Javed Akhtar, In Pakistan, Says 26/11 Mumbai Attack Perpetrators 'Still Roaming Free In Your Country'

Javed Akhtar, who was in Pakistan to attend a festival organised in memory of renowned poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, said that the perpetrators of the 26/11 attack are still roaming free in their country.

New Delhi: Writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was in Pakistan to attend a festival organised in the memory of renowned poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, said that the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks are still roaming free in their country. The video of the lyricist addressing a gathering in Pakistan is going viral on social media. 

Javed Akhtar responded to a person in the audience who reportedly asked him, “You have visited Pakistan many times…When you go back do you tell your people that these are good people, they aren’t just bombing us but also greeting us with garlands and love?” 

“Let us not blame each other. That won’t solve issues. Jo garam hai fiza, woh kam honi chahiye. Hum toh Bambaiye log hain. Hamne dekha wahan kaise hamla hua tha. Wo log Norway se toh nahi aaye the naa Egypt se aaye the, wo log abhi bhi aapke mulk me ghum rahe hain. Toh ye shikayat agar Hindustani ke dil me ho toh aapko bura nahi manna chahiye (The atmosphere needs to cool down. I am from Bombay and all of us witnessed the attack on Bombay. The attackers weren’t from Norway, or from Egypt. They are still present in your country, so you should not be offended if an Indian complains about this).” 

 

He also pointed out that though Pakistani artistes such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hasan have always been loved and have performed many times in India, Pakistan has never hosted a Lata Mangeshkar show. 

“Mehdi Hassan was a cult figure in India. When he visited India, Shabana (Azmi) hosted it, I wrote for the event which was graced by the likes of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. When Faiz sahab visited, it seemed like an authority was visiting…it was broadcast all over. Have you ever seen Sahir (Ludhianvi), Kaifi (Azmi) or (Ali) Sardar Jafri’s interviews on PTV? It was shown in India, it happened there… So the communication blockade is from both sides and perhaps more from your side,” he said. 

Earlier, videos of the jam session of Pakistani singer Ali Zafar and Akhtar were doing the rounds on social media.

  

The videos show Akhtar seated with a gathering of people while Zafar is seen singing. Zafar hosted Akhtar at his house in Lahore for a private gathering.