. It was very odd.”
He described his friends as “true believers, true Muslims on the inside”. “In a way, we were there to become closer to them emotionally and then, maybe someday, correct them,” he said at the end.
Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui who is imprisoned in the United States for attempted murder and assault, quoted the same reason for her attendance. “Hasina is a very good friend of mine,” said Dr Siddiqi. “She’s always been there to support my sister.” She added that she left as soon as her friend’s show was over.
When asked about her favourite collection of the evening, Dr Fauzia could not even recall the names of the designers. “I think Hasina’s turn came one designer after the Gul Ahmed show. Honestly, I was not paying much attention at the show; I kept myself busy on the phone.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (28)
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So what ??? whats the big deal ???
“I did not even turn my head up to look at the ramp — I had not gone there for this [to watch the fashion show] purpose to begin with,”
then why did you go there uncle??
@Hasina Khanani: I'm glad Fowzia has friends like you who are not afraid to support and defend her.
I think Ms. Hasina said it all, ET was one of the best i considered, yet they proved that they also do belong to the pile of dirt our MEDIA is....
Forget everything. Just tell me if these two dating or married? I always see them like love birds together.
@Hasina Khanani It is really Ok if she was there and i feel pity for ET who has made it "a news" .. But i want to ask you, if you are really a well wisher of this family, why to put someone in such an odd condition if she was not willing to be there? Mr.Shakoor, if he had not interest then he was JUSt there for YoU! And as i feel, i will never go to a place where i don't want to go untill or unless i have feeling that i will loose my contact with the person who invited .. Are you that kind of person???
If yes, then i feel pity for you! Let people be what they feel and what they are instead of trying people to be like you feel .. That is my message for you .. Pakistan Zindabad!
I suggest ET should add the provision of dissuading or disapproving a comment, only having recommendations making the debates mostly one sided.
Making them suffer? I don't think express tribune said anything negative about them ? They were asked a question . Tribune got the answer and tribune informed the people . That's pretty simple as I can see ... Fozia couldn't remember the designers name so she said that with honesty! About this family liking to stay in line light ? I would say .. If any one of our family member is imprisoned we would too want all the lime light on us no? Did u even know how many years has it been ? 10 years have gone by and nothing's been done ! Yes they do need all the lime light !!! They don't want it they NEED it becoz the public is highly forgetful . So what if she goes to a wedding to a funeral or a fashion show? Big deal she is my friend and she will be there in all of my shows exhibitions and events shows ! She Dosnt question any one who goes to the show parties and events ... Why can't she get the same treatment ? Every one has the right to lead a personal life . She does to :)
My message stop assuming and being judgmental
Pakistan zindabad
Perhaps part of election campaign!
Express Tribune: This is very shocking! Why would you try to ridicule these people by covering their presence at a fashion show as the main news for the day. This is unbelievable!! Extremely 'masala' filled news which only suits an urdu evening daily which apepals to the large uneducated masses. You have become the 'masala filled evening daily' for the english speaking educated people.
Well said - Uza.
@Hasina Khanani
You knew the attachements of Ms.Siddiqui and Mr.Shakoor ,yet invited them to the "show" taking full price for your favors and making them suffer to this .I am ashamed .truly .
@Hasina Khanani: No, nothing is wrong in "being a supporter of oppressed", but you are supporting some one who stood and aided the oppressors and got caught in this crime. That's what is wrong when people are motivated to stand on wrong side of truth to cover for their sense of religious duty.Terrorists are nothing but oppressors and Dr, Fauzia Siddiqui's sis Aafia Siddiqui was certainly supporting them in their crime against all peace loving people, if not outright part of their gangs. I suppose, you did a good job by identifying yourself, this way anyone who has illusions about designs of some of the folks, in fashion business, can see and know you all without your glamorous veils.
what is a fuss if she attended a fashion week! maybe now the gairat brigade want to make fashion industry controversial & against the morality & islam blah blah hence the quote" I did not even turn my head up to look at the ramp" further enhances it.
i am Hasina Khanani and i am fozias friend! AAFIA CUASE is her life <---- Fashion is my life! i support her and i even support mala...
i gave out an outfit for fund raising at pakistan fashion week london 2012.... just to support the cause.
i am a human being and so are the victims.. whats wrong with being a supporter of the oppressed?
this family has gone through a lot... their sister is in prison... no one knows whats going on with her there... its been 10 years afia is in prison .... shes got 76 years more to go!
they r my guest to the show. and theres nothing wrong with her coming to a fashion show becoz she was invited.. as u know these passes r strickly on invitation.. not bought! and about altaf shakoor sahab...
altaf bhai didnt want to come to my show becoz every one has their own level of believes that they r able to follow... some give zakat some dont ... some cover their head some dont. some lie some dont .. but that dosnt make any one a kafir! its ok we r humans.. and its totally ok for him to wish i be able to qualify in those islamic areas that he does! ... and yes! he wasnt looking at the models... as theres a live stream video of the whole event on the page of Fashion pakistan week..that clearly shows him head down through out the even! that any one can see for themself..
my request to all out there is .. jumping to conclusion is not a positive act... a lil research dosnt really harm :)
stay blessed and Pakistan Zindabad!
Lame excuses. Be brave, and face it. After all, it was not a crime.
Express Tribune,
Just wanted to say that you guys started off quite good, but the quality of your articles is going down the pan. Honestly, what was the point of reporting something so ridiculous. I mean this is just one of your many articles where the quality is not there, or some times I look at news like this and think what was the point of this.
Just like the rest you have become mediocre as well. I can not understand what the problem is, is it the fact you are failing to find proper journalists for may be the overall quality of the journalists in Pakistan has gone really bad.
Please for the love of God, get your act together.
Express Tribune can go so low to publish this as there main news....Today they have crossed every standard to malign people!
Why being so apologetic? Everyone should have the right to do what they want. It's called freewill.
"I did not even turn my head up to look at the ramp" - oh rly?
Who gave them the right to judge who is a good Muslim or bad. In Pakistan violent extremists are given all the moral and other support. Meanwhile real heroes like Malala are dismissed as a western stooge. Unless the mindset changes, people are not going to respect Pakistanis in any part of the world. Not watching a fashion might be their personal decision but judging the faith of others is exactly the problem the whole nation suffers from.
low ET LOW!
Sure! Like the cat would just smell the milk and walk away? "Never looked at the ramp" - my foot!
Whatever ET! It's her life.
Defamation and Character assassination is a part of Pakistani Media Strategy and ET is not an Exception. The plague of Judgement of Character based on certain Traits is not only prevalent in our general society but so called educated individuals are involved in mud slinging as well and it is a sheer shame and nothing else.
“In a way, we were there to become closer to them emotionally and then, maybe someday, correct them,” he said at the end
What a load of self righteous hypocrisy