Mahira Khan called out for glorifying emotionally abusive relationships
Talk show host Kanwal Ahmed recently took to Twitter to highlight the issue of the glorification of staying in toxic relationships in Pakistani dramas, using the examples of Mahira Khan’s Humsafar and her most recent project, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay.
Referencing Mahira’s Humsafar character Khirad’s hugely popular dialogue that she says to her mother-in-law when Khirad is turned away from her home after being accused of infidelity, Kanwal wrote, 'Mummy aap kya keh rahi hain' se 'Aswad aap kya keh rahain hain' ka suffer (pun fully intended) [The journey from 'Mummy, what are you saying,' to, 'Aswad, what are you saying']." The second part of the of the tweet is a reference to a dialogue spoken by Mahira’s character to her emotionally abusive husband Aswad, played by Usman Muktar, in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay.
Kanwal added, “10 years of promoting how to STAY 'patiently' in (violently) emotionally abusive marriages on the top drama channel with the highest ratings.”
— Kanwal Ahmed (@kanwalful) November 28, 2021
Responding to the tweet, a user wrote, “I honestly could not watch this- our shows haven’t evolved. They have regressed. No trigger warning. Just keep glorifying abuse and suffering in silence. Pitting women against each other.” Another commented, These dramas truly will mess up young minds as to what a healthy relationship consists of. Women have and always will endure abuse and still feel obligated to their spouse in our culture. Society and family stand by and watch. No one does anything to change it.”
— K-Hanif (@KJHanif) November 28, 2021