Celebs who flew to Canada for awards were also doing their civic duty, says designer Feeha Jamshed

"Giving a progressive, softer image of Pakistan" is also a civic duty in Feeha's books

28 Jul, 2018

The furore over celebrities missing the elections for the Hum Awards is yet to subside, and the latest to contribute to the debate is designer Feeha Jamshed.

In her view, the celebrities who flew out to Toronto in order to rehearse for the award show (that takes place today) were also performing a civic duty:

The Art of Moving Forward PS sorry for the long read, it’s worth it ! Peace ✌🏽 #HumAwards2018 #electionpakistan2018

A post shared by Feeha Jamshed (@jamshadys) on Jul 27, 2018 at 4:59am PDT

Feeha writes that "...giving a progressive, softer image of Pakistan that our politicians, new or international media [fails] to do" is also a civic duty in her books. She goes on to add that participating in "cultural trade between two countries... so that the expat community can see what we have achieved with such little resources" is also a form of civic duty.

In her note, she emphasises that voting doesn't entitle us to judge other people and we should in fact question the people around us in Pakistan who didn't vote about why they failed to do so rather than the stars who had flown out of the country to work.

Comments

M. Saeed Jul 28, 2018 12:57pm

No duty is bigger and more important than the duty to the nation in formulating the future of the children of a patriotic citizen.

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USMAN RATHORE Jul 28, 2018 01:05pm

I beg to differ with this opinion. Voting is a process which has consequences stretching to 5 years, One single day event with long term consequences effecting each and every aspect of life of Pakistanis. Skipping one award event to vote will not make much of a negative impact for the "softer image" of Pakistan.

Waqar Khan Jul 28, 2018 01:29pm

I think it's the duty of every celebrity of Pakistan to have voted. Pakistan is their identity and many people look at them as a role model. People dress like them, act like them and are impressed by their life. By not voting and leaving the country in the needed time, it send a wrong message to Pakistan. If they were not Pakistani celebrity I would have understood this but it's very shameful, and their names should be highlighted in public so people could make the right choice.

Sheraz Jul 28, 2018 02:43pm

Is this a joke? Seriously?

Ehsan Jul 28, 2018 07:39pm

Very true, let’s all work together, everyone do their part to the best of their abilities

Ali Jul 28, 2018 08:05pm

Celebs miss their civic duty of voting as they flew out to Canada for Hum Awards being held in Toronto. Celebs play an important national role and people see them as role models, so when they ignore national voting they are sending a wrong message. They should have voted and been good role models to strengthen democracy, but they gave priority to money. In any case, why have such awards ceremony in Canada or other countries, spending millions of dollars. They should be held in Pakistan to help the local economy.

Male Jul 28, 2018 10:43pm

No it isn't! Your first duty is to your country and priority number one is placing your vote. The rest of what you believe categorises civic duty is up for debate but you're supposed to be role models for Pakistanis firsts. How can that be if your not even here on the most important day in every 5 years!

Jai Jul 29, 2018 07:02pm

Why pretend to be doing a civic duty when you are serving yourself? There is nothing wrong with admitting that self-interest and monetary gain governs a person's decision. These group of celebrities need to drop the holier-than-thou attitude and the hypocritical public service messages/social commentaries.