Khaqan Shahnawaz 'finds hypocrisy astonishing' after being called out for earthquake 'joke'

The 'Barwaan Khiladi' says people laugh at anything including rape jokes, 9/11

On March 21, at least nine people were killed and 44 injured in northwest Pakistan as a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5, jolted many parts of the country. The tremors of the quake lasted over 30 seconds and shook many, including celebrities, to the core.

While many artists took to social media to express concern over the severity of the situations, YouTuber and actor Khaqan Shahnawaz deemed it to be an apt time to make a 'joke'. The Barwaan Khiladi actor was in the limelight for creating and sharing a mockery video of the people affected by the earthquake tremors. As expected, the digital creator received some heat from the public and soon chose to delete the clip.

He later issued a statement, highlighting the 'hypocrisy' of his followers. "Our people will laugh at anything, from rape jokes, 9/11, to antisemitic jokes, but God forbid somebody cracks a joke on an earthquake," wrote Shahnawaz in an Instagram Story. "I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings, that's why I deleted it."

Khaqan then added, "However, aren't you doing the same thing by reducing me? I don't mind. It's your right to do so. I find the hypocrisy astonishing."
The quake, which struck around 09:30 pm on Tuesday and lasted more than 30 seconds, was felt from central Asia to New Delhi in India - more than 2,000 km away. It was felt by some 285 million people in Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said.

Officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said nine people had been killed in the quake, including two women and two children. At least 180 people, who suffered minor injuries, were taken to hospitals across K-P, Shahidullah Khan, a senior government official, told AFP.

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