Pakistan`s singer-activist brigade swells

Islamabad: Pakistan`s singer-activist brigade is swelling fast, reflecting the people’s desire for peace and an end to the terrorism and militancy that has hit the country hard.First it was Shahram Azhar and Taimur Rahman of the band Laal who called fellow-citizens "ignorant" for not standing up for their rights; then Shahvaar Ali Khan`s peace anthem "No Saazish, No Jung" clocked up numerous hits on his website, and now peace activist Arshad Bhatti is working on what he calls the "music of resistance".

Bhatti – whose restaurant Civil Junction is a well-known hangout for social activists where one can have a cup of "Musharraf`s Guespresso" or a glass of "Pak Bharat Dosti" – has titled his debut single "Gul karo bhai gul karo". "Jung saazish nakam karo/ aman amaan ko aam kar/Jung bandi ka ehad karo/ Karrwattan ko shehad kar/ tajarat pe kaam karo/ safar te visaaam karo/ budzani ko raam karo/ Atom bomb tamam karo/ Sehat safai ghurbat ka/ Ik paidaar sa hull karo," goes the song. The song is part of the "creative resistance" that Civil Junction has initiated under the banner of "Alternate Beats: Voices of Resistance and Passion". It contains political commentary on Pakistan`s 60 years and pokes fun of the concepts of masculinity and bravery, which it says has led to the current chaos in the country.The track in Punjabi has been conceived and written by Bhatti, a graduate of the London School of Economics. It reflects the need to communicate socio-political messages through music and the need for working towards solutions. Arieb Azhar, a singer-cum-activist who has performed for the acclaimed Pakistani TV series Coke Studio, composed the music for Bhatti`s 14-track album titled "In the Lane of Fire-Jhansa". Arifa Mazhar is the female voice of the album. The trend of resistance through music was started by Laal earlier this year. The band used a mix of melodious music and Marxist philosophy to urge the youth of Pakistan to play a key role in changing an establishment that has remained unconcerned about the plight of the poor for decades. Laal shot to fame when it released its first single, "Mainen Ussey Yeh Kaha", shortly after former President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in November 2007. The song, based on a poem by progressive Urdu poet Habib Jalib, was a huge hit. The group performed in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi to enerate support for restoring judges deposed by Musharraf. They also toured the country to form a "Laal Brigade", an organisation of youths committed to working for change in the country. Bureau Report