Film Screening and Panel Discussion on Contested Belonging and Citizenship in Pakistan

The beginnings of a war are in the everyday and it is in the everyday, that we find traces and erasures of violence long past. In 1971, Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) seceded from West Pakistan, after a bloody and protracted conflict. Borders in the already partitioned sub-continent were re-drawn once again producing new fault lines of gendered belonging, and citizenship in modern South Asia.

LSE Gender and LSESU Pakistan Development Society in collaboration with the Partition of Identity (POI) Project (UCL) invite you to a film screening of Bhashaili (Adrift). Directed by Jawad Sharif, the film tells the story of Pakistani Bengalis living in Karachi (Pakistan) many of whom face issues around citizenship and statelessness. The film follows the everyday stories of young and old Pakistani Bengalis as they chase their dreams, find love, stand up for injustices, and face despair around their lack of recognition in Pakistan.

A panel discussion on contested belonging and identity-making in Pakistan, as a legacy of war and violence will follow, including a Q&A with the film’s director.

Speakers: Dr Humera Iqbal (UCL), Jawad Sharif (Director), Dr Mahvish Ahmad (LSE Sociology)

Chair: Dr Maria Rashid (LSE Gender)

The event will be held in CKK.2.14 (Cheng Kin Ku Building, LSE campus) from 4-6.15pm on Wednesday 22nd Nov, 2023. Refreshments will be available for the screening.

BHASHAILI (ADRIFT) (2023). Directed & Produced by Jawad Sharif. Produced by Humera Iqbal, Syeda Kashmala, Anushay Malik. Based on Research by Dr Humera Iqbal, Dr Anushay Malik, Dr Maria Rashid & Arooj Aurangzeb

The film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg81sh_tERs&t=4s