Religio-political groups have vandalised the wall-murals of iconic Pakistani women activists in Karachi. The public artwork on the outer walls of the Karachi Press Club painted by artist Haider Ali, has been damaged once again on Sunday.
According to a report of Geo News, some unknown persons belonging to religio-political groups have plastered the murals with posters of Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian major general, who was killed in Baghdad by US drone attack last month.
The vandalised murals include that of Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan’s first female architect. There were also paintings and frescos of two prominent figures, Sabeen Mahmud and Perween Rahman.
The murals were painted in 2016 by artist Haider Ali, CEO at Phool Patti, as part of a “I am Karachi” campaign. A year after the paintings were completed, vandals defaced the images with black paint and graffiti. The murals were later restored by local artists, but they were attacked again on Sunday.
Haider Ali, told the media outlet that he was shocked to learn of the vandalism and destruction of his artwork. “I really have no words to describe how I feel right now. The last time the murals were attacked, we had to repaint them. I really don’t know what we will do this time, or if this keeps happening again and again,” he added.
Imtiaz Khan Faran, the president of the Karachi Press Club, was disheartened. He called termed those who damaged the artwork as “sick minds”. He added, “we can’t control what is happening outside the press club’s walls. But whoever these people are they should respect Pakistan’s legends and heroes.”
According to a report of Geo News, some unknown persons belonging to religio-political groups have plastered the murals with posters of Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian major general, who was killed in Baghdad by US drone attack last month.
The vandalised murals include that of Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan’s first female architect. There were also paintings and frescos of two prominent figures, Sabeen Mahmud and Perween Rahman.
The murals were painted in 2016 by artist Haider Ali, CEO at Phool Patti, as part of a “I am Karachi” campaign. A year after the paintings were completed, vandals defaced the images with black paint and graffiti. The murals were later restored by local artists, but they were attacked again on Sunday.
Haider Ali, told the media outlet that he was shocked to learn of the vandalism and destruction of his artwork. “I really have no words to describe how I feel right now. The last time the murals were attacked, we had to repaint them. I really don’t know what we will do this time, or if this keeps happening again and again,” he added.
Imtiaz Khan Faran, the president of the Karachi Press Club, was disheartened. He called termed those who damaged the artwork as “sick minds”. He added, “we can’t control what is happening outside the press club’s walls. But whoever these people are they should respect Pakistan’s legends and heroes.”