Hamza Ali Abbasi really has the worst timing.
Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, passed away on Tuesday after prolonged battle with cancer in London. While everyone expressed their condolences to the grieving family, Hamza also expressed his support to the Sharifs. Well, kind of.
In a series of tweets, after grieving the loss of former first lady, the actor went on to add that he found it "absolutely disgusting how some people are using Kulsoom Bibi's death to gain sympathy for Nawaz and Maryam and trying to portray them as tragic heroes." He called it, "Shameful... Utterly shameful and disgusting."
#KulsoomNawaz Absolutely disgusting how some people r using Kulsoom bibis death to gain sympathy for Nawaz & Maryam & trying to portray them as tragic heroes. Shameful... Utterly shameful & disgusting. May Allah have mercy on Kulsoom bibi's soul & may Allah give us some decency.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) September 11, 2018
He didn't just stop there."Yes, I tweeted this before elections and I stand by it. It's disgusting to use your wife's illness in PAID ad election campaigns to gain sympathy," the Mann Mayal actor stated. "Sorry for sounding insensitive at a time of grief for the Sharif family but propaganda against me on my tweet by PMLN is disgusting!"
#KulsoomNawaz Yes i tweeted this be4 elections & i stand by it. Its disgusting to use ur wifes illness in PAID ad election campaigns to gain sympathy. Sorry for sounding insensitive at a time of grief for Sharif Family but propaganda against me on my tweet by PMLN is disgusting! pic.twitter.com/QfXirt5ax3
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) September 11, 2018
Hamza then added, "Again, I am sorry for sounding insensitive at this moment of grief but I have the right to defend myself when I see my old tweet being misused. I see myself bashed and insulted unprovoked on N-league social media pages."
Again i am sorry for sounding insensitive at this moment of grief but i have the right to defend myself when i see my old tweet being misused and i see myself bashed and insulted unprovoked on N league social media pages. https://t.co/GRlrNye54a
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) September 11, 2018
As expected, he ended up getting ample backlash for his posts.
The only thing shameful in all of this is you!
— afia salam (@afiasalam) September 11, 2018
Hamza, please stop! It's not always necessary to speak. Understand the situation. Taaziyat dhang se karain warna matt karain.
— . (@shizaahahaa) September 11, 2018
You are portraying a very shameless face of humanity. May Allah have mercy upon you. Have not imagined any human can stoop too low.
— Riaz Ali Turi (@RiazToori) September 11, 2018
Decency demands this tweet was not required at this moment. Think over at your emotions.
— Kashmiri ♥️ (@KhalidCh72) September 11, 2018
Politics is something else but still people like Hamza ali abbasi making fun of Kulsoom Nawaz' death. This is really mentally sick society. Where death become a part of acting. #KulsoomNawaz
— Akhtar Hafeez (@AkhtarHafeez) September 11, 2018
Dear, Hamza. Ever pondered now might not be the best time to throw shade at PMLN? This isn't the first time the 35-year-old has landed himself in unwanted controversies. Here are five more times the actor drew ire for his comments.
1. The infamous remarks on item numbers:
Not one but on numerous occasions, the Parwaaz Hai Junoon star has maintained that item numbers are unnecessary in the Pakistani film industry.
Last year, Hamza's thoughts on how 'shameful' bold songs were in any Pakistani movie stirred a lot of emotions. "How can the censor board allow such filth to run in our cinemas? The actor has written on Twitter and of course, it wasn't received well.
Agreed but kindly tell us why you did acting in YJPNA ??
— Arba (@ArbaSiddiqui) July 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/iamiqrazafar/status/889327457924468740
2. When Abbasi admired Hafiz Saeed:
The actor stirred a fresh storm by praising a terror watch suspect a few months ago. “US/India say he is a terrorist; I know Hafiz Saeed as a righteous man,” Hamza said, adding, “Huge respect for Milli Muslim League for getting 4k+ votes.”
#NA120 US/IND say he is a terrorist, i know Hafiz Saeed as a righteous man. Huge respect for Milli Muslim League for getting 4k+ votes.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) September 17, 2017
The actor then seemed to substantiate his support for the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief, saying, “Hafiz Saeed has done great work against Takfeer and Sectarianism, social work for non Muslims of Pakistan and is a mentor to Kashmiris.”
Hafiz Saeed has done gr8 work against Takfeer & Sectarianism, social work for non Muslims of Pak & is a mentor to Kashmiris. https://t.co/ozduEN2Wmv
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) September 17, 2017
3. Reham Khan's autobiography controversy:
When Jemima Goldsmith threatened a lawsuit against PM Imran Khan's former wife, Reham Khan in regards to her autobiography, Hamza responded, “In a world full of Gulalies and Rehams… Be like Jemima Khan.”
In a world full of Gulalies & Rehams... Be like @Jemima_Khan
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) June 6, 2018
Soon after, Mahira Khan called out her fellow actor and responded, “How about – just be like Jemima Khan. Period. Sets a pretty good example for men and women both.”
How about - just be like @Jemima_Khan. Period. Sets a pretty good example for men and women both. https://t.co/kPKN7FD9it
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) June 6, 2018
Well, how about that! The Bol actor’s stance on Hamza’s thoughts is apt and respectful.
Man, Hamza Ali Abbasi’s tweet & the replies about Reham Khan’s book are just insane. He should hire someone just to think a little before he presses the ‘tweet’ button.
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) June 2, 2018
4. When he just had to say something, anything on Ali-Meesha fiasco:
The Parwaaz Hai Junoon actor wrote, “With this entire #MeToo global epidemic on the rise, I am beginning to realise that Islam was right all along when it ordained gap between the two genders. So called modernism has brought us to a point where the line between flirting and harassment is insanely blurred.”
Random thought: With this entire #MeToo global epidemic on the rise, I am beginning to realise that ISLAM was right all along when it ordains gap between the 2 genders. So called modernism has brought us to a point where the line between flirting & harassment is insanely blurred.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) April 20, 2018
Many found his thoughts extremely confusing.
Sir the idea is to help ppl understand the meaning of consent here, rather than proselytizing. Are u saying non-Muslim women are inherently unsafe?Muslim men don't rape? What abt madrassahs where molvis are extremely 'paaband' of saum/salaat? Where gender separation is ordained?
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) April 20, 2018
Why do you tweet such random shit though? Can your random "na mehram" ideology please explain child rape? Or molestation of women during Hajj? Can it?
— Jorjor wel🐾🍉🔻 (@Salemschild_) April 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/haseemuzzaman/status/987278961326600192
5. When he just had to question Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali's faith:
When Mahershala Ali bagged a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Moonlight (2016) and became the first Muslim actor to do so, many debated over whether or not he qualifies as a Muslim. Hamza, however, has come yo his rescue. Sort of.
"Congratulations, Mahershala Ali, for winning as Oscar! I highly disagree with your Ahmadi religion and my countrymen think you are not Muslim,” posted Hamza. “However, you believe with all your heart and soul that you are a Muslim and putting all scholarly debates about aqeeda aside, that’s enough for me to feel the bond of brotherhood with you and congratulate you on your win!”
"A simple congratulation would have been enough rather than this unnecessary and baseless caption," a user commented on Hamza's post.
Here's to hoping Hamza does better in the future.
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