However, Faryal did not let the trolls win and clapped back by posting another photo from the same photoshoot, writing: “This is for the social media trolls. Hoping this platform provides you with that moment of importance you needed to assure your self-righteousness.”
Ayesha Omar gave a befitting reply to a troll who criticised her for her choice of outfit.
Commenting under a post which talked about how Omar promoted women empowerment by wearing a local label run by two women to the Lux Style Awards, a social media user commented: “If she is promoting women to expose of their body (via such clothes), then that surely is not ‘women empowerment’.”
“Such a misquoted term,” they added.
Responding to the comment, Ayesha wrote: “I’m definitely not promoting/ asking/urging women to expose their bodies. That is their own choice as wearing this dress was mine. As wearing whatever you want is yours.”
Talking about the outfit, Ayesha said: “This dress was sent to me as it is. I had no input in the design, length, structure or type of dress they were making for me. They only asked for my size. They contacted me themselves and sent me this outfit in June.”
The actor continued: “I wasn’t paid to wear or promote it either and was waiting for an appropriate opportunity to wear it. I’m promoting and showcasing their work/talent: the beautiful beaded hand embellishments.”
“If you could look beyond a bit of my limbs showing, it would be nice to appreciate someone’s hard work without being judgmental. Try it. It uplifts both parties.”
Ayesha concluded her note by sharing the meaning of the word empowerment.
In another comment, when a user remarked that such outfits provoke rape cases, Ayesha hit back saying: “Oh so that explains 4-month-old babies, 5-year-olds and 7-year-old girls and being raped?”
Later, in an Instagram post, Ayesha said that 2020 was a crazy year and she saw many people suffer physically, emotionally and financially which is why she decided to would try and help as many people as she could in whatever capacity.
“One of those ways was to use my social media platforms to promote social causes, NGOs, public service messages and small businesses throughout the year. (completely free of charge),” said the actor. “Every day I would receive quite a few packages, messages and queries and I tried to promote as many products and services as I could.”
Lead vocalist of the Romanian band Akcent, Adrian Sina has expressed his desire to collaborate with Ayesha Omar.
During a live session on Instagram, when the interviewer asked Sina who he has a crush on in Pakistan, the singer replied: “I would love to feature with Ayesha Omar.”
“She is a genius and really talented,” he added.
However he said that he has never met the Pakistani actor.
Later while talking about his visit to Pakistan, Sina revealed that the one thing he misses is from the country is tea. The singer had enjoyed a “fantastic cup of tea” with former DG ISPR General Asif Ghafoor at the ISPR HQ.
Meanwhile, reacting to Sina’s desire to work with her, Ayesha expressed her disbelief and excitement.
“Akcent is a huge name, I have always been a fan of his music”, said Ayesha, adding that she is really grateful for his comments and would love to work with him.
“Thank you so much for your appreciation for me and my work. I would love to collaborate with you whether its a song, an album, a digital campaign, or a film. The possibilities are endless,” said Omar.
In December 2015, Ayesha Omar and Azfar Rehman met with a horrific car accident while they were travelling from Karachi to Hyderabad. Both the actors suffered severe injuries in the incident and had to spend several days in the hospital.
Five years after the incident, Ayesha took to Instagram to recall the painful memories of the accident and to express her gratitude for being alive and healthy.
“5 years since my car accident,” wrote Ayesha. “I’ve been whining and complaining to myself the last few days, about having to manage stuff completely on my own these days, not getting enough sleep and rest, having to juggle too many things while dealing with lingering allergies for the past 3 weeks. My muscles and target areas (which were affected by the accident) become very stiff and painful in the winters also.”
“But in comparison to what I went through that evening, emotionally, physically and mentally,” she continued. “6 pm onwards, on that dark, broken highway, how I survived those 7 hours until I finally reached a hospital, the weeks and months that followed, all of this seems so trivial, so easy, I’d take this, any day, with open arms and boundless gratitude.”
