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Abrar ul Haq's controversial comment on mothers playing 'Baby Shark' triggers debate amongst celebrities

Abrar ul Haq's controversial comment on mothers playing 'Baby Shark' triggers debate amongst celebrities

While Nadia Hussain and Yasir Hussain criticised the singer, Zarnish Khan and Shafqat Amanat Ali came to his defence.
30 Aug, 2021

Singer turned politician Abrar ul Haq's quip about mothers playing the song 'Baby Shark' may have gone down well with some people but it didn't sit right with everyone who heard it. While celebrities such as model Nadia Hussain and actor Yasir Hussain criticised the singer, actor Zarnish Khan and singer Shafqat Amanat Ali came to Haq's defence.

Haq — who joined the PTI after a successful run as a singer-songwriter during the 90s — made his controversial comment at a PTI celebratory convention in Islamabad on August 26. "When we used to be young, we got to listen to the Kalma being recited by our mothers," he said. "Today's kids are handed cellphones so that mothers can play them 'Baby Shark'," he said.

A video of Haq's comment, which included him singing 'Baby Shark', was widely shared on social media. Nadia reacted to the video on Twitter and criticised the singer.

"Not sure how you go from listening to the Kalma from your mother to belting out song such as 'Nach Punjaban' or 'Billo De Ghar'," she said on Twitter, referring to the singer's popular songs about women.

The song 'Nach Punjaban' is about a Punjabi woman who loves to dance while the song 'Billo De Ghar' is about a man flirtatiously rushing to the house of a woman he likes. Yasir backed Nadia up by sharing her critique on social media. "You've hit the nail on the head. Good one," he said on instagram Stories.

Khan did not seem to share the same sentiments though. She criticised those making personal attacks against Haq character in light of his comments.

"If someone says a good thing, let's term it as such," she said on Instagram Stories. "Let's not ignore what they said or judge their whole lives. If this goes on then we'll have to practice becoming deaf [to good statements]."

Ali also commented in defence of Haq on a post by the publication Galaxy Lollywood on Instagram. "Abrar ul Haq did not say anything wrong. He didn't shame mothers or any women here. He just said the truth which includes all of us! It should be an eye opener for us rather than throwing a fit at him. We do not have to criticise everything," he wrote.

"The songs 'Nach Punjaban' and 'Billo De Ghar' were not by the singer in the lap of his mother at the age of one," Ali continued. "He's talking about raising kids here, not someone's profession. It is a person's choice whether they want to be a singer or an actor when they grow up."

Ali's comment came as a response to a general debate triggered by Haq's critique on whether the singer should have called out mothers for playing rhymes such as 'Baby Shark' to their children, as opposed to playing them content more religious in nature.

