The Pakistan Experience

Sabahat Zakariya urf Feminustani is a journalist, writer and Feminist. Her placard at the Aurat March reading, "Divorced and Happy" caused quite a stir.  Sabahat come on The Pakistan Experience to discuss how divorced women are treated in Pakistan and the struggles they face along with talking about the Aurat March and the Feminist movement in Pakistan.  The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

Dr Nida Kirmani, Professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences, is a feminist sociologist working on gender and urban marginality in South Asia.  Nida comes on the podcast to discuss her work at LUMS, online activism and research. Nida has extensive research in New Delhi and Lyari. Her book "Questioning the Muslim Woman was published in 2013.  We recorded this a day after the PIA plane crash and both of us were clearly still reeling from the national tragedy. We grief and also talk about how certain people responded and why it might have been distasteful. Watch as we discuss the desenitization to violence in our society, online activism, LUMS and toxicity on Twitter. Ending with a discussion on the future of the #MeToo movement in  Pakistan.   The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

Faraz Anwar, guitarist/singer Mizraab, was recently in the news for making an account on Fiverr. Faraz comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss how poorly artists, and specifically musicians, are treated in Pakistan.  Faraz goes deep into his own artistic process and life history - from teaching some of the best guitar players in Pakistan to singers screwing him out of jobs and money, Faraz has a lot of stories he is finally ready to share with the public. Listen now to hear it all from arguably the greatest Pakistani guitar player ever.  The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

Hassan Kilde Bajwa, an online content creator, comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss how he feels boys need to be communicated to to build a kinder and safe world.   Recently, screenshots from an Instagram called Boys Locker Room in India were leaked online showing boys joking about the worst things. Hassan and Shehzad discuss the creation of these incel groups online and the perpetuation of r*pe culture in India and Pakistan.  From Toxic Masculinity to being a male ally, Hassan Kilde Bajwa talks about how he is looking to redefine masculinity and hoping to inspire the next generation of men to be better.  The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

Jami is a film maker and one of the most prominent directors in Pakistan. From directing commercials to some of the most popular music videos to his breathtaking feature film, 'Moor'.   A brave raw podcast; Jami begins talking about the state and the future of the film industry in Pakistan, from sponsorship in Film to a lack of a cinematic tradition in the country.   Jami then starts talking about the abundance of sexual coercion in the industry, going deep into his own story, from reading the letter at the Lahoti mela to going public with his own sexual abuse case, and how his own friends and journalists abandoned him after that.  Jami comes off as a beautiful soul in the podcast. He is a critical voice waving the flag for survivors and supporting the #MeToo movement in Pakistan.  The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

From breaking onto the scene with the hit Alu Anday, Ali Aftab Saeed has been making music and using satire to give his political take for the past ten years. Ali Aftab Saaed is a musician, satirist and a journalist.  Ali comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss satire, censorship, his personal history and Mohammad Asif.  The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

The intellectual giant that is Tariq Ali - writer, historian, Film maker, dissenter - comes on the The Pakistan Experience to discuss a political history of Pakistan lived through the left.  From inspiring Mick Jagger and John Lennon to write songs to being on the Russell War Crimes Tribunal in Vietnam, From being a child watching Ahmadi shops being burnt down in Lahore to watching Imran Khan cave in to the might of the religious right, Tariq Ali has lived through it all and nobody tells history like he does; a history lived and viewed through the left.  On this episode, Tariq Ali tells stories of informing Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto a coup was being prepared against him and advising Benazir Bhutto multiple times. Tariq Ali also discusses political assassinations in Pakistan, why he thinks the USA got Bhutto killed and the real story behind the Rawalpindi Conspiracy case.  Do yourself a favour and listen to this for two hours; beautiful, articulate and insightful, Tariq Ali informs, as well as delights, with a retelling of his life.

Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, the visionary leader of The Indus Hospital, comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss the current state of the Corona virus outbreak in Pakistan. Dr. Bari gives an analysis of where we stand devoid of political agendas or any partisanship; he discusses why a lockdown is necessary and what healthcare professionals need right now to fight this crisis.  The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

WARNING: The Podcast contains profanity and strong language. Children and people who are easily offended should stay away.  Miss Phudina Chatni is the no holds barred drag comedy character created by Muhammad Moiz. She's feme, she's crass, she tells her story and she holds no prisoners. Deeply comfortable in her own skin, Miss Phudina Chatni, holds no punches back telling the stories of her sexual escapades.  On this episode of The Pakistan Experience Muhammad Moiz as Miss Phudina Chatni discusses the politics of drag comedy,  spiritual, sufism, ishq, gender theory and marginalization.  The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.

Hurmat Ali Shah got radicalized in Swat. He moved to UET for his college, where he joined the Tableeghi Jammat. After spending years in the organization working for them and preaching on their behalf, Hurmat left the organization due to ideological differences.   Hurmat comes on The Pakistan Experience to reflect on his journey - on why he joined and what made him quit.   The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.