Pakistan’s very own Game of Thrones: Valar Morghulis or Valar Dohaeris

Psycho Pakistani · Aug 18, 2014

What we wait to see is how the Lannisters will stop the kingdom from an ugly revolution intended to take them down and keep the common man at bay this time. PHOTO: SAJJAD HASHMI

When you’re a die-hard fan of Game of Thrones (GoT), you cannot help but categorise every person you come across to a certain House from the plot. However, the recent developments in Pakistani politics and the prevalent power struggle between every influential political party provoked me to come up with my own version of GoT.

So, Lords and Ladies of Westeros, I present to you, Pakistan’s very own Game of Thrones:

The Sharifs as the Lannisters

They are rich and always pay their debts, or well at least they say that they do. When they’re in power, they divide the whole kingdom amongst the family to try and maintain their version of peace in the realm. And of course, let’s not forget that both the Sharifs’ and the Lannisters have chosen the ‘lion’ as their sigil. Thus, the Sharifs perfectly fit the character traits of the Lannisters.

Renly Baratheon defines them beautifully when he says,

“You have to give it to the Lannisters – they may be the most pompous, ponderous humans the Gods ever suffered to walk the world, but they do have outrageous amounts of money.”

Imran Khan as Stannis Baratheon

He doesn’t have much power in hand at the moment. He is the ruler of Dragonstone but does not care much about that. He claims to be the rightful king of the Iron Throne and the seven kingdoms, and believes that the Lannisters (Sharifs) got the throne through rigging. Every now and then, he keeps attacking the King’s Landing (Islamabad), hoping to get what he believes is rightfully his to begin with.

One of the most famous battles he fought against the Lannisters was the Battle of the Black Water which occurred on May 11, 2013, where Imran was hopeful that he would be sitting on the ‘throne’ when the next sun rises. But that clearly didn’t happen and he’s been miserable ever since.

Rumours are that he has a secret daughter, is supported by a mysterious women and lives on top of a hill from where he can overlook the King’s Landing. Naya Westeros all the way.

Bhuttos as Targaryens

They’ve had a sad past which they keep reminding everyone about over and over again. They once ruled the kingdom until their king was overthrown and killed in a revolt, and now they’re out to seek revenge. They have had many inter-family conflicts and have their own ways of ruling their areas. Some term those methods as inhuman and barbaric. They see themselves as liberators while their critics see them as infiltrators.

Democracy is the best revenge unless you have dragons, then go dragons!

Sheikh Rasheed as Petyr Baelish

Though he is not a member of a high born house, he is still famous in the landing. He has a brilliant sense of irony, comes up with brilliant rhetoric’s regarding the situation in King’s Landing and has been quoted marvellously on a couple of occasions. He is known to be a colourful person by nature and lives in a beautifully built house where they say colourful things happen. He somehow always manages to make ways with anyone who is in power. Nevertheless, he speaks wisely and is a man you would want to have on your side.

MQM as the Starks

They do not have much power to claim today but are strengthening themselves from within. They live with a hope that one day the throne will be theirs. There are many stories associated with them across the kingdom, most of which are the works of the negative propaganda spread by the Lannisters. They blame the Lannisters for being the mastermind behind the gruesome Red Weddings during the 1990s. They’ve been through their fair share of tough times and believe in internal unity and brotherhood.

“In the winter, we must protect ourselves, look after one another.” – Ned Stark

They have had conflicts with the Night’s Watch but when it comes to fighting the White Walkers, they stand close to them and turn to allies.

The Taliban are coming.

Taliban as White Walkers

Yes, they live far towards the north in some unknown land, but what we know of them is that they are inhuman and barbaric. They are a threat to the whole kingdom. Everyone wants to keep them away from the wall while a few also make secret sacrifices to them out of fear.

Wall, did I say wall? Yeah, so who is watching the wall?

Pakistan Army as the Night’s Watch

Yes, these men, they guard the kingdom from the threat that lies beyond. They have Rangers as a subgroup which runs their day to day tasks and firmly safeguard their oath.

“And now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall live and die at my post. I am the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honour to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.”

As more drama unfolds in the King’s Landing in Pakistan, the power struggle for the Iron Throne gets more tricky and gruesome. What we wait to see is how the Lannisters will stop the kingdom from an ugly revolution intended to take them down and keep the common man at bay this time, while the Night’s Watch silently protects the people from the growing threat of the White Walkers.

But let’s not forget the most important message remains to be, Valar Dohaeris – all men must serve.

Now I do not know if Game of Thrones was based on the political situation of Pakistan or vice versa, what I do know, however, is that whether we are GoT fans or just citizens of Pakistan, we are all waiting anxiously to see what happens next.

Pakistan’s very own Game of Thrones: Valar Morghulis or Valar Dohaeris – The Express Tribune Blog