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Pakistani Twitter users are shaking their heads at the misogyny of Abrar ul Haq's 'Begum Shak Karti Hai'

Pakistani Twitter users are shaking their heads at the misogyny of Abrar ul Haq's 'Begum Shak Karti Hai'

This musical equivalent of a "wife joke" has earned the ire of the internet for very good reason.
28 Oct, 2021

If getting bashed for mocking mothers wasn't enough, singer turned politician Abrar ul Haq has tried to take a jab at wives in his latest song and people are not impressed.

The song, 'Begum Shak Karti Hai', features the 'Baby Shark' rhythm, which is interesting considering he went after mothers who let their children listen to the song. "When we were young, we got to listen to the Kalma being recited by our mothers," he had said at a PTI convention in August. "Today's kids are handed cellphones so that mothers can play them 'Baby Shark'," he had said.

Haq released 'Begum Shak Karti Hai' on October 25 but most of the criticism began on October 27.

His newest song seems to be a terribly misguided attempt at hitting back at his critics. It features the story of a man and his wife, with the woman being shown as "obsessive" for wanting to know what her husband is up to when he acts shadily. The husband in question is planning a surprise for his wife and we see the wife, played by Saba Qamar, going to extreme lengths (such as using a drone and hiring a team of bodyguards) to catch him in the act of cheating.

Apart from the terrible storyline, the lyrics and tune aren't that catchy either. He replaced the 'baby shark du-du-du-du-du-du' with the not very clever 'begum shak kar du-du-du-du-du-du begum shak karti hai which translates to the wife is suspicious. We would also be suspicious if our spouse was acting shady like the man in the music video but that's besides the point.

In the tweet sharing the song, Haq said it was dedicated to all men who were "too much married" or "run mureed". Colloquially, a run mureed is a man who is beneath is wife's thumb because he loves her too much.

There are obviously many people who didn't find this song funny and have taken to social media to call it deeply misogynistic and regressive.

Many criticised the term "run mureed" used by Haq in the song lyrics. The concept itself is rather gross — apparently loving your wife too much is a bad thing?

Others didn't even want to acknowledge that this was the same singer who gave us so many hit songs in the past.

Some people were amazed at his audacity — covering 'Baby Shark' after bashing it?

Also... copyright and plagiarism?

Some users called it sexist and insulting.

Others were sick of the whole thing.

There were some real questions being asked.

People were also looking for people to blame.

There was a question for Saba Qamar and Haq.

In fact, there were a lot of questions for Qamar.

One user brought up the very serious reality of the roles being reversed.

In a country like Pakistan where gender-based violence is rampant, is there any question of what would happen if the roles were reversed? There are hundreds of thousands of examples of women being killed at the slightest hint of infidelity.

Most women in Pakistan wouldn't have the ability to accuse them of cheating and to make light of this situation is pretty appalling. In a society where women are killed for trying to break up with or refuse men, it is shocking that Haq thought this was a good idea. Even if put aside the violence aspect, why is he making fun of men who love their wives? In case he didn't realise, every woman would prefer a loving husband over one who is cruel and violent.

