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Yasir Hussain defends celebs against backlash over missing election day

Yasir Hussain defends celebs against backlash over missing election day

Most of Pakistan's biggest entertainers have flown out of the country to attend the Hum Awards in Toronto, Canada
25 Jul, 2018

While most of Pakistan's citizens have already cast their vote or are out and about doing so, many of the country's entertainers are sadly not even in town.

The 2018 Hum Awards are scheduled to take place this Saturday in Toronto, Canada so sadly, a lot of celebrities are missing in action on election day this year. Naturally, they've attracted a lot of flak for this, even from fellow fraternity members, such as Farhan Saeed and Imran Abbas.

Well, Yasir Hussain has a message for all the haters:

In a long Instagram post, Hussain hit back at trolls by defending their decision to miss such a crucial day. The actor pointed out that him and his colleagues had already entered into a contract with Hum Awards before the date for the election was finalised. He also spoke about the integrity of work and clarified that they were not "chilling in Canada" like many were insinuating on social media.

"I have voted twice before and it hasn't made a difference. Am I not allowed to miss this year's vote like any other ordinary citizen? Why are young people cursing veteran actors? Are you only taught to vote in your household, what about respect for your elders? If our mistake is a crime, the police can arrest us and file a case. Even we want better law and order in Naya Pakistan, let's start there," he concluded, before adding a little something for Imran Abbas: "If new, young entertainers are performing in front of you, make space for them instead of igniting fire."

Ouch, that burn (pun intended) deserves an applause.

