Veena Malik’s Ramazan show called off after public outrage
The idea of the controversial Veena Malik repenting for her sins on national television did not settle well with the awaam. From internet petitions calling for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ban the show, which had been scheduled to air during the holy month, to comments on social media forums, the anger was hot and unrestricted.
The furor and resentment around the show finally made the production team rethink their decision to air it. “Hero TV is for the awaam. If the awaam does not want to see Veena Malik on this Ramazan show, then we will cancel it,” said a member of the team, adding that they respect the wishes of the populace.
A YouTube user by the name Hamza Imran uploaded a video of his reaction to Veena’s Ramazan promo. Cursing heavily, he appeals to viewers:
“Can you imagine Veena Malik, who not so long ago stripped half naked with an ISI tattoo on her? She hasn’t got any right to be entering Pakistan, let alone being on a TV show that has such religion significance,” he says, holding his head, clearly appalled. He also adds that he has uploaded his video to “spread the message” to the show’s producers for its cancellation. “I’m not just going to be Facebooking or liking things online because that’s not going to make a difference. I want people to email Hero TV and send them hate messages and ask them to stop this. She’s a disgrace of a person. How dare she?”
Amidst the hue and cry around this controversial show, a few questions come to light. If Hero TV was “heroic” enough to take such an audacious stance (by inviting the notorious Veena on their sets) in the first place, why didn’t they simply stick to their guns and see it through? Some commentors suggest that it is a publicity ploy to garner attention for a channel that receives none at all. “What depths will the media plunge to next in the ratings game? Is there any hope for an informed, progressive and responsible media?” asks one irked commenter on The Express Tribune website.
A Pemra official told us that he was just as baffled. “What do media owners want?” he asked, requesting anonymity. “Could they not find anyone else? If they want ratings, can’t they get scholars with good reputations instead of fuelling extremism by bringing such controversial figures on TV?” he asked, adding that Veena and other televangelists are “hypocrites”.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (110)
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She should repent individually and sincerely and not make it a show off by appearing on tv. Showing off ones worship or repentense for the sake of gaining honor in public is called "Rayah" in islam which is a greater sin. She is trying her best to regain her lost honor and dignity by doing stunts like this. Humans make mistakes but it does not mean we should get disappointed of Allah's mercy. If she is seriously sorry to Allah, the better option is that she sincerely repent as Allah is the most merciful and forgiving. Insha-Allah.
When we can forgive IMRAN KHAN for what he did in the past, why can't forgive Veena Malik?
@Bakhtiar Wain: Going by your logic, we should also allow pornographic chanels. If you don't like it change the chanel. What a stupid argument.
its a very good decision of banning Venna's program .... and i think there are many other people which should be ban one of them is Maya khan who is standing in a Ramazan show and was saying Yar to a male person from the audience ..... is this kind of prodram should be shown in which a muslim girl is saying YAR to a na-mehram in a ramzan show ... really ridiculous
what nonsense....... zero(hero) tv has called it on!! the clip is on YouTube of her sitting alongside with a religious scholar! the channel has given it a go to see what happens now coz they think they have spent a lot of dough on the prank program!! mepra has to to step in and take serious action against hero tv.
Its amusing to read the above comments, apparently, some of these Pakistanis who are so vehemently defending nudity, lewd low moral behaviours come from lower middle class families who desperately want to appear as modern and educated, in their misguided pursuit to become modern they are happy to accept filth, lewdness, immoral behaviour for cheap publicity stunts from women who come from equally degraded backgrounds.
Shame and again Shame on such ignorant people, it is no wonder, Pakistan is considered to be a basket case of the world. Obviously some of these people have no knowledge of their own religion and would happily trade it for a few dollars; very unfortunately their values have come from a confused culture imbedded in ignorance. Those of us who live in the west, deeply realize the value of our beautiful religion. The blessed month of Ramadan is a time of reflection and enhanced worship, to guard your tongues, eyes, ears and recite Allah’s glorious book, it is not a time for entertainment.
