BBC presenter Mawaan Rizwan tests out an alleged 'miracle cure' for his homosexuality after a religious Imam claimed it can stop people from having gay sexual thoughts.
Mawaan heads east in the BBC Three documentary How Gay is Pakistan?, to find out what life is like for gay people in the city and decides to humour the advice and take the £12 remedy.
At a clinic run by Imam Sahib, the Youtube star is told to take a powder and tablet twice a day that within a week will help him become more attracted to women.
Told that it is a herbal medicine Mawaan has his suspicions that it won't work and eventually mocks the Imam when he is obviously proved right.
He visits the religious leader in his quest to understand what it means to be gay for those who follow the Islamic religion.
Referred to constantly as a 'patient with a disease', the Imam explains: "The hole made by God for the exit of waste material from the human body is not for sex.
"Nature has reserved another hole for that purpose and given it legal cover under Sharia."
After Mawaan reveals he is gay himself, the Imam tells him he only has two options to help him stay alive if he was to live in Pakistan: "Either live a secret life or leave the country of origin."
The presenter is told by the Imam that as a homosexual he should "purge his mind of thoughts and let God show him the right path".
The powerful documentary also explores the underground transgender community who behind closed doors thrive but in public are constantly under threat.
Meeting with Shahzadi, a transgender woman, he follows her difficult journey to becoming a man.
For Mawaan, who happily lives in the UK as a gay man, he says: "I'm really lucky that I can live openly and freely and not have to be scared for my life every day, which sadly is the case for a lot of the people I met."
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