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Other occasions when Pakistanis wore their national dress abroad and no one died
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Other occasions when Pakistanis wore their national dress abroad and no one died

Why were some people sooo offended by Sarfaraz Ahmed's choice to wear shalwar kameez at the Buckingham Palace?
Images Staff
Updated 31 May, 2019

As Pakistan takes to the field for its first Cricket World Cup match today, we still have the Sarfaraz Ahmed shalwar kameez controversy on our minds.

Why were some people sooo offended by his choice to wear the Pakistani national dress at his Buckingham Palace meeting with Queen Elizabeth II?

Also read: Sarfaraz Ahmed stands out in a white kurta while meeting the Queen of England

The Pakistan cricket captain has addressed the hullabulloo, saying that he is proud of his decision: "The shalwar kameez is our national dress and I got instructions from the board to do all these things so I tried to promote our national dress. I felt very proud that the other captains were wearing suits but I was wearing national dress."

But really, he shouldn't have to explain himself.

After all, the shalwar kameez has been spotted at international events many times before...

PM Imran Khan rocks desi clothes on all his state visits

PM Imran Khan's wardrobe for all official business is shalwar kameez — whether he's in China, Malaysia or Turkey!

PM Imran Khan with Turkish premier Erdogan during his state visit in January this year
PM Imran Khan with Turkish premier Erdogan during his state visit in January this year

Malala's made shalwar kameez her signature look

Malala's no different. Her signature look for all major appearances — the UN, the Nobel prize ceremony or even just late night TV — is her shalwar kameez-dupatta combo.

Malala at her 2015 interview on The Ellen Show
Malala at her 2015 interview on The Ellen Show

Maleeha Lodhi loves her shalwar kameezes

Pakistan's Ambassador at the UN has also long made shalwar kameez her outfit of choice. Even NYT notes that she is "unfailingly attired" in our national dress.

Maleeha Lodhi at the UN
Maleeha Lodhi at the UN

Benazir Bhutto was also a fan

Even while she lived in exile in London, BB was frequently spotted in shalwar kameez.

Benazir signing a charter of democracy with Nawaz Sharif in London in 2006
Benazir signing a charter of democracy with Nawaz Sharif in London in 2006

Mahira Khan showed off her sari game at Cannes

Mahira wore a Mehreen & Menahel sari to Cannes last year, which was considered as one of her best looks at the film fest!

Mahira at Cannes 2018
Mahira at Cannes 2018

Sharmeen Obaid puts a fusion twist to shalwar kameez at the Oscars

Oscar-winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy has more often than not graced red carpets abroad in contemporary but traditional desi attire; we're talking Bunto Kazmi, Sana Safinaz, Sania Maskatiya —the works. Even her mother who was her date to the Academy Awards wore a long embroidered gown instead of a boring dress.

Sharmeen at the Oscars 2012 and 2016
Sharmeen at the Oscars 2012 and 2016

Mawra Hocane made chooridar pajamas cool again at Pakistan Film Festival New York

Mawra wore a simple yet striking crimson Muse Luxe outfit: a short peplum kameez with chooridar pyjama.

Mawra with Maleeha Lodhi at the film fest celebrating Pakistani cinema in NY
Mawra with Maleeha Lodhi at the film fest celebrating Pakistani cinema in NY