Comments

Ahmad Gul Jul 25, 2018 02:57pm
Illogical reply made by Yasir Hussain. Does It bother if he is not going to cast his despite committing mistake , he defends the mistake rather than accept it
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Inam Ali Hashmi Jul 25, 2018 02:57pm
The Celebs knows for sure the dates of award long before and the voting system allows such persons for the postal ballot or the e-voting. these educated stuff might have used the b n and can be a dutiful citizen. alas Inam
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kash Jul 25, 2018 03:14pm
Regardless, Pakistan comes first, entertainment is 2nd
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Uza Syed Jul 25, 2018 03:24pm
People must take notice of this gross disregard by those who owe to people all their status and fame and all the glamour that goes with it. How about boycotting all these so celebrities who went and stayed away from Pakistan.
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Dr. Doctor Jul 25, 2018 03:28pm
Give them a break on Selection day.
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Jai Jul 25, 2018 04:02pm
Public shaming celebrities is not the answer. We should stop worshipping them and putting them on a pedestal. Notwithstanding the moral corruption, the only interest they serve is that of their own.
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Perplexed Jul 25, 2018 04:07pm
No issue with you guys missing out on voting, a lot of other people would be doing the same. But don't be a hypocrite and appear in all those ads for civic service and raising awareness for choosing to vote while you give it a miss yourself. I think that's the only issue these "badtameez youngsters" are taking.
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w hasan Jul 25, 2018 04:10pm
Lame excuses. One can judge the patriotism of these so called celebrities. They preach something and act differently. Shame on them.
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S Jul 25, 2018 04:23pm
"I have voted twice before and it hasn't made a difference." Because what, his preferred party didn't win? If he didn't find a job in the entertainment industry in two tries, the logical response is to just quit because it makes no difference? Naya Pakistan se chahtay bahut kuch hain, lekin uss taraf jaanay ke liye sab se basic, primary duty nibhanay se humein maafi hai?
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Ed Jul 25, 2018 04:39pm
The channel should be held responsible rather than the actors. Boycott? Anyone?
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Rehan Khan Jul 25, 2018 05:22pm
LOL. of course it makes a difference. every vote count. what a loser. The award show is on saturday, meaning they could have taken a flight after the elections and still have plenty of time to prepare. should have planned accordingly. this is about your country, your people, which is much much bigger than entertaining much bigger then your own selfish reasons. EVERY VOTE COUNTS! this just shows that you guys do not care about the outcome, about the country about the people.
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ga Jul 25, 2018 05:23pm
It is the job of ECP to accommodate overseas Pakistanis to vote. Instead of hounding these celebs perhaps you can target millions of Overseas Pakistanis for not flying into Pakistan to vote while you all are in the cursing mode. Forcing the ECP is obviously too much for arm chair warriors.
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Nouman Jul 25, 2018 05:30pm
Ah the irony! Guy gives a speech about respect of fellow human beings and elders, and than goes on at the end to diss Imran Abbas!
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Maaila22 Jul 25, 2018 06:06pm
Oh please don’t try to defend this act!! As being a common person and in such Hi-tech technology era we all know what’s happening and when will it happen!!! So with all due respect all of you sitting outside can’t justify your absence... you are what you are because of your country!!! And I.e. Pakistan
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Tahir Hasnain Jul 25, 2018 06:13pm
Everyone is free to vote or not to vote so if you were not able to that is fine. You are also correct on your criticism on the level of vitriol on display at times in peoples posts. We need to learn how to disagree in a more civilized way. One point I would like to contend is that your vote does matter even if it did not get your party a win. Every vote counts. Sometimes it makes you win, sometimes it shows a party has support and should be taken seriously. It always matters. Maybe not in the way you want it to but every vote counts. With that being said, I wish you all did find a way. There is enough celebrity power in that picture alone that something could have been done. Hum TV should also have made an effort once the date was announced. It is difficult but not impossible to modify flights and even dates for your rehearsals. The "aam admi" you mentioned in your Instagram post has to contend with inflexible deadlines as well. Where there is a will there is usually a way.
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Hasan Jul 25, 2018 06:23pm
What a dumb response. This goes to show how selfish you really are. If you can't vote (or well don't care too vote) at least make some better entertainment, any movie or play you have acted in just plain sucks. Pakistani movies and drama's are a joke. All you people care about is how good you look and how many likes you get.
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Skkk Jul 25, 2018 06:51pm
Illogical reply. Very embarrasing to see celebs flying out of country on election day. Upsetting!
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Amir liaqat Jul 25, 2018 07:42pm
The elections are rigged. No point .
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Changez Khan Jul 25, 2018 08:04pm
No excuses please, you do not deserve to be excused.
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Raza K Jul 25, 2018 09:55pm
These people could have voted if our voting system had provision of Advanced polls or special vote such as in Canada.
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Moin Kamal Jul 25, 2018 11:28pm
Few votes do not matter. Let us enjoy them In Toronto.
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Nasir A. Jul 26, 2018 02:05am
Why is a Pakistani awards show being done in Canada? Why not in Pakistan once the new set up takes shape. Enormous waste of money that could have been spent in the country instead
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Dr. Asif Kidwai Jul 26, 2018 02:16am
Celebs are just as useless as any other ignorant individual in our country, they should know it will affect them and their families too
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Murtaza Ali Jul 26, 2018 04:22am
Its a shame! I wont be watching these awards as a protest.
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Abu.ashhad Jul 26, 2018 04:48am
It's better to keep quiet or being celebrity if you have any thing to respond so it should be soft.
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Omer (USA) Jul 26, 2018 05:44am
I do not know about what Pakistanis will do, but I will boycott all these stars! Enjoy your Awards!
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Usman Jul 26, 2018 09:56am
"Ouch, that burn (pun intended) deserves an applause." - NO IT DOES NOT!
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Khusro Habib Jul 26, 2018 10:09am
It would have been better if instead they would have apologized. It would have increased their status as a celebrity and a Pakistani rather then decreasing it. When you are a celebrity, this is the other side of the fame. For Pakistanis, to show your statement you can simply boycott the event, donot loose your self by using derogatory and low remarks.
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Nasir Askar Jul 26, 2018 10:12am
What can you expect from a person with very low IQ.
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A Pakistani Jul 26, 2018 11:30am
Good, nobody likes these sellout celebrities anyways.
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Itrat Khaliq Jul 26, 2018 12:01pm
@ga I agree that E.C.P. has the responsibility to facilitate all overseas pakistanis who are working outside their country to have the opportunity to vote for their country but these celebrities can't have that excuse. They are the privileged Lot.
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Tariq Ziad Jul 26, 2018 07:53pm
Right! a common man may not vote. But actually common men also don't take money to promote voting.
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sahba a omair Jul 27, 2018 05:22am
Lame excuse Yasir ! U guys should have flown after casting ur votes!!!
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Salma Jul 27, 2018 07:09am
Could they not have done a postal vote, as they knew they would be overseas?
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