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The performing arts have generally been discouraged by the Muslim authorities in Pakistan, with the result that there is no Arab or Persian classical theatre. The only possible sources of drama were the Persian passion plays dealing with the martyrdom of Ḥuysayn (grandson of Muhammad) in the desert of Karbalāʾ in 680 ce, which have inspired some Urdu playwrights. Pakistan, a Muslim country, therefore either had to find a theatrical heritage in Urdu and Bengali theatre, which had been flourishing in India long before the partition, or look to the West. It did both. The Urdu-language theatre of Pakistan had ...(100 of 82044 words)