Comments

Hari Chennai May 31, 2019 01:56pm
Sarfraz should be hailed for what he done. South Asia should come out of Colonisation mentality.
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Jehengir khan May 31, 2019 01:57pm
The day Malala will return to pakistan, I will cheer for her......what a shame that a noble laureate for peace is forced to leave her country and take asylum in UK.....we need to continue her fight in educating girls...
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Secular Pathan May 31, 2019 02:02pm
I am against him wearing Shalwar Kameez at Buckingham Palace. It is not a good symbol and is associated with negative things. Besides, who said this is our national dress? Why do the Turks wear western clothes?
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Ahmad May 31, 2019 02:05pm
Saree is not our national dress
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SHAHID SATTAR May 31, 2019 02:53pm
Inferior complex still rules the mindset of our people.
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ExPak May 31, 2019 03:19pm
Who cares what he wore?! Are we gonna win the World Cup 2019? That is the more important discussion.
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Osama May 31, 2019 03:25pm
The problem was that this was a extremely formal event and a Sherwani would of been more appropriate than a simple Shalwar Kameez that looked okay at best.
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Pawan May 31, 2019 03:47pm
Why do most Pakistani TV panelists wear western suits?
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Najma Hisham May 31, 2019 04:02pm
loved your article.
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ghazanavi May 31, 2019 04:25pm
Why are these coconuts complaining. They still have slave/colonial mentality. Well done srfaraz.
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Rizwan May 31, 2019 04:52pm
@Secular Pathan .. Really? What negative things are associated with??
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Shadman May 31, 2019 05:36pm
Dr Salam was wearing Sherwani while receiving his Nobel prize
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Hanna May 31, 2019 06:39pm
@Ahmad sari is one of our traditional attires,it was widely worn in till the 70's but is still worn today
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HashBrown® May 31, 2019 06:42pm
It must be hard to be a Pakistani and ashamed of your culture. I genuinely feel pity for those who are so submissive they can't even see the beauty in their native land. The people who are complaining have been battered into a state of submission by years of shame and self-hatred, and now they aren't even comfortable in their own skin. It's sad more than anything else.
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HashBrown® May 31, 2019 06:57pm
@Jehengir khan "...what a shame that a noble laureate for peace is forced to leave her country and take asylum in UK..." I wouldn't be surprised if many of the people who dislike her are the same ones who are complaining about Sarfaraz's choice of attire. There is a fundamental complex within the minds of many Pakistanis, which makes them hate to see their own people shine - especially overseas. Add to that the historical servitude they feel for England, and this is the result...
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Shahzad May 31, 2019 07:20pm
I live in England and we should be proud of Sarfraz. Its not easy to stand out from the rest but he showed the courage and we must support that courage.
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Raju Patel May 31, 2019 07:29pm
Wearing anything you like is own choice, but it is yours and this is mine is foolish. Look around, we will find 90 % things around us are invented or created by western countries .
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Udayan Mitra May 31, 2019 07:58pm
Well done, Sarfaraz. Those complaining are the inferiority complex ridden “brown sahibs”. If you represent Pakistan in an international event, it’s only fitting that you wear Pakistani attire. No need to slavishly defer to the Queen of England...
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Surprised Jun 01, 2019 08:45am
Do both men and women in Pakistan wear the same dress - Shalwar Kameez?
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Sam Jun 01, 2019 08:57am
It an inappropriate dress for the 21st century look at some of the progressive countries Japan, China and others. Shalwar is good for sleeping as pajama. Forget about this being our culture lets progress.
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Sara Jun 01, 2019 04:44pm
Why would anyone die...be negatively received? Strange.
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Amy Jun 02, 2019 12:16am
I'm proud of what sarfaraz did. It shows that we r not afraid to be who we are.
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Irfan Ul huq Jun 02, 2019 09:59am
May be in the next game He should take the field in shalwar.He can wear whatever he likes but I wish he had paid more attention to his fitness and the game of cricket rather than wondering what he should wear tonight
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Sam Jun 02, 2019 04:55pm
@Hari Chennai How about excelling in sports, sciences and others to prove ones worth. Performing third rate in these areas wearing "national" dress proves your backward mentality.
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Zich Jun 03, 2019 12:10pm
The real place to make deference is in the field which is entirely missing!
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Chingez Khan Jun 03, 2019 02:33pm
@Hari Chennai All South Asian should do the same. It would have been a wonderful scene if Afg, Bng, Ind and Pak captains be wearing their national dresses at the Buckingham Palace.
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