Punjabi Stage Play Raises Voice for Daughters’ Rights at Awami Theatre Festival

 By: Aziz Khatri

 Karachi: On the seventh day of the ongoing 25-day Awami Theatre Festival 2026, organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, the Punjabi stage play “Rab Diyan Rehmatan” was staged to an enthusiastic and emotionally engaged audience. The play was written by Azmat Ali and directed by Shameer Rahi.

The cast featured Bobi Kamal, Faiza Malik, Irma Ahmed, Kamal Idrees, Muhammad Shahzad, Nadeem Malik, Nasara Noor, Sajjad Bhatt, Sapna Ghazal, and Shar Ghazal, all of whom delivered powerful performances and were widely appreciated for their expressive acting.

The story revolves around Chaudhry, a father consumed by deep-rooted prejudice against daughters, believing only sons to be rightful heirs to his wealth and legacy. When he is blessed with children for the first time, he is given two daughters, whom he despises so intensely that he neither sees their faces nor allows the Azaan to be recited in their ears. Upon the birth of a third daughter, Chaudhry orders her killing; however, a compassionate midwife secretly saves the child by taking her away.

Chaudhry’s close friend Allah Rakha repeatedly attempts to guide him, reminding him that daughters are a blessing from Allah and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) held immense love and respect for his daughters. Despite these reminders, Chaudhry remains unmoved.

As the story unfolds, Allah blesses Chaudhry with twin sons, while tragically, his two daughters pass away due to illness. This marks the beginning of Chaudhry’s downfall. The sons he once adored begin to rebel against him, forcibly obtaining his signatures on property documents, ultimately leaving him paralyzed and helpless.

Ironically, the person who stands by him in his darkest hour is the daughter of Allah Rakha. It is later revealed that she is, in fact, Chaudhry’s own third daughter—the one he had once rejected. This revelation brings Chaudhry to a painful realization: throughout his life, he had mistaken Allah’s greatest mercies for burdens.

The central message of “Rab Diyan Rehmatan” powerfully conveys that daughters are not a burden but a mercy from Allah. Sons are blessings, and blessings are accountable, while mercies are unconditional. The play raises a poignant social question, highlighting how, in contemporary society, children often abandon their parents for wealth and property, forgetting values of compassion, gratitude, and responsibility.

The audience responded with sustained applause, praising the play for its strong social message, emotional depth, and impactful performances.