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Sehar Khan has come out in support of Saba Qamar and reminded everyone of the ramifications of committing cyber crimes a week after the actor sent a legal notice to journalist Naeem Hanif, demanding an apology and damages for slanderous comments he made against her on his YouTube channel.

Khan posted a story on social media on Monday, saying she had “lost respect for those who speak without thinking”. She said the idea that someone could go on the internet and “say anything about anyone” was unacceptable, adding, “Such extreme and toxic mindsets must be questioned.”

The Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi star recalled comments Hanif made about TikTok creator Sana Yousaf in the wake of her murder in June. The journalist blamed the 17-year-old for her own murder, claiming her use of social media led to her death. In another video, he placed similar blame on social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered by her brother in 2016.

Khan called Hanif’s remarks “shameful” and “disgusting”, saying everyone should be aware of their rights under cybercrime laws. She mentioned she was engaged in a project to raise awareness on the issue and said she was “super proud” of Qamar for the stand she took.

She added that we needed to work towards a future where kindness and empathy replace assumptions and gossip. Saying “words can harm or heal,” she asked people to “choose them wisely”. She cited Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA), saying that defaming someone online can result in a fine, up to three years in prison, or both.

Meanwhile, veteran actor Meera said Qamar had “messed with the wrong person” in an Instagram post shared on Sunday. She called Hanif “a man of principles” and a “credible figure in Pakistani media”. She is one of the only stars with this stance, as many, many celebrities have shared their support of Qamar.

On Sunday, Qamar posted a series of stories highlighting the journalist’s derogatory remarks against actor Fiza Ali and celebrity couple Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed. She also posted a clip of him talking about Yousaf’s death.

She said Hanif had a history of “spreading false news, making cheap remarks and disrespecting people who’ve worked hard all their lives…just to get attention, views and fame”. Mentioning Javed, the actor said she knew her personally and knows she was “deeply traumatised” by false allegations by the journalist.

Saying she’d been contacted by several people who had seen him behave improperly on and off screen, Qamar asked anyone who had negative experiences with Hanif to step forward and join her in speaking up. She said this wasn’t about a personal attack; it was about “standing for what’s right”.