All year long the most absurd entertainment goes on non stop in shameless manner; cant these foolish people who call themselves Muslims pay respect this sacred month. Have these ignorant people thought of their own death and how their accounts will be settled? I can assure you that will not be entertaining.
I don't understand that Hamza Imran guy. If he did not want her on his Iftaar time TV channel...why couldn't he simply switch channels?
This is a back fire for Express Group! Not every controvertial topic / personlaity can be cashed!
for those who are of mind to change channels; why not remove the dirt and have a clean media representation!! Why allow people with double standards and hypocrisy and no knowledge about religion come to the screen showing themselves most pious and knowledgeable of all?? When "awaam" knows their real faces, they should protest against those media parties who keep on bringing them forward to cause a stir or get some attention for a while. To bring a good change we all have to be that way!!
A media stunt by Hero TV to draw attention instead became a source for image relegation!
what about those people who attended IIfat party given by PPP in Gujrawallah and looted the food and ate it too before the Iftar siren.The famine people of Ethopia never did this even though they were hungry for days. Shame on our people.Our people are dirty in mind and body. They have no deen or Iman.They have no right to critize others.We should look into our own life first.
Weird... I just saw the show on TV yesterday. -_-
well it is very good step taken by pemra, for me there is no right to veena madam to host a show in this precious month of ramazan actually this is basically the fault of our media , media basically purpose is to highlight the issue of any country , but indeed they are trying to publicity of their own channels, like hero tv for veena.sad
all media are corporate and corporate media can do anything to serve their corporate interest .
@usman: Quoting the Quran is probably not the best tactic in the present day. First, any true followers of the Quran better do some work to clean up and rein in the elements that pervert the text to suit their own agendas (terrorism - there, I said it...).
I came here quite by accident and have to chuckle at some of the comments, from both sides of the issue. Someone wrote: @Brajanarayan: will you stop burying girls in India??? why do you have to teach us lessons on 21st century when your culture itself is medieval.
What I see in the comments that there are a lot of people that are still stuck in 'medieval thinking'. I wish I had the ability to see into people's lives...behind the facades. I would be willing to bet that those that claim the most 'devout' perspectives (while spewing the angriest rhetoric) surely have some skeletons in their closets that they keep hidden away from view.
Wow! Excellent marketing technique used by Express News to promote their new channel Hero TV. Now everyone knows about Hero TV.
There is no difference between Hero TV and Evening Special Akhbaar
By the way Hero TV is the worst channel on earth
@Brajanarayan: will you stop burying girls in India??? why do you have to teach us lessons on 21st century when your culture itself is medieval.
You should cancell the programms of Amir liaqat and Maya.
@nomi: What are you on about mate? How are 'these UK Muslims' related to this article or indeed Veena Malik's controversies?
The majority of UK Muslims like me, did not leave ANY Muslim country to live in a secular country. We were BORN here.
@Bakhtiar Wain: Just giving advice to change the channel containing objectionable content leads to grow such type of more channel. if you like to choose good and fashionable costumes,you refer to fashion designer and like and adopt what they present in public or market. Just like in religion, we should go to and have company of ULEMA,GOOD islamic scholars to know islamic teachings and knowledge and then act upon. in our daily life.
Todays Media try to reap benefit from where Public trend is bent upon through right or wrong way.
It would have been interesting. Her profession has nothing to do with her faith. Gutless TV channel owner. How unroy.
This is our Muslim Pakistani society's greatest ever dilemma that we always remember the other by their harsh,shameful and objectionable past and why do we forget it that is s/he wants to repent truly,sincerely and honestly (Tauba tun Nnasooh) before Allah Almighty and if Allah accepts his/her repentance then who are we to punish him/her??????? Because except "Shirk" every sin is forgettable and Allah Almighty says in His doubtless Holy Quran that O mankind if you have done wrongful then come towards me and never disappoint from my blessings...... Pray for her for the acceptance of her repentance instead of criticizing her in harsh words and let give her a chance to wash her sins..........
One down two to go!
