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There are more important things to talk about than Mahira Khan's missing dupatta

There are more important things to talk about than Mahira Khan's missing dupatta

Yasir Hussain defended her against trolls and people are calling haters out for diverting the discussion on Palestine.
21 May, 2021

Cloaked casually and convincingly in good intentions, moral policing women's clothing has always been an issue in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It has been an issue for decades and arose once again at the recent protest outside the Karachi Press Club where people advocated for Palestinian rights and an end to oppression. Despite the serious nature of the protest, Mahira Khan's lack of dupatta is what some people chose to focus on.

While the rest of the world (and Pakistan) was concerned with the human rights violations taking place in Gaza, some users chose to point out how Khan, an adult capable of making her own decisions, wasn't wearing a dupatta with her kameez at the march.

Some people believe bullies should rightfully be given a shut up call, or even called out in public, as a reminder that their cruelty is being noticed and will no longer be tolerated.

Some people felt that people criticising Khan's clothes was a convenient way to ignore the ongoing crises the world is collectively facing — the violence against Palestinians and the coronavirus pandemic.

This issue isn't endemic to celebrities, as photographer Izzah Shaheen Malik (Pictorizzah) pointed out on her Instagram Story.

"Be it the bridal shoots we post on our page, 90 percent of the time we delete the comments under our posts, and there are times we end up deleting pictures because it gets too much," she said. "So yes I believe we should name and shame such people so that they think 1,000 times before commenting on someone's dressing or appearance."

Her story was partly in response to an argument that people, especially the media, shouldn't be giving these haters a platform to spread their hate. The argument is that no one would pay them any heed if their voices weren't amplified in the media.

But it is because of this coverage that these issues are brought to the notice of other celebrities, such as Yasir Hussain, who called out the people bashing Khan. He and others like him have massive fan followings on social media and when they call something out, people listen and often learn.

"Great. You can create a 'summer look' out of shorts and Mahira can't even ditch a dupatta at home in this scorching May heat? Get out of this clothing mindset and discuss some real issues. Have some shame and fear God," he exclaimed in his Instagram Story.

As the Jhooti actor pointed out the hypocrisy in the comments, it served as reminder for all those hiding behind their phone and computer screens that their actions and words have repercussions. People are watching them and despite their efforts to police women's clothes and thereby distract from actual issues, people are seeing them for what they really are.

Repeat after us — grown women can make their own choices. They do need not to be told what to do with their own bodies and what to wear. You don't get to decide what Mahira Khan or any other woman does or wears.

Comments

Pursuit May 21, 2021 03:17pm
Still living in duppatta era? What a joke
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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan May 21, 2021 03:23pm
Who in the world cares about these losers and their dresses. There is a Pandemic and a war going on and innocent people are losing their lives.
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bhaRAT© May 21, 2021 03:29pm
Leave her alone. Her body, her choice.
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Toni May 21, 2021 03:32pm
Mahira is modestly dressed as required by her faith; go our daughter of Pakistan, make it happen, all respect to you.
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M. Saeed May 21, 2021 03:36pm
Duppata has long been thrown into the faces of men to blind their sharp gazing eyes.
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Mudassir Hussain Azeemabadi May 21, 2021 04:01pm
Why giving so much attention to this? Everyday we witness such pathetic views on social media by our fellow Pakistanis. Move on guys!
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David M May 21, 2021 04:07pm
Cultural values and religion must remain off-limits to mirasis. Please focus on your skills and produce quality entertainment that is inline with our values and beliefs
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John May 21, 2021 04:10pm
Dupatta does not matter...what matters is the character!
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Truth be told May 21, 2021 04:28pm
First and foremost please review this thought process ".........an adult capable of making her own decisions, wasn't wearing a dupatta with her kameez at the march." It appears that the message here is that modesty is something subject to personal choices alone once one acquires adulthood. Not sure if this is a message in line with our religious, cultural and moral values. The only thing at her age is that the onus lies on her and she is herself responsible for her actions, but the choice of words to depict this is poor. Secondly, many young people might idolize her and she needs to be promoting an image that is responsible. She might get away without a dupatta but a younger well-endowed person who mimics her outfit might not. Covering up is a direct order and was not something provided as a personal choice. She is in a position to promote a strong modest iconic image but of course lacks it all cuz of the field she is unfortunately in.
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nk May 21, 2021 07:09pm
@Pursuit I like it my friend as it does draw some respect. It is sad to read that you have assigned Dupatta with an era. Please know that hijab is what protects her " Jism and her Merzi"
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nk May 21, 2021 07:13pm
@Mudassir Hussain Azeemabadi These are not pathetic view. These are real views from those who cares. People coming from western cultures in our societies have tried their best to change it and carrying this foreign agenda with the help of social media they have gotten successful.
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nk May 21, 2021 07:16pm
@Truth be told And very correctly told "She might get away without a dupatta but a younger well-endowed person who mimics her outfit might not. Covering up is a direct order and was not something provided as a personal choice."
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Ali May 21, 2021 08:06pm
Indeed , dupata or not, there are more important things to talk than Mahira Khan. Period .
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ST May 21, 2021 08:13pm
Shalwar qameez comes with a doppata. Without it ' it looks like a bicycle without a pedal. Wearing it would had saved her from this criticism
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Tariq May 21, 2021 08:35pm
free world so enjoy it and bear it.
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Ali Mehdi May 21, 2021 09:01pm
This guy Yasir jumps into everything that’s not his business. He’s trying his best to stay relevant n b in the news for all the reason - good or bad. May be Mahira didn’t like him trying to be so pally.
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King May 22, 2021 03:28am
@bhaRAT© You want to see her body? Her choice!
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FAHEEM JAVED May 22, 2021 03:51am
Well this is How west got to where it is today..... just saying . Next girl after maira won’t have a shalwar on and statement would say who cares about her shalwar
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Irfan Huq May 22, 2021 09:03am
Hardly any female anchor on TV is wearing dupattas anymore. If Mahira had put on a shirt instead of desi qamees then nobody would have objected .what a hypocritical society and what hypocrisy
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nk May 22, 2021 09:08am
@Ali Mehdi He seems to be very much influenced by western culture or is on someone's agenda. It is a truth that foreign hands are in play for a very long time now to make inroads in our society and change our culture, tradition, heritage and religious values.
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nk May 22, 2021 09:09am
@Tariq How can be finite world be free.
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Shakil Khan May 22, 2021 03:59pm
Pleased, She had common sense to get rid of useless garment. It only adds to cost of dressing. Hope she leads the nations designers to follow her up in designing female garments . Also length of kameez be limited to over the knees
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