Boycott ARY has become a top conversation over that Bulbulay joke
Pakistan has a very tenuous relationship with comedy. We, as a country, believe we are funny but our practice shows otherwise. On top of that, whenever we do make jokes they’re always at the expense of the weak or targeting someone’s insecurities, leading to even more tension than before.
Pashtuns are pissed at ARY and asking to boycott ARY because of an insensitive joke made by the long-running comedy ‘Bulbulay‘
The channel has come under fire as its hit comedy show ‘Bulbulay‘ was called out for stereotyping Pashtuns in a negative light. Angry Pashtuns took to Twitter to express their outrage and Pakistanis all over the country criticized the channel for furthering bias against the Pashtun people.
We Pakhtoons are not terrorists nor drug dealers.
We are Patriotic Pakistanis and we respect all ethnicities. @arydigitalasia you MUST apologise immediately for portraying Pakhtoons as terrorists.We have made more sacrifices than anyone else.#BoycottAryDigital#پشتون_بہ_منے pic.twitter.com/MrirMvbPNs
— Team Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (@Team__KPK) July 23, 2020
People are saying that these tone-deaf jokes are uncalled for
In the incriminating episode, characters in ‘Bulbulay‘ joke about a Pashtun person, hinting that he could only be expected to come with a packet of naswar or a bomb. This angered many people as they took it as the drama worsening the negative bias against the Pashtun people in Pakistan and giving them wrong representation that can prove to be harmful.
The way this shameless channel is spreading lies and deception, it should have been banned till now but unfortunately there is no real rule of law here and democracy is weak due to which such uncivilized channels play into the hands of powerful establishment.#BoycottAryDigital pic.twitter.com/fkyNBJ7gif
— AlamZaib Mahsud (@AlamzaibMahsud) July 23, 2020
#BoycottAryDigital
We Pathans have made our Pakistanies all over the world proud.
and you can introduce us with Naswar or bombs…#BoycottAryDigital pic.twitter.com/OaMqEc3ht5— Habib Yousafzai (@HabibYusfzai) July 23, 2020
Pakhtoons gave numerous sacrifices for Pakistan throughout it's history.
Pakhtoons stand shoulder to shoulder with 🇵🇰 Army.
KPK has one of the highest literacy rates in 🇵🇰.
Don't underestimate Pakhtoons you idiots.Stop this nonsense
SHAME ON YOU 👇#BoycottAryDigital pic.twitter.com/3RnjBuL8vT
— Faisal Khan (@Faisal__Kp1) July 23, 2020
Calls to Boycott ARY have become a top social media trend as Pakistanis criticized the channel for the insensitive jokes
People have taken to the internet to condemn ARY digital for stereotyping Pashtuns. Many people came forward with their own negative experiences associated with the channel. They demanded the channel to apologize for hurting sentiments of the Pashtun people. So far, the channel hasn’t responded to the controversy.
Pakhtuns are the pride of Pakistan. ARY Digital has tried to create hatred, so should apologize as soon as possible.#BoycottAryDigital pic.twitter.com/DwFHrJJZEA
— WASEEM TARIQ (@Wasim5533) July 23, 2020
When I was picked up by the ISI & placed in Malir Cantt illegally & unconstitutional demands were made before me, it was the shameless Racist stooge ARY channel that profiled me as if I was a terrorist. Though i was out 4 justice, humanity & the rule of law.#BoycottAryDigital pic.twitter.com/jEw9Fpri48
— AlamZaib Mahsud (@AlamzaibMahsud) July 23, 2020
#BoycottAryDigital Shame on Ary Media channels poshton is the pride of pakistan we are not fools we have our culture norms and values . We have five thousands year of history . Shame on u for making jokes and show poshtons are terrorists to the world . #BoycottAryDigital pic.twitter.com/a89hRRn2BO
— GHANI WAZIR (@GHANIWAZIR8) July 23, 2020
This isn’t the first time ARY Digital has come under fire for its controversial shows
ARY Digital has a history of controversial incidences under its belt. Before Bulbulay‘s recent brush with controversy, the channel was criticized for portraying women in a bad light in its widely popular drama ‘Mere Paas Tum Ho‘. They have also been previously criticized for stereotyping other ethnic communities in their dramas.
People are demanding that ARY apologize for their continuous ignorance regarding sensitive matters.
This is not the first time ARY mocked any ethnic group but they did this with Bihari and Bangali communities too in "Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewa". We demand immediate apology from ARY over insulting Pashtun nation.#BoycottAryDigital
— Sehar Shinwari (@SeharShinwari) July 23, 2020
People fail to realise that Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s remarks are not limited to Marvi only. This is how he thinks about all the women. His show Mere Pas Tum Ho is a perfect example of his hatred towards women. The entire script was to show how bad, cruel and unfaithful women are.
— Qubra Ali (@Qubra_Ali) March 5, 2020
Racial profiling and stereotyping is dangerous and the hurt felt by the Pashtun community is legitimate
Bias against the Pashtun people is not something new. They are often thought of in a negative light and stereotypes about them being terrorists and criminals or buffoons are perpetuated freely around the country. Stereotyping a whole community promotes hate crimes against them. And no one knows this better than Muslims after the negative affects the entire Muslim community has faced over the West believing all Muslims to be evil.
Portraying Pashtuns as rude, vicious, mentally aberrant, savage, foolish and funny has always been remained the core policy of Pakistani-cum-Punjabi imperialists and chauvinists.The biased depiction of Pashtuns in syllabuses and books is shameful and disgusting#BoycottAryDigital pic.twitter.com/PS75leDo5G
— Sajid khan Afridi (@SajidAf21169303) July 23, 2020
We need to unite against these prejudices and stand up for any and all forms of discrimination so that Pakistan becomes a safe country for people belonging to various ethnic groups. Also, these jokes are so 2009, let’s evolve to something better, shall we?
The outrage of Pashtuns is understandable, considering ARY Digital, a channel that boasts being ‘the most watched entertainment channel Pakistan’ should be extra vigilant about these sensitive issues as to not give wrong messages to its wide audience.
18 Things You Can Relate To Only If You Grew Up As A Pashtun
19 Absolutely Ridiculous Stereotypes In Pakistan
Cover image via: arydigital.tv / Twitter