Celebs who don’t just Talk the Talk…but actually Walk the Walk
In wake of the recent floods many politicians and celebrities started Facebooking and Tweeting for asking for aid and prayers. Some like Ali Zafar, Laal Band, etc. even went on telethons to raise money from our local channels. But a few have decided to go against federal aid and simple prayers and have taken this situation in their own hands. These are the celebrities I salute.
Hadiqa Kiani
For the past few days (since the floods started) Hadiqa has been quite vocal about getting aid to these victims with constant Facebook status updates urging her 20k+ fans to not donate money but actual food and clothing to the victims and actually get aid to the victims not to some organization. Hadiqa was ending almost all of her posts with “DO SOMETHING” and she made it quite clear that she is being vocal about her donations “NOT” for publicity but to urge and inspire her fans to do the same. She sat down on the Geo show Pukaar with Pop singer turned Bollywood movie star Ali Zafar to convince the viewers of Geo to donate to a fund. Hadiqa later changed her statement saying that most charities in Pakistan are corrupt and people should only donate money to the charities they absolutely trust, better yet send trucks to the actual victim camps. Then Hadiqa’s management posted an album of Hadiqa listing essentials, shopping for food, loading the trucks and helping with the entire procedure of sending direct aid to the flood victims. Her management recently said “These pictures are NOT meant to show off. They are meant to inspire you to actually do something besides sitting on FB all day.”
Hadiqa was very active in the relief efforts for the 2005 earthquake where she even adopted her son Naaday Ali from. It seems that whenever her country needs her this girl is ready to tackle any situation. God bless you Hadiqa Kiani and keep it up, Hadiqa plans to send constant aid till stability reaches the flood ridden areas of Pakistan.
Hadiqa Kiani More pictures at Facebook
Shehzad Roy
Shehzad is known for his non profit charity organization Zindagi Trust which was founded in 2002 by the pop star. The organization is built on helping children accross the country. The organization was initially built to give the correct education to every child in Pakistan. According to Shehzad Roy education is a right and it is. About 2/3 of the Pakistani youth attends public school and those living in Pakistan know what “public school” means. But, clearly education is not the only problem in Pakistan, poverty and terrorism are at an all time high and Shehzad is working extremely hard to end these problems. In 2009 he won a Lux Style Award for his controversial and politically strong album Qismat Apnay Haath Mei. So rightfully so Shehzad felt the need to go and do his level best in helping these flood victims. Shehzad has been on a hiatus after his debut song in a Bollywood film “Meetha Khatta” titled “Bull****” picturized on Akshay Kumar. Then on the other day Shehzad was on Geo’s Capital Talk show discussing the current situation of the country. A few hours ago Shehzad’s website for Zindagi Trust and his Facebook he let his about 8k fans that he is in Jafarabad, Balochistan where he is “distributing relief goods” he also urged his fans and followers to donate to Zindagi Trust. Shehzad is a role model for good doers accross Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that he is working with the Pakistani army to reach directly to the flood victims. Its good to know that there are a few good men in Pakistan yet.
Shehzad Roy More pictures at Facebook
Atif Aslam
Atif is perhaps the biggest Pop icon of the subcontinent. So if there is anyone to inspire the youth it is Atif Aslam. Atif has been busy with working on the “Bol” movie with the other Pakistani super star/Humanitarian Hadiqa Kiani so for him to take time out was just a beautiful thing. Atif left a message along with pictures of his recent visit to Charsada, Peshawar a place where the floods have left devastation and depression. Atif took a tour of the flood stricken area seeing dead bodies and poverty must have really effected the Pop star. “the magnitude ov it is just starting to reveal the catastrophe it has created. No doubt this is much much bigger than tsunami. I saw the dead out ov their graves while i was there looking at them but could do nothing. The kids didnt even know where they use to play. They have lost their loved ones and can do nothing about it , sadly but certainly they are waiting for someone to hold their hand n give them strength to live.”
Atif Aslam More pictures at Facebook
Some online critics are quick to claim “SHOW OFF” and say that these celebs are only doing this for publicity but damn it i disagree. These are celebrities, cameras and photogs follow them on a casual visit to the coffee shop…the paparazzi phenomenon is starting in Pakistan with these big stars (namely Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, and Hadiqa Kiani) so to say that they are taking pictures to show off is a very ignorant statement. And even if these celebrities are doing this for publicity well then atleast the flood victims are getting real help. If “Allah won’t give them Sawab because they are taking pictures” well atleast the victims will be able to eat real food, drink clean water, and dress in warm clothing.
Don’t judge their intentions as only Allah has the right to judge us. We should look at these individuals work as an example and do our best to give the flood victims as much as we can, like these celebs are doing.
Peace.
