Famous Pakistani impersonator, Shafaat Ali’s ad is facing controversy for showing the mimicry of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The ad has been allegedly taken down from TV channels.
Shafaat Ali Ad Showing Imran Khan’s Mimicry
In the said ad Shafaat Ali is promoting a sale on e-commerce website which allows consumers saving money through lucrative deals. The artist is mimicking Prime Minister Imran Khan and urging people to shop through that online portal. The idea utilizes Khan’s advocacy for austerity measures.
I have been told that the recent ad I appeared in has been taken off air. Media Censorship continues…
— Shafaat Ali (@iamshafaatali) October 18, 2018
Shafat said in another tweet that senator Rehman Malik and Khushbakht Shujaat raised the issue and asked PEMRA to ban such ads and take them off the air before midnight and they also proposed PEMRA to censor ads before going them on air.
Apparently issue was raised in Senate by Rehman Malik and Khushbakht Shujaat and Senate asked PEMRA to ban "such" ads. Channels are verbally asked to take "such" ads off air 12 midnight onwards. Also it is proposed that PEMRA should first censor the ads before they are aired https://t.co/8VT3wtQHBb
— Shafaat Ali (@iamshafaatali) October 18, 2018
Users’ Reaction Over Shafaat Ali Ad Ban
There was a mixed response over Shafaat Ali’s tweet. Few users called it a media censorship while there were those who didn’t like the idea of mimicking a country’s Prime Minister merely for promoting a product or service.
Here is what they had to say.
So @ZarrarKhuhro wat did Abraham Lincoln say about this situation? 🙊🤒 https://t.co/yVGleQDKs5
— Taimoor Rai (@taimoorrai) October 19, 2018
So, there were some very insightful quotation analyses, but many users were more open in their expression of situations.
People are Confused Who is Wrong
The proposal for such censorship didn’t directly come from the government but from the opposition. So, people were looking for clarification about who really had a problem. As Omair Alvi asked this from Shafaat.
Yaani ghalti unki nahi jinka mazaaaq ura, ghalti unki jinko darr hai k unka mazaaaq urr sakta hai!
— Omair Alavi (@omair78) October 19, 2018
I dont see anything wrong in that ad.. 👍
— Abdul Hannan (@yousafabdulh) October 18, 2018
There were those who started commenting on the quality of ad and found it below average.
Really quality of ur ad was below avg , mimicry has certain limits ,ohoo God to whom em asking…
— FARHANHANPANEZAI (@FARHANKHANOZAI) October 18, 2018
Here came a troll in the words of Aamir Liaquat
Kesa dia?
— Shah Saab🧗🏿♀️ (@Da_Shah_Saab) October 19, 2018
An Inappropriate Ad?
Few users found this ad to be inappropriate one as it mimicked a statesman.
That was inappropriate. I was thinking to report it. 😱 Ads are a serious business. How can you mimic PM’s voice in that and then make fun of a statement by a minister while making parody of another gentleman. Like there has to be some decent limits. My two cents.
— Hid Ayat (@HUkaAalam) October 18, 2018
No Official Ban Yet
It is to be noted that the ad which was on-aired on HUM Tv has not been banned by PEMRA yet as no official legal notice has been issued, reportedly. So, it is not sure if the ad is facing a complete ban. Further, Shafaat Ali ad is still there on the internet. Therefore, the nature of the ban on the ad is not certain. But, one thing is sure that it has raised a debate on to what extent any person should be impersonated for any purpose.
Further, humor at someone’s expense for art’s sake makes sense but ads used for selling products and services must consider whether it will be appropriate to impersonate the Prime Minister of the country or not unless the issue doesn’t have to do with freedom of speech directly or indirectly.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAYgSD_3dyE&w=600&h=400]
Also Read:
Careem Pakistan Faces Backlash for Using Political Slogans As Promo Codes