:( i was soo excited to see veena malik.. bad move.. What about Mr. Jeem bringing Mr. Chay?? He is still on air!!! Uff mairey maula yeh Pakistan ka MULLA culture!
hero tv promotes vulagrsim...
@C. Nandkishore: We are no2 USA is no1
Before Veena's show, I am sure 60-80% people didnt know about Hero Tv and now its a job well done. Whether you like it or not Publicity stunt has worked well. The thing I dont understand is why our nation takes action strong action on certain news and lets go others (of similar nature) completely. Sigh
ET still to write about the Burma massacre but these things concerns you more?
Veena is a role model for women in Pakistan. She is independent, hard-working and successful.Moreover she loves her country.
She is what she is not like lying mullahs.
I love you PEMRA, my complain worked! :D
All those who are going all hyper about how we are all hypocrites, sinful etc for not wanting Veena Malik doing a Ramadan show, I have only one thing to say -
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Pakistani society is becoming ridculously immature by the day thanks to the empty-headed media and awaam. Announcing Veena Malik as a ramazan show host was cheap popularity ploy and crass commercialism by this channel. Protesting against her show so vehemently was an over-reaction by the mullahs. And all the ultra-liberals commenting above creating a tolerance and rights issue out of the cancellation of her stupid show are also over-reacting. Whole society has gone crazy. I miss the days when ramadan was simply about Fasting, praying, roohafza sharbat, a nice naat on PTV, smoke break after taraweeh, and night cricket till sehri. Now every cultural/religious occasion in our society is turned into either a commercial ploy or a hotly debated socio-political issue.
@faizan: The very Best comment from a brilliant mind. Before criticising others, look inwards, look to yourself and introspect what is wrong within yourself. It is same for a community and society and country. In stead of blaming America, India and Israel and the whole world, look into your own failures. What is your outlook as a Nation, what you want to achieve in 21st century? Do you want to come out of medieval culture and adopt modern social values or go on oppressing women, prevent vaccination programs, burn girls' schools, destroy shrines, and kill people of other faiths(also your own faith) in the name of a sacred religion. Veena Mallick conducting a show or NOT conducting a show should not stop you participating in the show and talk sensible things on your culture or religion.
IT was merely a publicity stunt by hero tv... shame on the media and on the people for giving such things extraordinary importance and letting others to exploit... and dont u wonder why tribune is following this news so vigilantly
IT was merely a publicity stunt by hero tv... shame on the media and on the people for giving such things extraordinary importance and letting others to exploit... and dont u wonder why tribune is following this news so vigilantly
@Modasar: Thank God coconut/wannabe people are in America.
So it's OK for Pakistanis to watch a show hosted by a hate-monger who spews venom and incites violence against fellow Pakistanis but it's not OK for us to watch a celebrity talk about repentance. UNITY, FAITH and DISCIPLINE should be changed to HYPOCRISY, BIGOTRY and INTOLERANCE. How low have we fallen.
her father (Malik Aslam) sought legal action through court against her (Veena) for her wrongdoing. People favoring her actions have any idea why a father would seek legal action against his child.
What is GEO TV trying to prove !
Hope better sense prevails and they do not air the show,Vinna Malik can come in an showbiz entertainment show not deletion please
Intolerable Pakistan as usual..!!
stop maya khan too.stop amir liaqat too
What an advertising strategy used by Hero TV. Initially used Veena Malik as the host of the program, so that people get to know about this channel and then before Ramadan they chose another person for their program because it is "Awaam's channel". Didn't they know that people of Pakistan are Muslims and they wouldn't allow Veena for a Ramadan Program. Strange!
Sad! I would have loved her show.
this was always the plan
Why stop it? Dont watch if you dont like it... why stop anyone...
veena rocks.
I am just stunned by some of the comments here who wanted to actually see veena malik do a religious program ?
Quran Says ( 2:208) O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
Clearly she wants to continue her movie career and this show side by side, which is not acceptable in Islam. It cannot get more clear then that.
