Nabeel Qureshi, Mahira Khan call out Daraz for selling pirated copies of 'Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad'

The e-commerce platform has been called out for selling pirated versions of the film for as low as Rs 20

Director-screenwriter Nabeel Qureshi has called out the e-commerce platform Daraz for selling pirated versions of his recent release Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad. As the action-comedy film continues to dominate cinema screens, sellers on Daraz were discovered selling bootlegged copies of the film for as low as Rs 20.

“This is criminal! Daraz is selling our film Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’s pirated version officially on their website, while the film is playing in cinemas across Pakistan. This is damaging the cinema and film industry. It’s alarming. [Production company] Filmwala Pictures is going to take strict action against it,” Qureshi tweeted.

This is criminal ! @darazpk is selling our film #quaideazamzindabad pirated version Officially on their website, while the film is playing in cinemas across pakistan, this is damaging the cinema and film industry, its alarming @FilmwalaP going to take strict action against it. pic.twitter.com/8RMMYLCtH1

— Nabeel Qureshi (@nabeelqureshi) August 18, 2022

Messages of support started pouring in under the tweet, with social media users pointing out that local e-commerce markets have minimal quality checks in place for sellers.

They are owned by @AlibabaGroup now , ask Ali Baba to do this kind of act in China and see its results. These kind of corrupt practices are only possible in Pak because everything is on loot sale at draz our dignity our morality. Unfortunate!

— 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐦 (@Asim4pakistan) August 18, 2022

There are certain protocols to get motion pictures on your platform to sell. In the era of AI and Machine Learning how on earth @darazpk was unable to detect this act of piracy and let it get through their system to be available for general public illegally.

— Adnan (@AdnanSH_TO) August 18, 2022

Mahira Khan, who stars in the film alongside Fahad Mustafa, also spoke out on Twitter regarding the blatant theft.

Retweeting Qureshi’s initial tweet regarding the situation, Khan wrote, “Oh my God! This is absolutely ridiculous!” She also tagged the official account for Daraz.

Oh my GOD! This is absolutely ridiculous!! @darazpk !! https://t.co/IHEKC1Oyfj

— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) August 18, 2022

Daraz has addressed the complaints under the tweets of Qureshi and Khan.

“This was allegedly uploaded by a seller and has been removed from the platform as soon as our compliance team picked it up. We also delist these sellers regularly from the platform. Daraz, in any way, does not support plagiarism or any such violations,” the company wrote.

Hi Mahira,

This was allegedly uploaded by a seller and has been removed from the platform as soon as our compliance team picked it up. We also delist these sellers regularly from the platform. Daraz, in any way does not support plagiarism or any such violations.

— Daraz (@darazpk) August 18, 2022

However, people were not satisfied with Daraz’s response to the situation, with many saying Daraz only picked up on the piracy after Qureshi’s tweet gained social media attention.

Why @darazpk picked it up after Nabeel’s tweet?
There is no check and balance ?

— Omar Khan (@UmarShahzadaKhn) August 18, 2022

How could you even let it happen Daraz? You must have a check and balance for plagiarism. Hope this incident will help in making some strict SOPs at your place from now.

— Furqan T. Siddiqui (@furqantsiddiqui) August 18, 2022

Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad received commercial success at the box office after its anticipated release on Eid-ul-Azha. It continues its successful run on cinema screens across the country.

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