Catwalks in Karachi: Gesture of defiance

Looking past the bullet holes and ignoring gunfire, Pakistan hosts it's first ever Fashion Week and forgets the Taliban.

The four-day event which had previously been postponed is being held in the countries largest city has attracted the worlds media.

This was an immense blown to the Taliban's plans for reigning over the country. Ignoring warnings, fashion lovers, designers and well know models took the stage to show their God given talents.

Security was so tight, foreign buyers and designers where not invited to the event but organizers wanted to show the world that Pakisan had more to offer than images of pain and suffering.

Ayesha Tammy Haq, the CEO of Fashion Pakistan Week spoke about the problems they faced and added, '... but that doesn't mean that the country shuts down. That doesn't mean that business comes to a halt."

As models took to the stage, reflections of the drama surrounding Pakistan were evident in many designs.

Some women graced the runway in body armour and dangerously spiked brackets. Others wore the traditional burqa-style headgear but revealed their shoulders alongside tattoos.

The controversy aims to show the other side of life. There are people who live, work and shop the wealthy and stable parts of town and have some normality.

This event may one day rival Milan and Paris but for now the message is quite clear.

' This is our gesture of defiance to the Taliban.' Ayesha Tammy Haq

Image taken by Kay Obibi