Her child, her choice: Fans defend Sarwat Gillani amid needless trolling over a maternity shoot

Just to be clear, embracing one's femininity and motherhood isn't the same as being 'vulgar'

Actor Sarwat Gillani is the latest celebrity to have come under scrutiny for her maternity photoshoot. The actor recently graced the cover of a local magazine, flaunting her baby bump, and just days ago, she shared that she is going under labour and requested her fans to pray for her safe delivery.

However, on Saturday, an X user shared pictures from her photoshoot to criticise the “vulgarity” of the “trend” of maternity shoots that according to them, Pakistani celebrities are now popularizing. Taking to the micro-blogging site, this user tweeted, “Ye hmaray so cold celebrities ne ajeeb besharmi phelai hui hai, banda pooche is ki zrurat kia hai (these so-called celebrities of ours are spreading this vulgarity. Somebody needs to ask them what is the point of all this).”

Ye hmaray so cold celebrities ne ajeeb besharmi phelai hui hai, Banda pooche is ki zrurat kia hai pic.twitter.com/vpxIBaMBHH

— Tooba (@tuba_shafi) December 23, 2023

In response, several called out the user for conflating femininity and motherhood with vulgarity. “She seems happy, sad that it irks you,” commented comedian and rapper Ali Gul Pir. “Uska bucha uski marzi (her child, her choice)” added another. One more quipped, “Is this the Islamic Republic of Pakistan? This girl should’ve left her pregnant belly at home before coming out. I hope this doesn’t break the wuzu of our unadulterated Pakistani men.”

She seems happy, sad that it irks you

— Ali Gul Pir (@Aligulpir) December 24, 2023

Uska bucha uski marzi

— Malik Haider Khalil (@MhaderKhalil) December 23, 2023

Is this Islamic Republic of Pakistan? Is larki ko chaiye tha pait ghar rakh ke aaya karay bahir. Kahin is behudgi ki waja say pak-mardo ka wuzu na toot jaye!

— Saad Kaiser 🇵🇰 (@TheSaadKaiser) December 24, 2023

Anchor Absa Komal asked, “How can pregnancy be shameful? How did you come into this world? Why does a joyfully glowing mother bother you? How miserable must one be to hate a content woman embracing herself? Low life!” Another user urged, “beta ap na dekho (child, look away),” while one more inquired if being pregnant was equivalent to being shameless or whether it was nudity Gillani was spreading.

How can pregnancy be shameful? How did you come into this world? Why does a joyfully glowing mother bother you? How miserable must one be to hate a content woman embracing herself? Low life!

— Absa Komal (@AbsaKomal) December 24, 2023

beta ap na dekho.

— berbaad kacchay (@mahobili) December 24, 2023

Pregnant hona besharmi hai? Or is she spreading nudity?

— Muteeb 🇵🇸 (@muteebspeaks) December 24, 2023

“Motherhood is perhaps the most beautiful part of a woman's life but unfortunately neither Pakistan men nor women understand it. They won't miss any chance to humiliate a pregnant woman,” added a doctor in the comments section. “She [is] married. She is having a child. What’s your problem, Tooba?” asked a user.

Motherhood is perhaps the most beautiful part of a woman's life but unfortunately neither Pakistan men nor women understand it. They won't miss any chance to humiliate a pregnant woman.#Pakistan #pregnant

— Dr Ahmad Rehan Khan (@AhmadRehanKhan) December 24, 2023

She married. She is having a child. What’s your problème Tooba

— Su$hie🇵🇸 (@Regenaphilangi) December 24, 2023

Struggling to understand what’s wrong with these pictures?

— Wyatt da fc-k (@jniinj) December 23, 2023

pic.twitter.com/iF4BFYOL5r

— Rayyaan Khan (@khan_rayyaan) December 24, 2023

 Like us, a fan shared that they were struggling to understand what was wrong with the pictures. Meanwhile, a user suggested, “How about, just be happy?” Yes, how about we let mothers-to-be, just be?

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