Objections on advertisements are nothing new to the subcontinent, and politicians have even alleged that condom ads instigate sexual crimes in the society by spreading “obscenity”.
The latest controversy has erupted on the other side of the border as a senior investigative journalist has raised objections to a Pakistani Urdu newspaper Jang featuring Nargis Fakhri in a front page ad.
My strong protest to top jang group management for this absurd front page ad in today’s jang. pic.twitter.com/M5SRc1p3H7
— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) December 20, 2015 Abbasi protested the step and termed the ad as absurd in a tweet, while other users also responded to his outrage.
@AnsarAAbbasi Abbasi sb. mujhe tu ek khatoon haath mein phone pakre dikhai de rahi hai, aap ki nazarain kia dekh rahi hai? What’s in ur mind
— I.Muhammad (@imtiazhkg) December 20, 2015 @AnsarAAbbasi why? It’s a free country.
— Ghazala Khan (@ghazala_khan) December 20, 2015 @AnsarAAbbasi Front page ad looks absurd but corruption, loot and plunder of the government is acceptable~
— Kadar Khan (@kadar_k) December 20, 2015 @AnsarAAbbasi She is beautiful and has a great sense of humor. I am her fan 😀 btw, whats your problem? She is all covered!
— A Concerned Citizen (@9bodee) December 20, 2015 The moral police was quick to term the image as vulgar. While the advertisement shows Fakhri holding a phone, which hardly seems obscene in any sense.
@AnsarAAbbasi Who approved this, should b aware of Pakistani culture & society dynamics!
— Dr Nadia Khan (@nadiakhaan) December 20, 2015 @AnsarAAbbasi why newspapers are trying to be like playboy or weekend type of magazine ?? These kind o adds look good in magazine not on NP
— Muhammed Amer (@amerdxb1) December 20, 2015 @AnsarAAbbasi really condemn this photo its Islamic country why its published in paper shame
— Usama Khamis Minhas (@usamakhamis12) December 20, 2015 ajj jung walon nay front page par nargis fakhri ko chap dia hay kal sunny leone chap daingay.
— Mirza Lamer King (@iMirzaSaheb) December 20, 2015 @AnsarAAbbasi . It is in every newspaper and their tv as is more vulgar where are the censorship authorities
— Muhammad tanveer (@Muhamma57368320) December 20, 2015 While users were calling the move outrageous, it wasn’t clear if it was an ad on the front page that they found absurd, or was it the image itself.
