Pakistani model Zara Abid, presumed dead in PIA crash, trolled for her ‘haram’ lifestyle

Zara Abid, a Pakistani-origin model, who is presumed dead in the plane crash that took place last week is being attacked by people for her lifestyle choices.

File photo of Zara Abid | Twitter | @BeechMeNaBol

New Delhi: Zara Abid, a Pakistani-origin model who has been presumed dead in the plane crash last week, is being attacked by social media users for her lifestyle choices.

According to her friends, the 28-year-old model was on board the ill-fated Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-8303 which crashed in Karachi last Friday. But initial media reports said she had survived the crash, following which her brother requested people to stop spreading rumours of her death.

Her social media handles are, however, no longer visible. It still remains unclear whether she has survived the accident.

Abid worked with some of the biggest brands in Pakistani fashion. In January this year, she won the ‘Best Female Model‘ at the nation’s Hum Style Awards.

Rumours about her death, however, have led people to question Abid’s choice of clothes and lifestyle. Many have also questioned her faith in Islam and adherence to it.

One user claimed that “Allah doesn’t like women who show their body parts to everyone”.

Those people who are saying that she will be in paradise after #planecrash accident then being Muslim I would tell them ALLAH Pak doesn't like those women who are showing their body parts to everyone and jannat is only for pure men and pure women #karachiPlaneCrash #ZaraAbid pic.twitter.com/12MnixricM

— Irfan (@Irfan12165162) May 22, 2020

While some debated whether she will go to “jannat” (heaven) or not.

24 hours after a national tragedy, people are debating whether Zara Abid will go to jannat or not.

Please forgive me if I just hang my head in shame.

— Azam Jamil (@AzamJamil53) May 23, 2020

Others targeted her last post on Instagram.

Some dumbheads morons are doing shamless comments under Zara Abid's recent picture on Instagram. Our people have no shame.
She’s no more in this heartless world.? pic.twitter.com/eYTlhEtVMK

— Kinza Aly (@KinzaAly) May 22, 2020

A user called her lifestyle choices, including her clothing and career as a model, to be “haram” (immoral).

I really didn't wanted to do it but some people R ignorant and R now using #ZaraAbid death to defend her profession and lifestyle. Sorry that can't be defended that is prohibited and those who kept telling her that she is doing Haram did right thing. Still do dua for her pic.twitter.com/4FgS45KOwb

— zarwan ali (@ali_zarwan) May 23, 2020

Many also defended her, calling out others for being regressive in their thinking.

And this is another example that Allah honors whom He wills. None of us know who is closer to God. Stop judging people and focus on your actions. May Allah forgive us and get us out of this difficult situation.#ZaraAbid pic.twitter.com/aKRZ6bPKY8

— Nimra khan(13 September ?) (@tokenfixkrwado) May 22, 2020

There were calls for “empathy” too.

A young woman died a horrible death .. and our nation is busy debating either she is jannati or jahanumi …
Who are you to decide .. dont talk ill if you cannot empathize ..#ZaraAbid

— گل اندامہ (@Khaperai2) May 23, 2020

Another social media user wondered if it was a “crime” to be a model.

Is it crime to be model???
Aur beshak Allah jisy chahy izzat day jisy chahy zillat day…She Received death in this holy month❤#ZaraAbid #karachiPlaneCrash pic.twitter.com/0adZ5qdBff

— Maheen (@MaheenKarachi) May 23, 2020

This isn’t the first time that Abid has been trolled by online users. In 2019, she had participated in a show that was criticised for promoting “Pakistan’s obsession with fair skin“.

A campaign later by Nabila’s Salon, belonging to celebrated stylist Nabila, invited controversy after Abid’s skin tone was darkened. Twitter users then called Nabila out for promoting “blackface“.