“Today, I’m just grateful to be alive, healthy and well, surrounded by people who love me, grateful for having made it through that ordeal and many others, and get to where I am today, especially this year, after the year we have all had, with so much anxiety, stress, pain and suffering for some, all over the world. I could not be more thankful,” added Ayesha.
She concluded by sending love to her Azfar, who was win her in the accident and helped Ayesha get to a hospital as soon as possible.
According to details, Ayesha and Azfar’s car was hit by an overtaking truck on the highway just before Hyderabad. Two collisions followed after another truck bumped into their car from the back.
“It’s a miracle that Azfar and I came out alive because the car was completely destroyed. I was immobile and picked up by Azfar and a group of passersby and put into a police mobile that transported us to a rundown govt clinic in Jamshoro,” Ayesha had shared at that time.
Ayesha had broken her collarbone while Azfar had sustained minor head injuries in the accident.
Our showbiz colleagues Ayesha Omar & Azfar Rehman had a serious accident this morning please pray for them. pic.twitter.com/kMqaPyah7w
Ayesha Omar, in a recent interview with Waseem Badami, opened up about being sexually harassed at the age of 22 by a powerful person in the industry. The actor has shared her experience of being harassed on several occasions but has never named her perpetrator. However, while recounting the experience on Badami’s Masoomana Sawaal, Ayesha got emotional and started crying on live television.
During the interview, the actor said that she has never cried while talking about this incident before.
“Maybe it was your question,” said Ayesha, while explaining why she felt emotional.
“Nobody said it was easy,” said Ayesha later, in an Instagram post, while referring to the interview.
“Not sure if I’ve ever cried on live television before,” said the actor. “To be able to let your guard down and be vulnerable…to be able to talk about your painful, difficult experiences from an honest place…to relive and recall traumatic times…to describe your feelings and talk to your younger self…it’s not easy.”
“It’s not even easy doing it one on one with someone trained to ask the right questions, in private, let alone publicly on live television,” she continued. “But I hope by doing so, I was able to make other humans who have had painful experiences or faced sexual/verbal/physical harassment at any point in their lives, feel a little less alone and a little more hopeful…to try to let go of self-blame and self-deprecation and hold their perpetrators responsible.”
On the show, Ayesha, while sharing her experience, had said: “I had just joined the industry, I was hardly 22 years old. He was a man in power and I was scared to go against him. I did not have the courage to tell anyone about it. I’m sorry about that.”
“I am sorry to the person I was; had I shared it then, I would have been a stronger person today. A lot of other girls also suffered at the hands of the same person. Had I spoken up against him then, maybe he might have stopped.”
Meanwhile, fellow female stars supported her in the comment section of her post.
Komal Aziz Khan, who is currently vacationing in Turkey, had an unpleasant run-in with trolls who are busy criticising her holiday wardrobe.
Under a picture in which Komal is posing at Bodrum in a blue dress, a social media user commented: “Pakistan se baahir jaate hee inki haya saath chor dyti hai, ye baat samajh nahi aati kyu (I don’t understand why their shame leaves them when they step out of Pakistan).”
In response, Komal commented: “Because we feel safer abroad in wearing what we want and travelling alone. We meet less judgmental and hateful people like you, who misuse religion as an excuse to judge and spread hatred.”
Komal’s colleagues and peers including Mikaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Omar and journalist Maria Memon lauded the actor for her response and agreed with her comments.
The gang-rape of a woman on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway has sparked nationwide outrage, with countless protests being organised across the country to demand justice for the victim and safe space for women in the country. Members of the Pakistani Entertainment Industry also took the initiative of organising a peaceful protest outside the Karachi Press Club to raise their voice on the matter and give it more momentum.
Among those present at the occasion was Mahira Khan, Sarah Khan, Ayesha Omar, Adnan Siddiqui, Ali Rehman Khan, Aijaz Aslam, Frieha Altaf, Bushra Ansari, Sarwat Gilani, Yasir Hussain, Asim Jofa, Anoushey Abbasi and Gul-e-Rana.
