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    Armed with Faith-Pakistan’s Emmy Award Winning Documentary

    Written by: Sania Ahmed Khan
    Posted on: November 20, 2019 | | 中文

    The Film Crew with their Emmy

    A Pakistani documentary, ‘Armed with Faith’, won the News & Documentary Emmy Award for the category of “Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary” last month. Directed by Asad Faruqi and Geeta Gandbhir, the documentary aired on American national television in March 2018, and was premiered in Pakistan at Chalta Phirta Documentary Festival last weekend at the Second Floor (T2F).

    Chalta Phirta Documentary Festival is the latest initiative of the Documentary Association of Pakistan (DAP). It is a travelling documentary film festival, going to 11 Pakistani cities, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar, and Gilgit. For its first screening event in Karachi, DAP founders Haya Fatima Iqbal and Fahad Naveed chose a collection of 6 thought-provoking films such as ‘A Walnut Tree’, ‘Sindhustan’ and ‘Armed with Faith’. With this festival, DAP aims to make Pakistani films that have received international acclaim, accessible to Pakistani audiences.

    ‘Armed with Faith’ was released in 2017, and follows the men of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU), to the front lines of the war, in the tribal region of KPK, which is closely associated with violence and terrorism. Shot primarily in Peshawar, where BDU is headquartered, the first scene depicts the chaos and confusion that arises in a public space where a bomb is reported to have been planted. The public space in particular, is a construction site in the midst of a busy shopping area. As shoppers and passersby are evacuated, a bomb disposal technician cautiously advances towards what looks like an abandoned school bag. With no communication from his superiors and minimal safety gear, he reaches for the bag. The audience is forced to wonder; does he know what he is doing?

    A BDU Officer in KPK

    The scene cuts to footage of the Qissa Khawani Bazaar bombing in 2013. Gory shots of an injured, bleeding man being rescued from a burning building makes the audience shift in their seats. A motorcycle is set ablaze; ambulance sirens can be heard in the background. The aftermath of a destructive bomb blast is presented without any censorship.

    After 9/11, Pakistan granted the United States access to its land and airspace for the so-called war on terror. KPK is subject to the most attacks in Pakistan because of this, which is portrayed in the documentary, through actual news reports of bomb blasts in American Consulate and Jamrud Market, and the sorrowful shooting in APS in Peshawar.

    According to Haya Fatima Iqbal during the post-screening discussion, director Asad Faruqi followed the BDU technicians to their headquarters, training grounds and even their homes. BDU Commander Shafqat Malik is the first character to be introduced, who is seen investigating the effects of a minor Improvised Explosive Device (IED), that has gone off in a remote village.

    Inspecting a Suspicious Object

    His expertise is evident in the way he picks up a broken piece of the explosive device, and states that the factory code and lot number can be traced from inside the metal piece. In another instance, he examines ammunition and a bomber jacket recovered from the site of a suicide blast. He seems startled that terrorists have gained access to such sophisticated weaponry.

    The BDU officer that audience members perhaps most empathized with, was Inayatullah ‘Tiger’ Khan. Young, fierce, and fearless, Tiger trains new inductees in an isolated valley, at the Pak-Afghan border. Inhabited by Pashtun tribes, the rugged terrain makes this valley difficult to maneuver and vulnerable to terrorists. “This is like an entry point for terrorists who want to cause harm to our country. So, we’re the first line of defense in this battle,” says Tiger. “Lions, don’t be afraid. The braver you are, the more accurate your shot will be.” – Tiger’s words echo across the valley.

    Inayatullah Khan Investigating a Crime Scene

    Towards the end, the documentary shifts focus from action on the field to woes of dependents at home. Ill-equipped and understaffed, it is no secret that to protect the lives of innocent civilians, the brave men of BDU put their own lives at risk. These men come from extremely poor households, and are often the sole bread earners of their families. In a lifetime of serving the BDU, Tiger has destroyed over 7,000 explosives. In his tenure, he has also lost a leg and suffered irreversible damage to his arm.

    Some men of the unit suffer from PTSD, having carried the dead bodies of their own friends from the blast site. Others recall moments where injured children have come up to them asking, “Where were you when the blast occurred?”

    It is through initiatives like Chalta Phirta Documentary Festival, that compelling stories like these are brought to attetion for intelligent discourse and corrective action. These documentaries inspire and move viewers, as they shed light on important but neglected stories. Be on the lookout for Chalta Phirta Documentary Festival in your hometown during the coming weeks.

    For more events, see here


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021