I am ashamed: Balochistan CM apologises to Mahira Khan for incident at Literature Festival 

Pakistani star, Mahira Khan recently received a myriad of praise regarding her handling of an incident that took place during the Pakistan Literature Festival in Quetta. While the actor was on stage at the event, a member of the audience threw an object at her, which thankfully only grazed her side. The Humsafar actor, shocked, paused in the middle of her dialogue and addressed the situation in a calm and composed manner before continuing the conversation. Since then, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, has apologised for the incident. 

In the now-viral video, the Chief Minister stated, “What happened with Mahira Khan, one individual was responsible for that. As a Balochistani, I condemn that individual, I am also ashamed and as a Balochistani, Mahira Khan, I apologise to you. That one individual does not represent the rest of Balochistan.” The Superstar actor is yet to address the Chief Minister’s apology.

His statement came after Mahira addressed the incident via an Instagram video of her at the event. The Ho Mann Jahaan actor also verified that the object, previously unidentified, was actually a rose secured inside a paper plane. While seemingly innocuous, the actor alluded to the fact that the impact was painful by writing, “Do you know the roses here are magnificent? What’s strange is that it feels like they grow out of concrete.” 

The post gained a lot of traction on social media, with fans and celebrities alike showing their love for the star, as well as admiring the way she handled the situation. Filmmaker and actor, Sarmad Ali Sultan reposted Mahira’s video on his Instagram Story with the caption, “Ganga being her gentle and generous self, like always. Please read the note she has written so graciously and gracefully. Love you, Mahira.”

Messages from other friends in the industry flooded the comments section of the post as well. Influencer and former actor, Aiman Khan commented, “We love you,” followed by a slew of heart emojis. Actor, Mariyam Nafees also put down, “We’re so proud of you,” and suffice it to say she spoke for Mahira’s entire fan base.

The iconic Frieha Altaf penned, “Bravo. I love your ways. You make me so proud. Well handled and well said,” and retail designer, Feeha Jamshed also took the opportunity to extend her support as she wrote, “Grace and love personified.”

Backstory

Khan was recently invited as a special guest to the Pakistan Literature Festival in Quetta. The event, which took place on May 15, was a cultural and educational hub that promoted thought-provoking dialogue between the star and her audience. However, in a shocking turn of events, an unknown object was hurled at her on stage from the audience.

Amidst a conversation about her career and ironically – professionalism, an object was thrown with the intention of hitting the Raees actor. Luckily, it only managed to graze her side. In a moment of shock, the actor abruptly paused the conversation, and calmly expressed her disappointment at the incident, especially in the lack of respect shown during such an event.

“I won’t do any dialogue because you threw something on me, it means there is no room for a dialogue,” Mahira said. The Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay actor then resumed the conversation and also extended unwavering support for a film showcasing the rich culture of Quetta and Balochistan.

Reacting to the widely circulated video, fans expressed mixed reactions to the incident. Some expressed their concerns regarding the star’s safety, but most lauded the actor for maintaining her composure throughout the incident. An Instagram user commented, “She handled the entire situation with grace and confidence. The reason she is a superstar.” Another wrote, “She is such a sensible and calm lady. Look how gracefully she handled it.”

Since then, Mahira posted a video to Instagram of herself on stage with the caption, “What happened at the event was uncalled for. No one should think it’s okay to throw something on stage. It is unacceptable. There are times I get scared, not just for myself but for others who may be trapped in a mob-like situation.”

The actor also used her platform to urge people to continue hosting and attending events like these regardless of what took place that day. “We need more events such as these in more cities of Pakistan. The more you are exposed, the more you are aware and educated,” she wrote.

She concluded her post with appreciation for those who attended the festival and the love she was shown in Quetta. The elegance with which she handled the situation on stage, carried through to her message on Instagram.

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