Written by: Muhammad Asif Nawaz
Posted on: October 29, 2024 | 
| 中文
Osman Haneef
Osman Haneef’s debut novel, “The Verdict” was printed in Pakistan in 2022 to widespread critical acclaim. It had already been published in the international market, and the Pakistani edition came with certain changes. The writer also said in an interview that he had a hard time finding a local publisher for the book, and that is quite understandable. I recently got a chance to read the book, enthused by its unconventional theme, and thought about sharing my thoughts on the novel.
To start with, there is no getting around the fact that the theme Haneef chooses for the novel is quite a sensitive one. So unusual is the choice of the topic, that I am sure very few Pakistani writers would select such a topic. The basic plot is laid out soon in the book: a Christian boy accused of defiling a mosque is charged with blasphemy, and the protagonist, the lawyer Sikander Ghaznavi, is all set to defend him. The stage is set up for a thrilling courtroom drama, that incorporates the cultural and social elements of the place, and it leaves you in anticipation of what is to come. The fact that the case in the book has been based on an actual case that happened in the 1990s, doesn’t take away the appeal of the book.
Blasphemy - The Trial of Danesh Masih, Osman Haneef's first novel
A novel is basically a pact between the writer and the reader, where the former promises to the latter that this is the kind of story I will be telling you. Selecting such a moral topic, which is likely to get the author into trouble, is challenging. One needs to balance it with a plot line that is just as strong and convincing. And this is where the novel falters, for instead of the courtroom drama, the novel moves to the personal life of the protagonist, who has come back to his hometown from the US. Doing away with the actual courtroom scenes in about two or three chapters, the novel largely concerns itself with the personal tribulations of the character. His girlfriend, Sanah, who deserted him and has now married a notorious character, fails to make any impression. Neither her actions, nor her convictions seem to leave any impression. There is the talk of the protagonist’s nanny, Ahbey that is dealt with sensitivity. Some of the other characters seem too cliched to be true and there is your typical bad man, who has the quintessential change of heart. The parallel track of the protagonist’s childhood musings fails to really juxtapose with his current decisions. At places, it seems that the author started off by opening a lot of dimensions regarding a given issue, but somehow got lost in the process, and decided to leave things unanswered.
An illustration by Samiah Bilal in 'The Verdict'. (Picture credits to Dawn)
The novel is set in Quetta, which is a refreshing change, as there are a few, if any, Pakistani books in English set in that city. The small-town flavor of the place, where everyone knows everyone, and its history is palpable. While reading the book in contemporary Pakistan, it seems that none of the characters really know the gravity of the situation they are being put into, which might be explained by the fact that the book is set is around the time of 2008. The tactics used during the court proceedings tend to be on the melodramatic side. There, of course, is the mention of the gloom and doom that accompanies venturing into such a sensitive territory, but it seems like all the real things are being glossed over in the book. Some of which are, of course, understandable, while some of which is not. The real trouble I had with the book was that the book loses its point of focus. The personal details of the protagonist, especially his lost love with his ex-girlfriend, are neither engaging nor captivating. It is nothing which has not been done to death by Pakistani writers writing in the English language. The book could have been a better read had it decided to focus on the issue of blasphemy.
To its credit though, the novel is a breezy read, and does keep you reading till the end. The thriller element of the story, putting you into a state of anticipation, also keeps you glued to the pages. The climax, although fitting, is dealt in haste. I believe the international edition of the book came with an epilogue, and that might have addressed this concern. This is a novel which may polarize its readers, and the reader should judge for himself/herself.
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