New Delhi: Smoking is injurious to health. But in Pakistan, it is more so for women. Or so it seems. Popular Pakistani TV actress Alizeh Shah was seen smoking in a car. Someone recorded her and now the video is all over social media. Not surprisingly, everyone watching it has a take on it.
Pakistani drama shows are quite popular in India as well. Alizeh Shah has played lead roles in Ehd-e-Wafa, Hoor Pari, Jo Tu Chahey, Mera Dil Mera Dushman, and Taana Baana.
But that seems to matter little for Pakistan’s outrage crowd. As Dawn, Pakistan’s leading English newspaper, said in an article, “It doesn’t seem to matter what she [Alizeh Shah] does, as long as she’s doing it, people are going to have a problem.”
Also read: Some Pakistanis are saying ‘don’t play the aurat card’ after four women stripped, paraded
‘Against culture’
One Twitter user said Pakistani culture doesn’t allow women to smoke.
Another wrote, “While promoting feminism, pakistani girls are gone too far, They have adopted European culture completely, whether it is about dressing or their way of life..Alas!!”
While promoting feminism, pakistani girls are gone too far, They have adopted European culture completely, whether it is about dressing or their way of life..Alas!!#AlizehShah pic.twitter.com/JDNASH7SJi
— ?????م??_????? (@NoMi_ke_Tweets) December 30, 2021
Some shared a past video of Alizeh Shah in which she is seen arguing that women in Pakistan are unable to live life on their own terms. With her clip of smoking in public, they say this shows her “hypocrisy”. Clearly, it is lost on them that the backlash is only proving Alizeh’s point.
Hypocrisy Queen Alizeh Shah #AlizehShah pic.twitter.com/4POTLGfdZ1
— Usama ki Memes (@Usamakimemes1) December 30, 2021
Those blaming the entertainment industry for her smoking weren’t going to be left behind. A user named Teto Patiyaa said, “Alizeh Shah is the prime example of how the showbiz industry ruins you.”
A few users, not sure whether Alizeh was smoking a cigarette or charas, decided to give her the benefit of doubt. They seem to draw a line over smoking charas (hash).
Chars hay bhai cigarette nai
— Ordinary_Program_24 ?? (@Cactus2402) December 30, 2021
*Just asking out of curiosity*
Yeh kese pta chalta hai k yeh cigarette chars wala hai ya Sada cigarette hai? ?#AlizehShah pic.twitter.com/5ACfxSbjd3
— Naushaba??❤?? (@naushaba_ch) December 30, 2021
It's not only smoking it's about smoking weed ?
— Lewany 2.0 (@OzgarKhan) December 30, 2021
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Some support for Alizeh
It wasn’t all bad. Some people did come out in support of her. A user named Ata Ur Rehman asked people to “stop being her dad”.
Smoking is bad but allowed, as it's someone's personal choice for their own life. Let's stop discussing others' life by bringing the tiny things to pinch them!
It's her life, her choice. Stop being her dad, lol.#AlizehShah #smoking #alizehshah pic.twitter.com/BlEhjJqHSX
— Ata Ur Rehman ?? (@me_AtaUrRehman) December 30, 2021
I want My sister like alizeh she is our pride and brave girl#AlizehShah pic.twitter.com/hJIGdwuorR
— Jerry Jatt (@JerryJatt4) December 30, 2021
Another user said, ‘So called ghairat of Pakistanis get hurt when they see #AlizehShah smoking but their ghairat remains in deep sleep when their country has been sold out to IMF. #MiniBudgetByPTIMF’
Alizeh Shah was also accused of doing it for attention. ‘If getting attention had a face,’ a user said.
This backlash is similar to what Pakistani actress Mahira Khan had received when she was clicked smoking a cigarette with Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor on the streets of New York City in 2017.