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Momina Mustehsan slams people trying to police Alizeh Shah

Momina Mustehsan slams people trying to police Alizeh Shah

She said people should be allowed to express themselves as they choose.
02 Jun, 2021

Alizeh Shah, the TikTok star who recently made the switch to TV, has kept her followers happy and well fed with routine content. They, in turn, have become the moral police. When they tried to do the same on a recent post, singer-songwriter Momina Mustehsan was there to knock them down a peg.

Shah uploaded a video to her Instagram, dressed in an elegant pink dress in which she was vibing to a Megan Thee Stallion song, in a popular format for short internet videos.

The video, which now has north of a million views, was captioned “not seeking approval.”

What followed? Trolls, obviously.

Pakistani fans romanticise innocence and it’s apparently all they want to see in their favourite stars. Stars, however, in most cases don’t really try to meet such strange expectations, primarily because the fans themselves have a shabby idea of "innocence" and one can never truly know how to fit their definition of it. They also have the tendency to change that definition at whim.

The same trolls found their way to Shah’s post. “We want the old you back,” was a common sentiment expressed in the comment section. The old her wasn’t a star and not groomed the way she is now to be confident and assertive. They want her to continue being the helpless girl who got famous on the internet. They complained about her hair, urging her to grow it longer again. They wanted her to embrace "modesty", commenting on her choice of clothing, and told her how she’s also become like "the rest of them".

We weren't the only ones to be disgusted with these strange and downright rude comments.

To one user claiming Shah is doing everything (it is unclear what she's doing though) for fame, and has changed, Mustehsan replied saying, “I would respectfully disagree. She’s still the same person, just expressing herself differently.”

“You and I wouldn’t be here on her page if she hadn’t already gained the ‘fame’ you’re implying she changed herself to chase. If anything, I’m sure you guys have made her more than aware of your sentiments towards her choices – yet she’s choosing to be herself,” she wrote.

“Let’s allow people to express themselves, however, they want to. Just like you and I (and everybody else), people evolve. The way we think, feel, look keeps changing and that’s the beauty of life. Extend freedom to receive freedom,” Mustehsan added.

“Food for thought,” she said.

Replying to another comment accusing Shah of offending religion, Mustehsan wrote, “But Islam doesn’t allow us to hurt people either, right? Whatever someone chooses to do with themselves (with no impact on you) is between them and Allah. It’s not on you. But hurting someone — that’s on you.”

“And Allah for sure doesn’t like that, neither can He forgive you for it, unless the person you’ve hurt. Think about it. Let’s focus on our own Aakhirat,” she reasoned.

Women in the entertainment business being criticised for everything under the sun — from what they wear to how they behave, how they carry themselves and the decisions they make — is an unfortunately common occurrence in Pakistan. The "fans" and general public somehow feel they’re in a position to call that out and force them to act the way they want. That is an absurd idea and Mustehsan is not here for it. Neither are we.

Comments

M. Saeed Jun 02, 2021 01:37pm
She has lost her popularity appeal very fast due to her below ordinary norms of gaining popularity.
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Turbo Jun 02, 2021 01:41pm
wow...true role models for our daughters!
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Akil Akhtar Jun 02, 2021 02:03pm
If your business is public popularity then learn to accept criticism.....for vulgarity.
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AAA Jun 02, 2021 02:38pm
"To one user claiming Shah is doing everything (it is unclear what she's doing though) for fame, and has changed" That is why I am keep ranting, just please free us from this syndrome of Islamic Republic, now including Medina state and let this country be peoples republic. This frustration in comments is just due to the reason that people are forced to idealized things by propaganda, instead of reality, and because of that idealization they missed allot of chances to have fun them selves, to have joys of life and live the life fullest, what they left is with desperation and it's what surfacing on social media in form of comments and sometime beyond social media.
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Jaredlee007 Jun 02, 2021 03:53pm
Why is momina upset when she herself wants people to express whatever they want. These types of news are just a waste of time. Pakistani celebrities should first learn about their real identity and then use their intellect.
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Thinking Jun 02, 2021 05:56pm
@Akil Akhtar what do you see vulgar in that video, which other men and women can't see. Do you have see through eyes?
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Sid Jun 02, 2021 06:26pm
But who is she? Miss memona? Any super girl or scholar??
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@Zluna Jun 02, 2021 06:41pm
@Turbo Why does she have to be a role model for your daughter. Why can't it be YOU!
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Ehsan Jun 02, 2021 06:52pm
We don’t want our women to be confident and progressive.
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Syed IA Khan Jun 02, 2021 11:03pm
And why is Mominah Mistahsan important?! A bird of the feather, huh?
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Tariq Jun 03, 2021 09:59am
I think all our celebrities and people who uses social media as their source of expression had to bear the all consequences including hate and criticism as they cannot have every good.
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Aswah Jun 03, 2021 12:06pm
@Ehsan so you want your women to live under a rock be scared every minute and not express themselves and don't become progressive. Who told you women belong to you the way you're saying 'your women' women don't belong to you they are there own person. Do stop claiming them.
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