Hope in Karachi’s underbelly: Roses are better than guns

Meet a poet from Karachi’s troubled Katti Pahari area, who is using his poems to spread peace.

KARACHI: A casual mention of Karachi’s infamous Katti Pahari conjures up images of terror activities, drug peddlers on the loose and operations conducted by law enforcement agencies against anti-state elements. But Abdul Wakeel Shah is set to prove everyone’s stereotypes wrong. Meet the man known for his satirical poetry, who is a classic example of difficult times unearthing hidden talent.

“Satire writing is God-gifted in my case. It is that genre in literature where vices, follies and shortcomings are held to make a point via making fun,” said Shah. Shah is a Pashtun and a rickshaw driver by profession. After offering his Fajr prayer, he leaves his house in his rickshaw to earn money. When there are no passengers, Shah spends time writing poetry.

The volatile Katti Pehari is home to many NGO workers, art and literature lovers, as well as calligraphers.

Shah is hired by politicians in the area during elections. They ask him to write satirical slogans and verses they then use against their opponents. Shah shared that while bloodletting during election campaigns is a common factor and “even though this is Katti Pehari, politicians prefer using satirical poems for campaigning rather than guns.” Thus, his words give political rivals of the area an alternative to firearms, and indirectly end up curtailing violence.

“I was hired by a candidate belonging to the PPP, whereas another person from this locality was hired by the Awami National Party (ANP). They used our poems during jalsas and meetings,” said Shah with pride.

“Hiring poets from Katti Pehari and using their work helps give a positive picture of this area,” shared PPP’s Dil Mohammad. “Too many political complications exist here. Peace is much needed and we want to get rid of weapons.”

According to him, when during election campaigns his party’s opponents found out about them hiring poets, they also hired poets in retort. They were able to use satirical poetry to answer us. “Roses are better than guns,” said Muhammad. “It is a good way to attract people instead of using terror to draw their attention.”

Looking at an ethnic breakup of this area, Pahar Ganj, Dir Colony, Kohistani Chowk and Umer Farooq Colony are a few areas of Katti Pahari that fall under Union Council (UC) 21. It has a majority of Pashtuns living there. Siraikis, Christians and the Gilgitis also form part of the Katti Pahari population. During the elections, almost all of the political parties campaigned here but nobody used terror and weapons for it.

“Satire is a clever tool for social criticism. It has become our culture,” said Ameen Spin, a resident of the area, praising this trend. “These poets are common people and work elsewhere for a living, but during elections they give time to satirical poetry only,” added Spin.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2014.