So consider for a second if she really wanted to repent her sins, so she should leave the entertainment industry and still do astaghfar in her house . She can transfer herself and come back next year and I am sure ppl will accept that.
Similarly India Pakistan cricket series should be called off.
In fact Pakistanis visiting India with India hosting them is 1000 times more offensive than Veena Malik's appearance on Ramzan.
I hope is that Veena Malik replaces India as enemy no. 1.
AFTER getting their much needed publicity.
A simple question: If Amir Liaqat can then why not Veena Malik? any answers? Let us be very realistic as a nation, Amir Liaqat has been acting as a scholar for years over TV and ppl still watch him If Amir Liaqat can attract viewers for such a show then I'm Veena cam attract more..........
Now, will Hafeez Saeed or Lakhvi replace so called dirty Veena?
I would rather watch her, than Amir Liaquat. Beside she has more right to talk about religion, than the blood thirsty, gun totting, venom spitting, child molesting mullahs. At least her actions, don't endanger the lives of other people.
Way to go Veena!
I thought the whole point of Ramazan was to infuse humility, tolerance, compassion for the world, not to point fingers and judge. Its a starting point of habits that we should continue throughout the year. Veena being on tv during Ramazan month should not cause trauma for any Pakistani.
Phew, thanks for that people. Otherwise how could I ever continue with my normal Ramadan routine!!?? I would lose all focus, stop fasting, stop praying and forget it's Ramadan without a doubt all because of Veena Malik's show. eye roll Be your own strength people! Happy Ramadan to all.
Saying someone doesn't have a right to enter into Pakistan because their actions are disagreeable [to an illiterate and intolerant] majority is absurd. Who determines that?? If people who "wrong" Pakistan had no right to enter Pakistan, half the nation and most of the government would be exiled, borders sealed. So sick of this hypocrisy. I may not like Veena Malik but I don't think her choices make her a threat to Pakistan. Pathetic over reaction. At least she's not as two faced as some others.
veena's Nationality should also be cancelled.
"Hero Tv" and "Veena Malik" are one and the same thing. They will do anything to become famous, even strip naked during a holy month.
Good work...She is a disgrace to a womanhood. She should be ignored anyway.Hypocrite woman.
Good its called off.It was a naughty idea anyway.
Who are we to say if she is Muslim enough to do a Ramadan show or not. Whatever a person is does is between him/her and Allah. Maybe under all the glams and controversies she has a heart that is dear to Allah. Maybe under all our holiness, we have an eye that doesn't fast. Maybe we are the ones who fast with our stomachs but don't don't fast with our eyes and tongue. End of the day, one mistake and all our piousness could count for nothing. And that one mistake can be our urge to judge other people. When clearly that's God's work. Not ours.
So hypocrite Pakistanis had problem with her who's truthfully what she's, but they've no problem with Aamir Liaqat and Mubashar Luqman? Just like a Chemistry principle of 'like dissolves like', 'hypocrites accept hypocrites'.
My request to ExpressTribune: Please, don't use words like "notorious" for artists like Veena Malik. She is famous, not notorious. She is that personality who is adored by some and loathed by others; one cannot remain indifferent. And that speaks a lot. Personally, I think Veena could be a good Ramazan show host than Aamir Liaquat and Maya Khan.
Wow! Excellent marketing technique used by Express News to promote their new channel Hero TV. Now everyone knows about Hero TV.
Shame on ET for making light of this serious news.
Well Done! I guess Hero TV has better conscience than GEO TV. I am far more appalled by GEO TV's move of re-hiring Amir Liaquat. Even Veena Malik is probably a better human being in my eyes than that guy. At least she isn't promoting religious sectarianism.
Cancelling the show was simply wrong. If someone does not like it that person has the option of changing channels. This way you allow him to impose his / her will on others thereby massaging the ego of a few people with disturbing personal issues.
Dear ET, you are using awaam as if it was a slur! Your contempt for the democratic voice of the majority of the people is quite obvious and quite frankly pathetic!
