Smoking is absolutely injurious to your health but this particular cigarette seems to have burned a lot of people.
So, just to recap a bit on the Mahira and Ranbir front – these pictures surfaced:
And in one swift move, Mahira and Ranbir collectively caused a meltdown across the two nations.
However, as soon as the pictures surfaced, some Pakistanis already saw what was going to happen.
They knew the ghairat brigade would be on Mahira’s case soon.
Assemble the protection squad for Mahira Khan against the haya brigade.
— Shumail (@Shumyl) September 21, 2017
In fact, some people pointed out the hypocrisy in all those waiting to attack Mahira Khan.
watch how pakistani men won't let mahira khan live because she smoked & dressed differently but jerk off to porn every night
— vinnie ? (@vxneeza) September 21, 2017
And their predictions were correct. The desi ghairat brigade descended upon Mahira with their pointless wrath.
Really ashamed for her, why she did such cheap and immoral act, duppata or sharm o haya e aurat ka zywar or sb kch hy shame on her
— Mohsin Abbas (@mohsinabbas001) September 21, 2017
Some told Mahira that she had lost a fan.
Because apparently, wearing and doing what you want means that you don’t have morals.
@TheMahiraKhan this is what u always say as ur high values.. no more fan of u.. pic.twitter.com/7lwKAOBZeR
— aqib khan (@aqibkhan228) September 21, 2017
Some people questioned her faith as well.
Because it was obviously their concern.
Is she even muslim anymore ? @TheMahiraKhan pic.twitter.com/ZNPUaNYvhA
— Atta Ur Rehman (@AttaUrR32207910) September 22, 2017
Unnecessarily disrespectful posts like these started circulating as well.
@TheMahiraKhan cc??? pic.twitter.com/4QBa25qoRI
— Raees Tweets ® (@LeMeRaees) September 21, 2017
Apparently, Mahira Khan’s izzat lies in her clothes?
Because when our oh-so-pious men strut around in pools near scantily clad women or pose half naked themselves, that’s fine. But God forbid Mahira Khan allegedly wears a dress.
Ap k libas ny mujhe boht sharminda kiya
— Shameer (@Shameer171) September 21, 2017
Some people claimed to have lost respect for her.
But hey, if your respect for Mahira Khan was tied to her clothes, maybe you need to reevaluate if you ever respected her in the first place. Jus sayin’.
Just lost respect for her. Feel sorry for her parents. pic.twitter.com/QqY7YLiiJy
— Mohammad Masroor (@Masroor4Lotte) September 21, 2017
And some people made some passed some pretty low comments.
Very distasteful.
No wonder she divorced her husband.Aisi aurtein thori shadi k qabil hotihain.Still they get married
— AyeshaAhmed10 (@AshiNaim) September 21, 2017
However, people were ready to get up and defend Mahira Khan. Momina Mustehsan happened to be one of those people.
Jesus. Can we please give @TheMahiraKhan a break?! Why are we so quick to judge and attack?! Esp if it's a woman in question. It's her life!
— Momina Mustehsan (@MominaMustehsan) September 21, 2017
Meesha Shafi jumped in as well to stand up for her friend.
Yeah, Mahira. Don’t let – uh – people get you down.
'Nolite te bastardes carborundorum!' @TheMahiraKhan ✌?
— Meesha Shafi (@itsmeeshashafi) September 22, 2017
Others spoke up against the aimless slut-shaming as well, pointing out the evident double standards that were being perpetrated.
Everyone's bashing and slut-shaming @TheMahiraKhan, why because she was smoking a cigarette on streets?
Wasn't Ranbir doing the same?
— Fatima. (@notsocurvy) September 21, 2017
Some pointed out the blatant hypocrisy in calling out Mahira for the pictures…
So the people of country who watch most porn are getting mad at the semi nude pictures of mahira khan. How hypocrite
— Noor Inam (@noorinam1) September 21, 2017
…while raising a point that’s worth pondering over.
Stop it guys. You can watch porn all night long but she can't wear semi nude dress. Wow
— Noor Inam (@noorinam1) September 21, 2017
However, in the end, this tweet pretty much summed up what’s going on.
Haters gonna hate. Etc, etc.
All this hate meanwhile Mahira Khan pic.twitter.com/sIiF3P9hsj
— Ahsan. ?? (@iPakistaniLAD) September 21, 2017
It’s truly unfortunate that these pictures have sparked outrage over social media. Why can we only respect women who we can confine or limit? The guy in the photo was equally indulging in smoking while standing out in public. Why can a woman not make her own choices without being the target of people who are in no place whatsoever to pass judgments?
Regardless of whether the pictures are fake, whether that’s not Mahira or whether it’s from a film set – the way some of us have reacted has been appalling. Mahira is an asset to the country and her work is what makes us proud of who she is. If we can’t respect our artists and their choices, perhaps we don’t deserve them in the first place.
What do you have to say about the ghairat brigade descending upon Mahira? Let us know in the comments.