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Atiqa Odho thinks Naumaan Ijaz's joke about cheating was 'naughty and entertaining'

Atiqa Odho thinks Naumaan Ijaz's joke about cheating was 'naughty and entertaining'

What's so entertaining about a married man joking about flirting with other women?
10 Sep, 2020

From normalising catcalling, to making smug remarks about fat-shaming, being insensitive towards trans people, or straight up abusing, Pakistani celebrities are evidently not too bothered about respecting women or marginalised communities.

Finding himself making headlines recently was veteran actor Naumaan Ijaz, who in a resurfaced clip from Iffat Omar's show, found himself making light out of infidelity and the #MeToo movement - ironically dismissing that the latter only happens because of straying away from religion.

"I'm such a great actor and an intelligent man that my wife, thank God, never finds out," he shares, as he speaks about falling in love with a different woman everyday, and often flirting with them in the process. "I love beautiful women who are hard to get."

While men like Ijaz do a wonderful job in exposing how fallacious the sanctity surrounding loyalty and marriage as an institution in Pakistan really is, it is unfortunately, women, who victim to internalised misogyny, or reasons unknown, encourage and support them.

Taking to social media, Humsafar actor Atiqa Odho defended her peer, mocking viewers' own "imaginations" for not being able to take a joke.

In a country where infidelity is not only common, but at the core of greater issues such as lifelong trauma, shattered families, physical abuse and dishonouring labels reserved only for a divorced woman, being asked to feel "shame" for "quickly judging Ijaz on a light-hearted moment on camera" seems to be my favourite celebrity advice.

"You really know how to get people's attention! You are so naughty and entertaining. Never a dull moment on and off screen," she writes, dismissing it as a casual joke. She adds that his wife and her "buddy" also, finds it hilarious.

Genuinely flabbergasted, I read and re-read what Odho says, but fail to understand what I should be entertained by - a man openly joking about being interested in another women while having a family at home? Boasting about being able to hide adultery well? A host not surprised at a shameless confession of infidelity? The "naughty" man on my screen? Or the fact that despite all this, it is women, who are villains, uphold bad character and stray "away from religion"?

For actors suggesting that matters pertaining to women's submission should be laughed at, I have just one thing to say: jokes about infidelity, cheating partners, flirting outside of marriage, and mocking the sanctity of what is supposed to be a relationship of trust - are distasteful, demeaning and crass.

They might be amusing to those not on the receiving end; but they are certainly not funny. We bet the men wouldn't have such a great sense of humour if it was their wives, talking about them this way instead.

Comments

Dasti Sep 10, 2020 05:40pm
Well written and fully agree. Its not a joke its about trust and charactet, the most important thing in the relationship.
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Brownflower Sep 10, 2020 05:47pm
She and the likes of her are the enablers; which is why cheating men get away with it.
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AMBER GUL RASHID Sep 10, 2020 06:46pm
@Brownflower for once let men take responsibility for their own actions, please~!
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Vijay B. Sep 10, 2020 06:50pm
I see no comments posted here, so I assume this is too deep a subject for most people to comment on comfortably. They say "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," confronted with that metaphor, not being wanting not to be considered a fool, I shall keep my peace.
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well-wisher Sep 10, 2020 07:11pm
His wife takes it as a joke so it must be a joke. But knowing the PK custom, such jokes are best avoided.
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M. Saeed Sep 10, 2020 08:26pm
------- the joke of Naumaan Ijaz about cheating, reminded me of Trump's cheating the tax authorities of his country, saying that, he was sharper than them and their rules.
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Alih Sep 10, 2020 08:56pm
I have heard these discussions as norm in the West but I guess things are changing pretty fast in Pakistan. There was a time when we were embarrassed to hear even any romantic discussion. I hope we cling to some of our cultural and all of our religious values which are so so good.
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Chrís Dăn Sep 10, 2020 09:50pm
I differ with Ms. Odho. This statement is against self respect of the women he is joking about to flirt with and it is against self respect of his own wife if she has any.
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Fast comment Sep 10, 2020 11:33pm
Not impressed. Totally unethical immoral gossips.
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Shahid Siddiqui Sep 11, 2020 12:22am
Well written article and even if it is a joke for Naumaan. He should not talk in front of TV because he is role model to lots of people.
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Hansoti Sh Sep 11, 2020 03:11am
@AMBER GUL RASHID Both are guilty, criminals & those who abet them.
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White Noise Sep 11, 2020 03:13am
Ladies & Gents, we got our loser of the month and we aren't even half way through.
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Ali Mehdi Sep 11, 2020 05:12am
Friend coming for Noman’s rescue. Of course a friend in need is a friend indeed.
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Shazaib Sep 11, 2020 07:18am
Enough of Moral Policing if you don’t like don’t watch
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Mahmood Ayub Sep 11, 2020 09:31am
I really like Atiqa Odho as an actress, but I totally disagree that misogyny and belittling our mothers, wives, daughters and sisters is funny. There is nothing funny about talk of cheating on your wife. I have lost a lot of respect for Nauman Ijaz. And I am a tribal Pathan.
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Zulfiqar Sep 11, 2020 09:42am
Nauman Ijaz probably made a sad attempt at humour. Doesn’t say a lot about his acting skils
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Mekal Faruki Sep 11, 2020 11:12am
It takes TWO hands to clap.
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Anonymouseee Sep 11, 2020 06:40pm
I totally agree with Nauman. People need to chill.
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