I agree that having her represent an Islamic religious festival in any form would be über weird, same as I feel for Aamir Liaquat, can the awam PLEASE get him off air, hes more dangerous with his self righteousness.
Every single member of that 'resentment filled awaam' would have watched that show.
What about Ammir Liaquat Hussain... ??? When will he be signed off...
What about Amir Liaquat?
Alright.. since she is banned on the basis of not being qualified to host a show during the holy month. Then when will we ban Aamir Liaqat who's unparalleled hypocrisy and extreme views have been on air for years now? Let's be fair and apply the same rules across the board. I was never for the Veena Malik show, but at the same time I refused to revolt against it because we still have fakes like Aamir Liaqat freely addressing an entire country.
Veena was an effective antidode to the hate spread by some other TV based religious program.
Typical hypocrisy of the people of Pakistan. I'd like to see protests over Amir Liaquat airing his show. No one stepped forward for that. Laughable! And unfortunately, another step towards extremism. Pakistan deserves the state it is in and that is the truth.
If only GEO and ARY would do the same with Amir Liaquat, Maya Khan and Shahid Masood and let us watch learned Islamic scholars like Javed Ghamidi and Yasir Qadhi. :(
Every channel in Pakistan will have all the Islamic stuff to talk about, don't people get tired of all those mullahs making up their own stuff? And no entertainment in Ramzan that is totally not fair. Thank god i am in America!
People stop all this. It was all for publicity! I mean it's just stupid. It was never going to happen. What will she talk about in the show? Will any proper religious scholar even come for her show?
Stop Maya khan tooo.
so, who's the winner? HERO TV, i guess... maybe people in pakistan are not that matured to see through the antics of the guys who create furore, then step in to douse the fire, then heavily curse everything around them, and assure that salvation of public lies in following them only.............. and what they gain in the process. more eyeballs, than many can dream....
that's why i call tribune to be the most intelligently run newspaper in pak..already they have replaced dawn as the most read pakistani newspaper online....
Mmm, I have to plug-in my TV cable again. Veena was a good excuse for us not to watch TV during the Holy month of Ramadan.
@muhammad tariq zafar: i never said she would be a good teacher; all I saying is that everybody has equal rights just as you would have the right to change the channel
@Sarmad: If people r not reacting against amir liaquat it does not man that veena shpuld be allowed.let us we also protest against amer and others.
Great Job Ban her...
finally common sense prevails :)
@Bakhtiar Wain: What she will teach us.she has not the basic knoedge of islam as she proved from her previous attititude.pl dont support her
I was looking forward to it I thaught given the chance she will purify herself At the same time there will be no Amir to putup withIt was a publicity stunt by Express Media corporation to promote their new channel HERO TV. Protest or no protest, She wasn't going to do the program either way. it was only promo
Nice and successful publicity stunt. Now we all know that there is a channel called "Hero TV".
VERY GUD. otherwise TRIBUNE would lost rattings
I am in favour of the show, if u don't like it then change the channel. Bans are wrong. If its ok to see Amir liaquat hussain, then she is fine too.
Let the whole World shun her but she is welcome as honored artist in Bollywood. We have nothing with her personal life and pursuits. As a member of public,we are concerned with her performance only.
Frankly, this was a terrible idea. Some people these days want to argue that ANYTHING is acceptable in Islam. No, it isn't, and people who wish to follow Islam had better get used to it. If you thin there are other 'better' religions - go ahead and follow them.
I dont understand these UK muslims. They live in a secular country after leaving a muslim country and most fervently come out claiming to defend Islam.
Is Veena Malik too powerful too endanger the whole Ummah?
Laughable really?
I thought Islam was the religion of peace,love and fairness.
One's action should not reflect their belief system.
I'm very glad to hear about our awam's decision!
YAHOOOOO !!!!!!
First good news at the start of Ramazan to all my Pakistani brothers and sisters.
Right move
i was really looking forward for the show... ramzan would have been interesting this year... now we have to stick to hypocrites like aamir liaqat & maya khan
Nice work....