Comments

Say no to political correctness Aug 30, 2021 02:10pm
Karachite vs. Punjabi-mindset war going on. Urdu-speaking liberals tend to belittle every conservative opinion coming out Punjabi celebs.
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M. Saeed Aug 30, 2021 02:36pm
Even today when I pray, I still remember my grandmother, who taught me praying when I was 7 years old. I can never forget that honour all my life. Same is about my mother who taught me writing in beautiful hand-writing besides so many other things of nurturing. How can I forget those blessings ever, just by listening some new age deviations, which are not even relevant?
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Lota Aug 30, 2021 02:47pm
People who spent their youth singing billo day ghar and nach panjaban talk of baby shark as non Islamic? What a joke!
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Ghayur Aug 30, 2021 02:49pm
What wrong he said, kawwa chala hans ki chaal apni bhi bhol gaya
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Rafiq Aug 30, 2021 02:52pm
What was wrong with his comments ? Why we are terming it controversial ? We are taking our political differences to a new level as soon as our opponent says anything.
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MR Aug 30, 2021 02:57pm
masters of making something good into a controversy
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NYS Aug 30, 2021 03:20pm
The millennium is a digital world no one can deny the effects in general. Contrary to it all rhymes melodies whether ancient times CHANDA KA KHATTOLY,LAKRI KI KHATI voila all are easily accessible on device what the hell to an individual... how elders can stay away these modern era crops
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Arsalan Alvi Aug 30, 2021 03:35pm
nothing controversial, pretty straigth forward stuff...
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Arsalan Alvi Aug 30, 2021 03:36pm
@Say no to political correctness This is more like a rift between the right and the left
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Mahmood Aug 30, 2021 04:17pm
@Say no to political correctness Liberals don't belong to any ethnicity. They are by definition a group of people who share common threats, no matter where they are. Karachi is the hub of television, fashion etc and hence you and hence you will find people from all provinces working here. That doesn't mean they all serve "muhajir" interests.
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Malakmd Aug 30, 2021 04:20pm
How many of us listen Allama Iqbal from our mothers, how many of us hear mother singing sing to make us sleep? Please don't give example of grand mothers because they were legendary mothers to legendary generation. He was right about it, most kids now wasting time on smart phones instead of having full attention from mother or father.. Mother plays most important part to built her child character.
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Rubina Aleem Aug 30, 2021 04:27pm
I'm neither party but one thing is clear, we know the ones who show babyshark to their kids. where there is fire, there is smoke
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kashif ajaz Aug 30, 2021 04:41pm
He knows the rhyme so well, surprised!!!
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Kashif Baloch Aug 30, 2021 04:50pm
I wonder how many diapers has he changed. Someone put one on his mouth. Mansplannig at its worst!
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Afshan Asim Aug 30, 2021 04:54pm
The man is stating a fact that pay due attention on the Tarbiyat....that is missing in today's times. Can't understand why everyone is more focused on words that were said rather than on the message that was conveyed
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Just Saying Aug 30, 2021 05:00pm
Do you even know what you are saying? It just shows how ignorant and silly you are comparing two entirely different things. Pakistani society mind set has gone down drastically to dangerous level. Stop judging people just because your two songs got popular and the same people bought it.
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sidC Aug 30, 2021 05:34pm
Good , people should mind there own business , otherwise other will tell there shady business.
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Stargazer Aug 30, 2021 06:10pm
We as a nation have lots of spare time to discuss such non-issue. Who cares what a person like Abrarul Haq feels about upbringing of kids.
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Malik Aug 30, 2021 06:14pm
What is wrong with these successful Pakistani men today? Why are they afraid women? They are no saints themselves. What is wrong with Kids song baby shark?? What is happening to Pakistani men?? They have become a huge embarrassment for the nation.
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Zeeshan Aug 30, 2021 06:23pm
Abrar is spot on. The lullabies have all but disappeared and taken over by phones and music produced by western medias. I think Abrar & like minded ladies need to come up and produce content which could be used by religious mothers. But definitely no harm in listening to baby shark as well.
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Hyra Aug 30, 2021 06:26pm
Nadya Husain's brain got botoxed too... accidentally i guess
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Ibrahim S Aug 30, 2021 07:21pm
@M. Saeed - only thing that’s constant is a change . Do you understand the meaning of generation gap. Do you think western parents and grandparents are devious . We teach our kid hypocrisy very effectively in the name of “religion” and “cultural value”- can you argue against it
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Nayyar Rashid Aug 30, 2021 07:29pm
Is this the situation where one has to refer to the phrase, "Honor Among Thieves"?
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Nayyar Rashid Aug 30, 2021 07:31pm
He has a point though. Hardly anyone has researched anything about the background of these seemingly harmless songs for kids. Besides the Parents of responsible for the upbringing of the kid. adults are another story they make a conscious decision as to whether it is good or bad for them.
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AH Aug 30, 2021 07:54pm
These idiotic liberals cannot accept anyone saying anything positive with a religious angle. These people copying West and people in the West turning to Islam.
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Zulfiqar Aug 30, 2021 08:31pm
Nadia Hussain has given Abrar ul Haq something to ponder about. She has a point, perhaps he will revisit his decision to make songs which she mentioned.
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Jahan Ara Aug 30, 2021 08:55pm
What he has said is absolutely true! Nadiya Hussain instead of making a non issue into a serious issue just think before you speak. Today, parenting is a real challenge. Parents need to be more vigilant then ever. Unfortunately parents have given their responsibilities to gadgets as they themselves are busy with their own gadgets.
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Neekamal Aug 30, 2021 09:56pm
And then they complain about Pakistani male. What she desrves.
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Ahmad Gul Nazir Aug 31, 2021 12:19am
What was controversial in it. He expressed his opinion and who rejected it were the same liberals who always come to defend freedom of speech. How did they criticise him is by belittling him that he himself sung songs. Pity this nation that refuses to accept the opinion of him. Nothing is controversial. It's a straight truth. Criticising those who are total failure.
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ST Aug 31, 2021 01:07am
Abrar ul haq is right . I support his point of view. Nadia Hussien and yasir hussien just wanted to be on the news
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nk Aug 31, 2021 01:42am
Our celebrities are in advance mode of making their presence felt and they are also in the habit of making mountain out of a molehill.
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nk Aug 31, 2021 01:43am
Why not the burger culture will not want to speak against a non burger culture.
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Irfan Huq Aug 31, 2021 03:50am
@Afshan Asim Would you pay attention to the words of a hypocrite.?
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Kaavan Aug 31, 2021 07:56am
@Ibrahim S : Thank you, @Ibrahim! A rare independent thinker!
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Kaavan Aug 31, 2021 08:05am
@AH: Then are you All dying to get to the West? You use Western tech to fight each other and then the 'West" has to take in the refugees!
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Kaavan Aug 31, 2021 08:05am
@Malik: Define "successful" please!
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F Nawaz Aug 31, 2021 12:27pm
People just want to be outraged about something. What's next?
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Saadia muazzam Aug 31, 2021 12:33pm
Highly disgraceful comment on mother's again by some educated, famous person showing how easy it is in our society to transfer blame on women.
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Saadia muazzam Aug 31, 2021 12:34pm
@Lota agreed
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Saadia muazzam Aug 31, 2021 12:36pm
@Ibrahim S absolutely
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Hasan Mahmood Aug 31, 2021 07:04pm
What a ridiculous comment by him. So does that mean that kids don't need any other mental stimulation than religious teachings
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Salman Zaki Sep 01, 2021 12:23am
Calm down everyone! Abrar just had to find an excuse to sing Baby Shark in public, something he has done throughout his career.
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Syed Sep 01, 2021 12:12pm
Funny celebrities coming up for this matter , did they even spend time with their children ( i doubt that ). And these celebrities has no moral values as they also spreading western culture in our society.
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M. Saeed Sep 01, 2021 12:40pm
@Say no to political correctness, beware Urdu was declared the national language of Pakistan by the great guide, Quaid e Azam.
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IMRAN ULLAH AWAN Sep 01, 2021 03:07pm
Look at what is being said, not who is saying it. Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. I guess we need to clearly understand these two common principles before drawing any conclusion about someone remarks / comments.
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