Mariyam Nafees defends holiday wardrobe

Actor says Pakistani men’s ogling is nothing to be proud of

Pakistani actor Mariyam Nafees, known for her roles in hits like Diyar e Dil and Jaan e Jahan, is currently soaking up the London sun in a way that’s got social media buzzing. Flaunting bold summer outfits during her vacation, Mariyam’s fashion choices have sparked a fiery debate online.

When a social media critic noted, “When foreigners come to Pakistan they wear traditional clothes. When Pakistani go abroad they shorten their clothes,” Mariyam didn’t hold back. She clapped back, “Thanks to Pakistani men’s ogling. Nothing to be proud of — they have to cover up so you don’t die staring at them. Bitter facts.”

In the picture that has divided the internet, Mariyam can be seen sitting by the iconic London Bridge, indulging in some gelato. She’s dressed in a chic and casual black sleeveless dress that cuts off before the knees.

While some fans back Mariyam’s stance on the societal double standards, others argue that the issue of inappropriate staring isn’t exclusive to Pakistan. Amidst the backlash, cultural arguments about modest dressing continue to swirl.

Despite the controversy, the actor seems unfazed, continuing to share her London adventures with her significant social media following. Earlier, Mariyam was in the spotlight for her take on polygamy.

In an episode of the chatshow Mind Na Karna, the actor sparked a lively debate by sharing her perspective on polygamy with host Ahmad Ali Butt. The conversation began during a game segment of the show where Ahmad and Mariyam were presented with various scenarios to decide whether they minded something or not.

Mariyam firmly stood her ground against polygamy and declared that she does object to men having multiple wives at the same time. “If men enter a new marriage one at a time, then I don’t mind. If they are marrying simultaneously, then I do mind that,” the Jaan a Jahan actor stated.

Kicking up an animated banter, Mariyam and Ahmad found themselves reacting to various statements, including one that questioned whether every man should emulate the example of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and marry three times.

The Neem starlet delved into the complexities of marriage, highlighting two distinct approaches: marrying sequentially or concurrently. While she expressed acceptance of the former, she raised concerns about the practicality and fairness of the latter. Ahmad invoked the religious permissibility for four marriages for men to which she replied, “Let me correct that. Our religion says, ‘If you can do justice (to all your wives) but you won’t be able to.’”