Am I the only one? (I hope not) Who has been disgusted by not only the overzealous coverage of the whole Shoaib Malik – Sania Mirza marriage? On the one hand it’s a brief and much needed distraction from all the pointless violence and even more pointless and unexplainable lack of governance that we have to watch parade before us on our television screens. On the other hand it’s also quite sad to see some of the actions and reactions of certain individuals. The army of politicians, personalities and well wishers all seem to be nothing more than opportunists trying to jump on the media dubbed, “Shania” bandwagon.

A piece in The News says “love would finally prevail no matter what the enemies did”. I wish the same PML-N protestors would show such support of all those young couple who marry out of choice and then have to face the spectre of banishment by their own family at best, or worse declared Kari and hunted down and murdered.

In another piece that was published in the Hindustan Times, the paper claims that “he has personally directed Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, Shahid Malik, to keep a tab on the situation and collect information on the case.” If only our foreign minister would instruct our honourable High Commissioner to show the same amount of attention and concern regarding the many hundred of Pakistani nationals languishing in Indian jails even though they have served out their sentences in Indian jails. Further on the articles says that:

Pakistan Traders Action Committee chairman Siddiq Memon has threatened to launch a country-wide protest over the issue. Memon said that Indian goods would be boycotted at trade centres if any action was taken against the cricketer.”The Indian Government should provide security to Shoaib and remove the hurdles being created ahead of his wedding. Otherwise, Indian goods available at trade centres would be set on fire,” Memon said.

Given all the problems and challenges the country faces, to call out another strike, to stop production, to rob poor day-labourers from a days hard earned income so that they can show solidarity with Shoaib Malik? Second, there is no evidence that the Indian government is “creating” any hurdles to begin with? Why stir up emotive issues for something so pointless? Maybe Mr. Memon would share his concern and his willingness to sacrifice by encouraging the Pakistan Traders Action Committee members to pay their taxes, conserve electricity etc, rather than trying to put in their two cents worth out their on what is essentially tabloid fodder.

To top this all of the latest news that I have come across says that: “Burney, a former minister for human rights, said that he has been contacted by the Siddiqui family to help them in their legal battle against the beleaguered Pakistani all-rounder and would be flying to India in the next three to four days.” Yes Mr. Burney, as if there is a shortage of human rights cases to solve in Pakistan that your jetting off to Hyderabad? Are you the only one who can uncover the truth? Would your time and effort not be served better elsewhere?…..like perhaps in your own country!

Then we have the honourable Federal Minister of Population Welfare Firdous Ashiq Awan who has taken the opportunity to propose offering a “family planning kit” as a wedding gift. Granted, her suggestion of making “Shania” ambassadors for family planning is a good idea given the popularity (notoriety) the couple are enjoying, but perhaps rather than giving out statements in the paper, she should first actually talk to the couple first before putting them on the spot! Of course, not to be left behind she makes short change of inviting herself to their wedding: “Awan said she will be delighted to attend the couple’s wedding later this month”

However, the icing on the cake came from none other than Mr. Mehdi Shah who invited the couple to Gilgit-Baltistan for their honeymoon. Not only that, in the fashion of a true politician, a protocol obsessed individual sweetened the deal by:” both would be given official protocol in Gilgit if they decide to visit the region after their marriage, The Daily Times reports.” Ah, yes protocol! If you want the world to know that you have arrived all you need to do is to block roads and put a couple of flags up. The last time I checked it was pretty impossible for an Indian national to visit Gilgit-Baltistan, if an exception is being made for Sania Mirza then perhaps the government of Pakistan would perhaps like to do the same for all those family’s who are split either side of the border and are unable to get visas in time to attend weddings, births, funerals etc, let alone travel across the country.

The news of Shoaib Malik’s and Sania Mirza’s wedding was indeed welcome news. However, the orgy of media coverage that has followed, coupled with the embarrassing display of “ass kissing” by certain individuals in nauseating!

All this does is to clearly illustrate the divide between the haves, and have nots! Please political master! Don’t rub it in! if you can show as much concern and attention to the common citizen then please done come up on television showing how efficient you can be in spending tax payers money on national television!