Just what is Pakistani culture?

I knew it would happen, the only surprise is that it took the new government five months to do it. Whenever a regime in Pakistan finds itself cornered and finding that it is no longer popular, "Islamic" steps are taken to distract the people from the government's inefficiency. In the past, both Zia and the Sharif brothers tried to compel women to cover their heads and dress in a manner that would not provoke men.

Imran Khan's illegitimate government suddenly came to the conclusion that the problems being faced by the country can be resolved by forcing TV channels not to show “indecent scenes, dialogues, extramarital relations, violence, inappropriate dressing, rape scenes, bed scenes, and intimate moments between couples.....  in utter disregard of Pakistani culture and values". The outgoing chief justice (Saqib Nisar) has also ordered that "Indian content" should not be shown in our TV plays and advertisements. By "Indian content" he apparently means women who wear sleeveless dresses.

Even in the U.S., the courts have not been able to decide what is is "indecent" or "pornographic" or "obscene". For those who belong to religious parties, "obscenity" means a woman who is unveiled.

But what exactly is Pakistani culture, which the government wants to protect? In small towns and villages, you see heavily bearded men and fully veiled women all clad in the national dress.

I was at the "Karachi Eat" festival today where most men wore shirts and trousers. There were very few women wearing the hijab, most were dressed in jeans and shirts with their heads uncovered. This is what you see in shopping malls and cinemas also. And this apparently is the "indecent" dress that disturbs those who think they're the guardians of our culture.

As for "indecent scenes, dialogues, extramarital relations, violence, inappropriate dressing, rape scenes, bed scenes, and intimate moments between couples", I'm reminded of the student activists of the Jamat-e-Islami, who even today beat up boys and girls who talk to each other. Recently they thrashed a couple in the Punjab University for walking together, even though the woman kept screaming that the man was her husband.

Of all people, Imran Khan should not have resorted to this measure. He was perceived to be women-friendly and modern (until he married a deeply religious woman last year). His female supporters are surprised that there are only four women in his cabinet of 46 ministers and advisers. It seems that he's changed a lot in the past year.