Adviser Farooki Explains Suspension of Theatre Festival

In a Facebook post addressing the matter, Farooki, also a renowned filmmaker, explained that the group had been protesting against the festival for some time and demanded the cancellation of the venue’s allocation. He expressed concern over the way the protesting group was labeled as a "mob," despite their identities remaining undisclosed.

"We began investigating the situation after hearing about the festival's cancellation," Farooki wrote. "The government has been actively promoting cultural events across the country. Just yesterday, three exhibitions took place at the Shilpakala Academy, and today, Prachyanat is performing there. So, why would the police order the cancellation of the festival?"

Farooki further revealed that, during the investigation, it became clear that a section of theatre workers had been exerting pressure to cancel the event. The group, he noted, raised concerns about individuals linked to the July movement attempting to use the festival as a platform. They demanded that no events take place until those responsible for the July killings faced justice.

As a result of this pressure, Mahila Samity ultimately canceled the venue allocation for the festival.

Farooki criticized the festival organizers for not acknowledging the real reasons behind the cancellation, accusing them of attempting to shift the blame onto the police and referring to the protesting group as a "mob."

He further called out the organizers, saying, "Instead of taking responsibility, they tried to deflect blame and wrongly accused the police. Don’t they feel the need to apologize to the nation for their involvement in the July movement?"

The adviser’s post highlighted the complex dynamics surrounding the event and the need for transparency in addressing such sensitive matters.