'Back to filthy 90s politics': Celebs call out smear campaign against female stars

Female celebs had a rough start to 2023 with Adil Raja accusing them of having intimate relations with army officers

The entertainment industry has had a very rough start to the year with Adil Raja, who describes himself on Twitter as a geopolitical analyst and rights activist, accusing certain female celebrities of having had intimate relations with army officers.

While the targeted celebrities have since been raising their voice to defend themselves, the whole fraternity has extended its support against the mudslinging and “filthy politics”.

Showbiz women stand united

Sharing her two cents on the matter, Zhalay Sarhadi wrote on Instagram, “It is the filthiest and lowest human behaviour to target women with regards to their gender. Character assassination is not going to be acceptable anymore! Shame on everyone who comes forward with such baseless accusations. There will be repercussions. I stand with all of my colleagues. Enough is enough!”

Zara Noor Abbas opined that Adil has misused the freedom of speech at his disposal by defaming actors for “the luxury of their jobs.” Taking to the photo-sharing app, she noted, “Being an actress doesn't mean she would go quiet because you would defame her for the luxury of her job. And being an ex-army officer certainly doesn't mean you will be respected for your idiotic opinions. Accountability matters and it will go under question for whoever will put allegations on women or men without facts.”

Syeda Tuba found the whole act “disgusting” and asked if the person behind such “cheap rumour mills” will ever be held accountable for the damage he has done. “Dragging accomplished and hardworking women in petty politics for point scoring is disgusting. Actors and models are easy targets for people. Who will hold these cheap rumour mills accountable?” she wrote.

Minal Khan also condemned her colleagues being dragged into petty politics and urged for men to not take them as vulnerable people who’ll sit back after such baseless accusations are levelled against them. “Think twice before blaming any woman. If we are women, that doesn't mean we’re helpless. We’re strong, we stand united, and will be ready to face what may come.”

Mira Sethi simply expressed how proud she is of Pakistani actors for “pushing back against the filth and propaganda.”

Aiman Khan, and Anoushey Ashraf also took to their social media handles to condemn how men of power tend to make women easy targets in smear campaigns targeting rival figures.

Showbiz men hold all men accountable

While condemning the allegations against his female colleagues, Muneeb Butt expressed his frustration and disappointment in society. “The same 90s graceless politics is back where people [produce] fake nudes to accuse anyone falsely. We haven’t learnt anything,” he lamented.

Actor Asad Siddiqui gave a shut-up call to all those saying that Adil never took any names but only initials and that’s not “defamation” enough. “To everyone out here having issues with why we are getting [riled] up and responding to statements where just initials were used, no one is a kid here,” he wrote in an Instagram Story.

“We understand that this is an attack on those in the entertainment industry, who, no matter what they go through in their personal lives, are always making the audience smile and keeping them entertained.” He then threatened to drag all those pointing fingers and splashing dirt on his “family” to be prepared for the “mud to spill” on them too.

Adnan Siddiqui, while condemning the act, exclaimed, how, for someone to stoop this low, they must be truly threatened by “successful” women. “Parochial men feel threatened by successful women. So, their bruised egos resort to smear campaigns. If only some tongues didn’t wag as much,” he tweeted.

Emphasising on how the industry needs to stand united and rally behind their colleagues, he continued, “Vilifying a woman’s character is an age-old trope used by paltry while depthless men come from deep-seated misogyny,” while adding that they will not let these “loose cannons” get away.

Amused by how “illogical” Adil’s argument was, Gohar Rasheed said that he also wants to “smoke whatever the ex-army officer is smoking.” Taking to the micro-blogging site, he wrote, “So first this random A.R guy insinuates a negative speculation by giving out our reputed female actor names initials after which all kinds of false assumptions are being created to which he never came forward and try to clear it out that it’s not K.K, its A.K.”

Mujhay Bhie yeh walla nasha karna hai 🤣 So first this random “A.R” guy insinuates a negative speculation by giving out our reputed female actor names initials after which all kinds of false assumptions are being created to which he never came forward and try to clear it out _1/3

— Mirza Gohar (@GoharRsd) January 3, 2023

Gohar added, “First, he enjoys the attention while setting up a great example of misogyny and patriarchal mindset, but when these girls take a stand for themselves, he starts defending himself by backtracking and saying that ‘oh mainey to kabhie aapka nam liya he nahie (Oh I never took your name)’.”

That it’s not K.K it’s A.K. First he enjoys the attention setting up a great example of misogyny and patriarchal mindset and when these girls takes a stand for themselves, Starts defending themselves he starts back tracking saying “Oh Mainey to kabhie aapka nam liya he nahie” 2/3

— Mirza Gohar (@GoharRsd) January 3, 2023

The Legend of Maula Jatt actor said that “this man is the classic example of what not to follow in 2023” and we agree!

Aina tu chunna kaka. A.R baby pehlay kiyu naa booli 🤣 this man is classic example of what not to follow in 2023
P.S. “A.R” can also stand for “appu raja” bajay gaa tera baja 🤣 #Useless 3/3

— Mirza Gohar (@GoharRsd) January 3, 2023

Feroze Khan jumps on the bandwagon

Feroze Khan, who has been accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife Aliza Sultan and is fighting custody of his children, also posted a video to comment on the ongoing controversy. “I would like to request to my fans and supporters, that if anyone brings you a piece of news, be it right or wrong, make sure you verify it first. If the person is proven guilty or innocent, then take action accordingly but before that, always be polite and gentle with both, the accused and the accuser,” he said.

Whether the statement was to gain sympathy for himself or perhaps actual support for his colleagues, he ended his clip with prayers and support for everyone “who has ever been accused of anything why they haven’t done.”