The year 2017 was definitely a year where controversies were sparked and fuelled!
Almost every month, Pakistan got hit by a scandalous drama and all hell broke loose on the internet. Keyboard warriors gear up to attack and never-ending debates add to the heat in the controversy.
Be it the episode of Sharmeen Obaid and the AKU doctor getting fired or Mahira Khan’s leaked pictures with Ranbir Kapoor, none of them were able to escape the wrath of social media’
Here are top 10 controversies of 2017 that shook us, baffled us and even left us a little heartbroken.
1) Rishi Kapoor’s Hateful Comments on Pakistan Cricket Team
The senior Kapoor provided us quite an entertainment with his uncountable Twitter boo-boos. It is about time he realizes that he needs to think twice before he tweets
When Pakistan made it to the finals of ICC Champions Trophy, 2017, Kapoor posted a hateful tweet to criticize the green shirts.
PCB. Cricket team bhejna please.Earlier Hockey ya Kho Kho team bhejin thin. Kyon ki 18th June(Fathers Day) Baap khel raha tumhare saath lol!
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 15, 2017
Congratulations Pakistan! You enter finals? Wow! Good to see you wearing our colour BLUE! Get ready to be BLUED now! We will BLUE you away!
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 14, 2017
Even worse was when he accused our nation of terrorism
Achcha choddo yaar. Tum log Jeeton aur hazaaron Baar jeeton sirf Terrorism bandh kar do yaar. Mujhe haar manzoor hai. We want peace and love
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 15, 2017
Pakistani Twitterati roasted him like nobody’s business BUT Rishi continued with his snide remarks!
Ek baat to manna padega! My any type of tweet shakes the shackles of Pakistani youth whom I love. They reciprocate to me right or wrong! YO!
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) June 18, 2017
Aamir Liaquat just slammed him like the pro he is!
Pehle Haraya Tha "Goroun" Ko
Ab Harayenge "Hram Khoro" KoPaap, Baap Nahin Hota Kapoorey!!!
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) June 15, 2017
Sheikh Rasheed too Replied to Kapoor like a BOSS!
Jin k Baap daado ko Pakistan nay paal pos k bheja ho ab woh humay dars dyngay Fathers day ka. https://t.co/HWCuXkHjyQ
— Sheikh Rashid Ahmad (@ShkhRasheed) June 15, 2017
2) Sahir Lodhi Loses His Cool Over Girl’s Taunt on Quaid-e-Azam
Who can forget Sahir Lodhi landing himself in trouble with PEMRA back in August The entire issue caught wind when the host lashed out on a young girl, Saba who had appeared on the Ramazan transmission, ‘Ishq Ramzan’ hosted by the actor.
Lodhi lost his temper live on the sets during the debate segment! Apparently, the young girl, during her speech, challenged Quaid-e-Azam, the founder of the nation. Lodhi simply could not take it and stopped her speech on the spot to school her!
PEMRA issued a show-cause notice to Sahir Lodhi and later, the anchor had no option but to respond to all the crazy backlash. He revealed that he had apologized to the female participant in the very same show and nobody bothered to talk about it!
3) Ayesha Gulalai and Imran Khan Controversy
A social media brouhaha erupted when Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA, Ayesha Gulalai made some scathing allegations against PTI Chairman, Imran Khan.
Gulalai resigned from the party claiming ‘ill-treatment’ of women in the party as the reason behind her decision. What is more, she even cited that Imran Khan used to allegedly send messages of contentious nature to her.
So what actually happened, nobody really knows but the matter is still the talk of the town.
4) Khaadi Pakistan Map Controversy!
2017 was surely an unfateful year for the leading clothing brand, Khaadi. The fashion house got under fire for uncountable reasons and the spree of controversies seemed to be unstoppable.
Earlier, the brand landed itself in hot water for tampering with prices in its sale season. What was worse, it fired as many as 32 workers before Ramadan and ignited a massive social media brouhaha.
But the brand got a major major roasting for printing an incorrect map of Pakistan on one of its mug coasters.
Apparently, the designer illustrated Kashmir with India and even did a big boo-boo while drawing Gilgit-Baltistan.
Of course, the internet took notice of the error and claimed that Khaadi, being a Pakistani brand, has shamed the whole nation. Later the fashion house apologized for the for the whole chaos
5) Mahira Khan’s Leaked Images With Ranbir Kapoor
The leaked pictures of Mahira Khan spotted with Ranbir Kapoor in New York created a massive social media uproar. Trolls bashed our Pakistani sweetheart left, right and center with their aggressive moral policing!
The frenzy is attracted the most horrible reactions. The nay-sayers bullied the actress, slamming her for ‘smoking’, wearing ‘inappropriate clothes, and even being involved in a secret fling with a Bollywood big-wig.
Upon being probed about the personal photographs, the actress finally spoke up, and this is what she had to say,
“WHAT CAN I COMMENT ON IT? IT WAS A PERSONAL THING AND I’VE LEARNT FROM IT.
6) Aamir Liaquat Quitting BOL & Getting Banned
Aamir Bhai dropped a bomb on all of us by declaring his divorce from BOL Network & ending his year-long relationship with his ex.
Apparently, his dues were not cleared by BOL and now Aamir is demanding to be paid for his services.
The journey has come to an end & not a friendly end. Now I am not part of #BOL. They owe me my dues. #KhudaHafizBOL
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) November 18, 2017
But what nobody saw coming was that he slandered the network’s name, claiming that he was paid to defame various personalities by the channel.
This month, Aamir Liaquat gleefully declared in a tweet that he is now the new president of Channel 24.
However, the very same day, Islamabad High Court banned him from making an appearance on T.V until further notice.
7) Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and AKU Doctor Controversy
Perhaps, this episode was the fiercest of all. Even global media could not help adding to the heated matter where Obaid’s tweets got an AKU Doctor fired from his job.
The revered documentarian found herself in the eye of a storm when she accused a doctor employed at Agha Khan Hospital of committing “Harassment” by sending a friend request to her sister.
There are zero boundaries in #pakistan! Last night my sister went to AKU emergency & the doctor who tended to her tried 2 add her on FB 1/2
— Sharmeen Obaid (@sharmeenochinoy) October 23, 2017
I don’t quite understand how doctor tending 2 emergency patients thinks it’s ok to take a female patient info & add her on FB! 2/2 unethical
— Sharmeen Obaid (@sharmeenochinoy) October 23, 2017
I don’t quite understand how doctor tending 2 emergency patients thinks it’s ok to take a female patient info & add her on FB! 2/2 unethical
— Sharmeen Obaid (@sharmeenochinoy) October 23, 2017
After the doctor lost his job and Obaid received severe criticism, she issued an apology and cleared her stance on the matter.
“My recent tweets about a doctor’s inappropriate behavior has drawn much criticism and controversy. The conversation has unfortunately steered far from the safety of women, unchecked unethical practices, and harassment. Some of the words I used in anger have disappointed people and I agree that they were poorly chosen in a time of heated emotion. My tweet about the wrong women in the wrong family was not meant to suggest a sense of privilege or power, what I meant to say was that the women in my family are strong and stand up for themselves and always have. You may disagree with the manner in which I called the doctor’s behaviour, debate the boundaries of social media with medical profession and my form and tone of expression, but ultimately, what happened was a breach of trust and severe lack of a professional code of conduct that led to a woman feeling violated or harassed. And on that, I will not stay silent”
7 Controversial Moments of 2016 That Took Social Media By Storm
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more updates!