Sharing pictures from the event, Mahira said: “We demand a secure nation for all women! At home, on the streets, at work, alone, not alone, with kids, without kids, in a skirt or in a burkha. Wherever she may be, whoever she may be – we demand basic rights of safety.”
Holding a placard, which read “Real men don’t rape”, Sarah Khan said: “No mercy for rapists.”
Sarwat Gilani said that the entertainment fraternity came out to “demand justice and security for our women and children”. Sarwat also lauded Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to punish rapists with castration — the process of removal of testicles of a man.
We stand together as one voice,” said Ali Rehman. “One voice to demand the protection of our women, children and transgenders. One voice to demand their freedom. “We stand together.”
Aijaz Aslam held a placard which read: “Stop rape”.
Mansha Pasha said she stepped out after a long time to “join a protest and speak about the state of women’s safety in Pakistan and the fact that there is none.”
“We aren’t safe on the street, at work or even in our homes,” she added.
“Rape happens because of: 1) Rapist; 2) Failure of law enforcement agencies,” asserted Mansha.
Yasir Hussain and Adnan Siddiqui addressed the protesters gathered at the venue.
Bushra Ansari stood by her earlier stance, saying that hanging the rapist is not enough.
According to details, the protest was organised by Yasir Hussain, Frieha Altaf and Asim Jofa.
Meanwhile, some social media users are criticising the actors for holding a separate protest instead of attending the main one organised by the Aurat March.
I really want to believe their hearts are in the right place, but wtf? This is cringe-worthy. And can someone explain why the celebrities felt the need to have their own protest against #motorwayincident vs getting more support for the first one? pic.twitter.com/Ezjwpu2opU
Sarwat later clarified that a second protest was held because “a lot of celebrities were busy with work on the first protest’s date, [so] we decided to get out a day when most of us were available.”
As Karachi continues to suffer after record rains, residents of the city are taking to the streets and social media to express their anger and rage and are demanding accountability of those responsible for the mess.
Among those lashing out at the government and authorities are celebrities including Mehwish Hayat, Ayesha Omar, Aijaz Aslam, Sanam Jung, Sanam Saeed and Feroze Khan.
“My anger knows no bounds,” wrote Mehwish. “How can a modern city like Karachi not have the infrastructure to cope with rain in today’s age?”
Demanding accountability, the actor added, “Enough is enough!”
My anger knows no abounds. How can a modern city like #Karachi not have the infrastructure to cope with rain in 2day's age?Our suffering over the past few days proves that those responsible need to be held accountable!Heads have to roll or this’ll keep happening.Enough is enough!
“It’s time for accountability. It’s time to speak up. It’s time to take ownership. It’s time to demand our rights. Its time to heal. It’s time,” wrote Ayesha on Twitter.
It’s time for accountability. It’s time to speak up. It’s time to take ownership. It’s time to demand our rights. Its time to heal. It’s time.
Part 2/2. Every government had a chance.. Some more than others.. Yet every government seems to have let Karachi/Sindh down. pic.twitter.com/OID5uJsI7Q
Anoushey Ashraf, Mansha Pasha and Fahad Mirza also expressed their distress and disappointment and called out those in power for making false promises.
Not ONE resignation from the authorities in Karachi. You can’t shame the shameless. Every person who calls Karachi his home needs to attend the peaceful protests and demand better. #KarachiRains#KarachiSinks
Feroze Khan wanted to know where his tax money went.
Meanwhile, residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Monday gathered within the premises of Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) to protest against the lack of monsoon infrastructure and the administration’s failure to provide them basic amenities.
“We wish to register our legitimate right to get the supply of basic amenities of potable water, stable electricity, effective discharge and flow of drains and sewerage, elimination of hanging electricity wires & data cables, fixing of broken poles, providing of security [as well as] repair and re-carpeting of broken roads,” read a statement by the residents of DHA Karachi ahead of Monday’s protest.
