Mohammad Ali Naqvi’s political documentary on the life of former President General Pervez Musharraf, titled Insha’Allah Democracy, which has already premiered worldwide and has been broadcasted on BBC Four, was recently screened at a local cinema in Karachi. The screening was organised by Goethe Institut in collaboration with the Documentary Association of Pakistan.
With Emmy nominated Among The Believers (2015) and United Nations Association Grand Jury Prize winner Pakistan’s Hidden Shame (2014) among others to his credit, Pakistani-Canadian director, Mohammad Ali Naqvi aka Mo Naqvi decided to explore the evolution of Pakistani democracy back in 2010. During this time Mo had complete access to interview and document the candidates contesting for elections, including former President General Pervez Musharraf, who was in self-imposed exile in Dubai.
“When I began the film I had this idea in my head that it would be a simple comeback story reminiscent of Richard III where you have this Shakespearean former leader [Gen Musharraf] ridiculed in irrelevancy and trying for a comeback and dealing with his own demons and it was more of a tragic piece,” Naqvi shared after the screening.
The director further went on to say that when he actually started filming it became quite difficult for him to actually ignore the footage. “It wasn’t tragic, it was quite hilarious,” he added.
It took almost five years to complete Insha’Allah Democracy, which also highlights Karachi’s evolution from the 1990s along with the sectarian violence that was linked with post 9/11 political and social turmoil.
While it is quite interesting to see how Naqvi has woven himself into the narrative, he noted that he hadn’t intended to put himself in the story. “Remember when I started the story I was all about Musharraf and thought yes, he is the best. Through the film I actually go through a change myself and realise I was wrong and that is what this film is about.”
He continued: “If I just wanted to criticise Musharraf, it would have been really boring…it wouldn’t be a narrative. What was interesting was that my relationship was evolving and I was evolving in my own political consciousness so that became an intentional decision, but I didn’t arrive at that decision till the very end.”
