KARACHI: As her books launches last week, Malala Yousafzai has been under severe criticism from intellectuals over some of the ‘disputed’ content of the book.
The recent episode of a heated debate observed in a news show during which a renowned ‘rationalist’ Pervez Hoodbhoy left the show after an unsuccessful effort to defend the book.
In Kamran Shahid’s “On the Front’ show, Malala’s recent book “I Am Malala” was under discussion.
Two well known columnists and analysts Ansar Abbasi and Orya Maqbool Jan were discussing the issue with Pervez Hoodbhoy, a professor at a leading university.
Orya, who recently wrote an anatomical article on the book, discussed some aspects which he though had made the book controversial. These aspects include content against Pakistan, Islam and favouring of Salman Rushdi, a condemned write in the Muslim world.
Ansar Abbasi nodded that he fully agreed with the content of Orya’s article.
Pervez, seemingly angry over both of the analysts, labelled them as “Media Taliban.” He denied presence of any such content in the book besides calling them liars.
On this point, Orya Maqbool Jan, who writes with Islamic perspective, mentioned number of pages and content. But Pervez Hoodbhoy remained adamant over his stance compelling Ansar Abbasi to call him “Shame for Nation, Religion and Country.”
After this Abbasi and Hoodbhoy traded allegations resulting Hoodbhoy to leave the show.