Netizens Slam Pakistani Dramas for Mishandling Sensitive Topics

Pakistani dramas often adhere to a predictable formula in order to achieve popularity, rarely focusing on the exploration of social issues or deviating from the typical family drama narrative. Unfortunately, some of these dramas include scenes that depict women being abused and exploited, and even go as far as justifying false accusations of harassment against men.

In the case of the drama “Mujhay Pyaar Hua Tha,” the storyline takes a disturbing turn by featuring a marriage between cousins, a complicated love triangle, a father becoming paralyzed due to his daughter’s rebellion, and now, the male lead falling victim to a woman who falsely accuses him of harassment. This portrayal implies that women in Pakistan fabricate harassment stories, disregarding the fact that sexual harassment and assault are genuine issues in society.

In a specific scene, a woman threatens Saad, the male lead, with exposing personal pictures of his wife and her ex-lover unless he visits her house. Upon arrival, she drugs Saad with spiked coffee, rendering him unconscious. She then calls the police, manipulates the scene to make it appear as if she was sexually assaulted, and has Saad arrested.

It is crucial for the creators, writer, and actors of “Mujhay Pyaar Hua Tha” to understand that sexual harassment is a serious crime and should not be trivialized or portrayed as a mere fantasy concocted by women for personal gain. It is disheartening to witness the lack of awareness about social issues in these dramas. However, there are positive examples to learn from, such as Mawra Hocane’s refusal to work in a drama that depicted marital rape, leading to the scene being rewritten after discussions with the producer and director.

Twitter users have rightfully criticized Pakistani dramas for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and reinforcing a victim complex among men. It is highly irresponsible to depict false rape allegations, especially in countries where rape culture already exists.

I have no respect for our celebrities because of this shit they endorse on the daily. All of them are privileged, delusional clowns feeding in extremely dangerous narratives to the viewers who will eat them up https://t.co/vVkmiOmy8J

— nav (@hoaxriver) July 4, 2023

On one hand we’re seeing actual footage of men on the streets exposing themselves and attacking women but this is the narrative of “mazloom mard” and false rape allegations that is being shown on prime time TV https://t.co/3MOYKQnVvR

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— Glorified Mazdoor (@naaninclusive) July 4, 2023

It’s extremely irresponsible to show false rape allegations in countries with rape culture.
I hope makers realise they are feeding victim complex of Desi men for lukewarm twists.#MujhePyaarHuaTha https://t.co/NLVAOXUWRY

— Cynically Insane (@CynicallyInsan) July 3, 2023

It is crucial for the makers of these dramas to recognize the impact of their portrayals and strive for responsible storytelling that promotes social awareness and sensitivity.

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