Actor Azfar Rehman has withdrawn from the 2022 HUM Awards in Canada in solidarity with victims of the floods in Pakistan.
He announced the news early Friday morning in an Instagram post.
He said he has withdrawn “by choice with due respect to the coveted event” that is
“Sorry to disappoint my fans in Toronto Canada, I shall not be attending HUM Awards this year even though I’m nominated in the best actor in a negative role category. I stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters drowning in the floods. I request the authority at the awards to kindly donate my ticket and stay money to the flood relief,” he wrote, adding that hashtag Pakistan Zindabad.
His post was cheered on by several celebrities, including Areeba Habib, Ayesha Omar, Mehwish Hayat, Nadia Afgan, Ali Kazmi, Sadaf Kanwal and Shagufta Ejaz.
His announcement comes hours after PPP leader Sharmila Faruqi called out celebrities for attending the award show in Canada. She slammed the celebrities for going to Toronto for the show instead of visiting victims of the floods.
“Not a single one of them even bothered to visit any flood affected area or show any solidarity in cash or kind except for Hadiqa Kiani, for one truly believe in cultural activities, award shows, performances etc, our artists and actors are second to none,” she wrote.
Criticism on social media has also increased as people call for more to be done for flood victims. HUM has already announced that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of tickets for the award show will be donated to flood relief. Some celebrities have also argued that they have donated and worked to raise awareness about the floods in their personal capacities as well.