A second protest for later this week has also been announced by the aggrieved residents to take up their demands with DHA outside the Phase-I office on September 3 at 12:30 pm.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that both the centre and Sindh will be working together to bring much-needed relief to the people of Karachi.
اجلاس میں وزیر برائے منصوبہ بندی اسد عمر، وزیر برائے بحری امور سید علی زیدی (ویڈیو لنک) گورنر سندھ عمران اسمعیل، چئیرمین این ڈی ایم اے لیفٹنٹ جنرل محمد افضل، متعلقہ وزارتوں کے سیکرٹری صاحبان و سینئر افسران شریک
With rains lashing Karachi, as many as 19 people died in various rain-related incidents in the port city on Thursday, taking the tally of deaths during the three-day monsoon spell in the city to 30.
Meteorological officials said downpours in August have shattered the 90-year-old record for the city. Some 484mm (19 inches) of rain has fallen this month so far, 130mm on Thursday alone, they said.
According to data released by the Met Office, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Faisal Base recorded 130 millimetres of rain while Nazimabad has recorded 105.6mm since Thursday morning. Mausamiyat received 74.3mm of rain, while Saadi Town recorded 72mm. About 98.5mm of rain was recorded in PAF Masroor Base, Surjani received 73mm while Kemari recorded 82.5mm.
Many major arteries witnessed severe traffic jams. Power was suspended in several areas as a precautionary measure, a K-Electric spokesperson said. Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Suhail Rajput urged people not to leave their homes during the spell which, according to a Met Office prediction, is expected to continue for another two days.
Videos and photos making rounds on social media showed submerged cars and motorcycles and water entering houses and buildings, wreaking havoc in the provincial capital.
Given the devastation in Karachi, several celebrities and notable personalities including Feroze Khan, Shahid Afridi, Fatima Bhutto, Ayesha Omar, Samina Peerzada and Ali Safina have lashed out at the Sindh Government for being incompetent and “destroying” the city.
Feroze expressed his outrage by hitting out at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and demanding answers from him and his government.
– do you even know anything? What’s been up all these years in Sindh ? What’s your party been really doing handing out ajrak’s ?? Where did the tax go ? Zero infrastructure ?? My city and the people both are underwater Mr.Zardari. https://t.co/f4wlrn4zXS
When a Twitter user asked him to hold the PTI government accountable as well, Khan said that they “have literally just come in and I at least can’t expect them to over night work everything around”.
– they have literally just come in and I at least can’t expect them to over night work everything around and turn this place into Dubai ? PPP and MUSLIM LEAGUE (N) should be held responsible. https://t.co/AQqzu3fK4O
Former captain Shahid Afridi expressed his disappointment with the management and those in charge of the city.
“Who will save Karachi,” questioned the cricketer. It is pertinent to mention here that Afridi’s foundation Shahid Afridi Foundation has stepped up to help those affected by the flooding in the city.
کاش دنیا کے کسی میٹروپولیٹن سے ہی سیکھ لیں، مصنوعی جھیلیں بنا لیں۔ کیا یہ ہمارا قصور ہے کہ رہنے کے لئے اس شہر کا انتخاب کیا، یہاں ٹیکس دیتے ہیں لیکن بدلے میں انتظامیہ کون سی ذمہ داری پوری کرتی ہے؟ کراچی کو کچراچی بنانے والوں کے گریبان پر ہاتھ کون ڈالے گا؟ #WhoWillSaveKarachihttps://t.co/2VpaUozk97
With the videos I’m seeing, the stories I’m hearing, its a National Emergency situation. People are homeless, stuck on the streets, or being swept away. Are there relief packages being prepared? Is help coming? When? @MuradAliShahPPP#SindhGovt#KarachiSinks#KarachiRain
#Karachi had an estimated GDP of $164 billion approximately 25% of the national GDP. The metropolitan city, The financial hub of #Pakistan dose not deserve to be treated like this. Sorry #Karachi corrupt politicians and negligence has brought you down to this #FixKarachi
Please Karachi walo, issay bhoolna mat!!🙏🏼I've seen the city move on because they've gotten to see this too often and they've learnt to move on but not this time. #KarachiRains
An absolutely heartbreaking state of affairs! #Karachi needs immediate attention followed by urgent corrective action. The situation resulting from the absolute apathy of those in positions power must change. Enough of all the tall claims – time to walk the talk.