Comments

Anonymouseee Oct 28, 2021 08:49pm
What he said was the truth and nothing more. People have become so intolerant even when facing the truth. Grow up everyone. It’s free speech.
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Usman Oct 28, 2021 09:34pm
Wife jokes and husband jokes for that matter are very common. This was a fun video, take it for what it is. Why are people taking this song so seriously. And yes this is the same guy who sang chamkeeli, it was a fun song just like this one. A joke is a joke and should be taken as such, yes jokes also have boundaries, but they are much more fluid than normal everyday conversations.
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Ilyas Tarar Oct 28, 2021 09:57pm
I just watched the video. Why is there so much fuss about it? What happened?
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ST Oct 28, 2021 10:01pm
Its a funny song. Why people didn't like it?. I cee nothing wrong in it
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Mera Watan Oct 28, 2021 10:04pm
For heaven sake don't bring American "cancel culture" here. We know very well where it is heading.
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Jaredlee007 Oct 28, 2021 10:09pm
Very good song. I didn't find anything objectionable. Those who are going crazy on Twitter are ignorant.
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Zeeshan Oct 28, 2021 11:21pm
Cancel culture at best. Run Mureed isn't just a loving husband but a husband who dumps his family especially mother for his wife. It isn't a feminist issue cuz on both sides are females. The opposite of Run Mureed doesn't love his wife less but isn't ready to dump his family
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Malz Oct 29, 2021 12:03am
Whatever we are seeing in media is mirroring the society at large. It is a regressive mindset which as become the norm. And that’s what we are seeing on television and hearing in our songs.
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Hamid Oct 29, 2021 12:40am
I see more praise for this song than negativity. Why being impartial on this.
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A Khan Oct 29, 2021 01:13am
Here we go again..you folks need to lighten up. Stop the moral policing, it's becoming a joke now.
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Faisal Bhatti Oct 29, 2021 02:15am
Baby shark
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Akil Akhtar Oct 29, 2021 03:03am
our celebrities area trying to imitate the west which is not right all the time....especially in their Political Correctness.
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Art Oct 29, 2021 04:37am
Women are shaki beings, dangerous also!
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Azg Oct 29, 2021 04:53am
I think he has tried to combine some of the famous tunes into this supposed to be a comedy song ... unfortunately the central idea was a flop.
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Sab Oct 29, 2021 07:32am
Time is not far when because of so called political correctness, no one will produce anything worthwhile artwise.
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Jigen Oct 29, 2021 07:33am
I love this song
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Xeexoo Oct 29, 2021 08:32am
but why Ruin Baby shark song?
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Iqbal Aswani Oct 29, 2021 09:32am
Someone please explain me what is misogyny patriarchy in this song? Looks like I am reading a UK evening tabloid and next news will be about a 7 years old unverified scandal of some sports person.
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Kamran Oct 29, 2021 10:12am
It is a stupid song. That's all. Don't bring "gender" into every debate.
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Khan Oct 29, 2021 10:45am
Best song!! Stop making drawing room comments !
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Ann Oct 29, 2021 11:13am
Guys, guys, do you think women are too much married? Or do you think it's her eternal duty to spend each and every day of her life slaving for her husband and inlaws?
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Anika Oct 29, 2021 11:30am
Much better than Ali Sethi's songs.
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Rizwan Oct 29, 2021 11:45am
Its copy of kid's song baby shark. Chill!
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Rizwan Oct 29, 2021 12:05pm
You find it offensive I find it funny, that's why I'm happier than you. Lol!
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haris Oct 29, 2021 12:15pm
Send all these Twitterati to Mars and let them build their own society based on their desired values. We in this World wanted to have peace of mind. Please let us enjoy few moments.
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haris Oct 29, 2021 12:16pm
Dear insanely serious guy, If you can't take a joke as a joke then please find a new planet for yourself.
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Sara Oct 29, 2021 02:21pm
The song tune is copy of Indian song "Lehenga", while chorus is copy of "baby shark" tune
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Abrar Oct 29, 2021 02:24pm
Creativity has touched a new low........
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Iqbal Bhai Oct 29, 2021 06:31pm
Wife checking husband's mobile: Perfectly logical. Husband checking wife's mobile: Regressive culture. Trust issues. Wife should walk out.
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Ali da Malanga Oct 29, 2021 06:39pm
Where is the misogyny? Those who cannot take a joke start to give them stupid meanings.
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Pathanoo Oct 29, 2021 11:06pm
I am the Biggest Supporter of women's Rights across the Board. I will not have any Less Rights, Equality, Freedom and Fairness for women than what men enjoy. They are Equal to men in every way in my mind,heart and soul. But I fail to undestand the Hullaballoo about this song. It's just a parody,Folks. Enjoy a satirical song. Don't make it what it is not.
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Ping Han Oct 31, 2021 12:29pm
How come there are no photos of Mira Sethi and Ali Sethi?
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AJ Nov 01, 2021 11:18pm
So, husband jokes are fine, but wife jokes aren't?
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