Outrage Online after PML-N Senator’s Disparaging Remarks about Mahira Khan and Anwar Maqsood
People are angry at PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah Khan for disparaging remarks he made against actor Mahira Khan and playwright and satirist Anwar Maqsood after videos of Maqsood’s comments on Maryam Nawaz and Marriyum Aurangzeb went viral online.
During An Evening With Mahira Khan, Hosted By Anwar Maqsood at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi on Sunday, Mahira spoke about two women fighting, yelling and giving each other poison.
“Two women, Maryam Nawaz and Marriyum Aurangzeb,” began Maqsood as the audience interrupted in laughter and cheers, before saying he was just giving an example. “I am not allowed to talk about politics. The situation is such. It’s going to get better very soon,” he said. “Poisoning etc happens in real life not just in dramas. Both are actors, not character actors,” he said.
Maqsood was trending on Twitter for this statement and there were many people who criticized him for it, believing that his jokes weren’t up to his usual standard.
PML-N leader Hina Parvez Butt stood up for both women and did so in a calm and composed manner.
Disagreeing with what he said is valid and your right. What isn’t your right, however, is resorting to degrading comments and personal insults.
But that’s what Senator Afnan Ullah Khan, son of the late PML-N leader Mushahidullah Khan, did in his tweet.
He went straight to character assassination for both Mahira and Maqsood and made disparaging remarks about their mental health.
Now, obviously, this is not okay. To use such language reflects poorly on him, not the people he was talking about. People started calling out the senator for his remarks, including a host of celebrities.
Farhan Saeed slammed this kind of mentality, saying it “doesn’t let Pakistan grow”.
“Political criticism must not lead to character assassination,” wrote actor Iffat Omar.
Actor Mishi Khan slammed the PML-N leader for being “rude and crude”.
Mira Sethi also called out the tweet, saying it said more about Afnan Ullah’s character than anything else.
Adnan Siddiqui also posted on Twitter calling out “disgraceful behaviour from a public figure”. He did not, however, quote-tweet the senator nor did he mention him by name.
It wasn’t just celebrities defending Mahira and Maqsood. There were a host of ordinary people who found the PML-N leader’s comments as repulsive.
The Aurat March Karachi also called out the sexist language in the tweet and said, “Usage of such ‘low’ level sexist remarks from members of the ‘upper’ house of Parliament is unacceptable!”
People called out the foul language used in the tweet.
We hope the senator deletes his tweet and apologises for his crass words. Disagree with someone all you want, but don’t stoop to making nasty jibes about their characters and personal lives. We should all be better than that. - Images
Another story in The Express Tribune entitled “Farhan Saeed Claps back at PMLN Senator Calling out Mahira Khan, Anwar Maqsood” read:
The Twitterverse seems to be buzzing due to an absurd and unlikely interaction that saw Senator Dr Affan Ullah Khan taking digs at actor Mahira Khan and renowned playwright Anwar Maqsood.
“Mahira Khan has [a] mental health problem and Anwar Maqsood is drunk in this part of life,” penned the politician in a tweet. “Both these shameless characters are cursed by [the] public. Books can be written on Mahira Khan's character - she also flatters Indian actors for money. And Anwar Maqsood is a cursed character full of prejudice.”
This personal attack by the PML-N Senator did not sit well with actor and singer Farhan Saeed, who took to his own Twitter handle to pen his thoughts.
“This is the mentality that doesn’t let [Pakistan] grow,” began Farhan. “[This] is what they do when someone just gives an opinion or has a political preference. They get personal so people stop giving their opinion.” He capped off the tweet by stating, “Senator? Zuban jahilon wali.”
Many agreed with the Suno Chanda actor’s statement. One user of the micro-blogging site tagged Jibran Ilyas, the social lead for PTI, requesting that everyone report the “sexist tweet” by the “disrespectful Senator,” further agreeing that this is why most celebrities don’t raise their voice. The user also hoped that the Humsafar star and lauded satirist would “file defamation.” Finally, they thanked the Pi Jaun singer for “highlighting this despicable behavior.”
Yet another user chimed in agreement with the Udaari star, calling the politician a “sick-minded person” in the process.
One user thanked Farhan, calling him a “hero,” while sharing their disappointment with cricketers who had met with Imran Khan when he became the Prime Minster, labelling them “hypocrites” for their silence. “Your tweets are very important for us until [the] elections,” stated the user.
Actor and author Mira Sethi also lent her support, sharing how Dr Affan Ullah Khan's tweet was "utterly shameful" and reflective of his character.
Others seemed to find it hard to agree with Farhan. One Twitter user asked the actor to “act like a celebrity,” and to “stop becoming [a] political party tout,” ending their statement by saying, “Celebs don’t get into any political party’s agents.”
Another user seemed to turn the tables on the Mere Humsafar star, questioning him about the language of the leader he was supporting.
Finally, this user stated, “This was not a platform to give his political opinion. [He] should proudly announce his political associate, otherwise face these types of language and criticism.”
Interactions like these highlight the importance of respectful discourse, which seems to be a fleeting aspect in the voicing of opinions or support.