Meanwhile, other celebrities including Humayun Saeed, Wasim Akram, Shaniera Akram, Farhan Saeed, Ali Rehman Khan, Ali Zafar, Bilal Ashraf, Hira Mani and Maya Ali sent prayers for the city and those affected by the catastrophic rains.
Prayers for everyone's safety and well-being. Please help anyone you can in whatever way possible in this extremely challenging situation. May Allah protect us all
Can’t believe the footage coming out of Karachi. Bypass’ filled with water, ship containers & cars floating down highways, back yards become pools & street turned into rivers: The city that has no water is now under water. My Prayers are with you Karachi
Dear All, it is extreme rain today, the Hub Dam has already overflow.Take special care, don't take this rain as fun, Karachi is not capable to deal with it. Stay Indoors, Stay Safe, take care of all people around you ..ALLH pak sab ko apni amaan mey rakhay ameen
– I have been hearing nothing but absolutely gruesome accounts of people grappling with the Monsoon back home. Hope everyone is doing the best to keep safe, let this be the end of our trials and prayers for all! #StaySafeStayHome#KarachiNeedsAttention#KarachiRains
Seeing images & videos of my city drowning. So heartbreaking to see no one own Karachi. The city that gives so much, has lost when it needed us yet again. I pray for everybody in my city , please stay safe. Ya ALLAH Karachi ko iss mushkil waqt se bachayen, Aameen. #KarachiRains
Nabeel Zafar, who plays one of the leads on ARY Digital’s hit sitcom Bulbulay, has apologised for ‘offensive’ comments against Pashtuns on the show.
In a video message, Nabeel apologises for hurting Pashtun sentiments and says that their intention was never to hurt anyone.
“I came across some comments on Twitter today that we might have hurt the sentiments of our viewers through a scene of the show,” says Nabeel in the video. “We would never target a particular ethnicity. That was never our intention. Our audience ranges from a four-year-old to an eight-year-old. We receive massive viewership from the KP region.”
He then goes on to explain the characters and says that the team of the shows aim to entertain the masses and make them laugh.
“There are several characters on the show. We never meant to disrespect anyone. Our only intention was to make our audience happy,” he says further.
Nabeel’s video was retweeted by the official handle of ARY Digital as well as ARY CEO Salman Iqbal.
I’m here on this platform to apologise to any one who has been hurt by any thing we have said or done in Bulbulay!!! our intentions are to make people happy not to discriminate or hurt any one We are extremely sorry . pic.twitter.com/LIMe6AoZuy
In a clip being circulated on social media, Mehmood Sahab (Mehmood Aslam) is seen talking to a Pathan man Sher Khan over the phone. When Khan says that he would like to come to their house and give them a gift, Nabeel jokes that the only gift he will give is either naswar or a bomb. Nabeel’s comments sparked outrage for stereotyping Pashtuns and the hashtag #BoycottARYDigital began to trend on social media.
We Pakhtoons are not terrorists nor drug dealers. We are Patriotic Pakistanis and we respect all ethnicities. @arydigitalasia you MUST apologise immediately for portraying Pakhtoons as terrorists.
ARY making biased jokes on Pashtuns in their bullshit drama 'Bulbulay', has greatly hurt Pashtun sentiments. Such type of jokes don't make you superior or smart than others. The racial profiling of Pashtuns is utter ignorance, that leads to regional division. #BoycottAryDigital
Shams on you ARY for airing such hideous episode of bulbulay shame on the writer director actors and whole staff of bulbulay for participating in such episode .#BoycottAryDigitalpic.twitter.com/TzKhZ3gzeU
