Islamabad, January 5th, 2019 — On January 4, ARY’s social media accounts covering their drama serial content posted a trailer for their upcoming drama ‘Jhooti’ featuring star Iqra Aziz playing a character lying about facing domestic violence, the backlash was swift.

Check out the first look of #Jhooti which will be coming soon only on #ARYDigital! #IqraAziz #YasirHussain #AhmedAliButt @iiqraziz @ahmedaliB #aryddramapic.twitter.com/RfY5LUWKqC

— ARY Digital Drama (@aryddrama) January 4, 2020

Twitter and Instagram commenters demanded an explanation from the channel and the stars of the drama, Aziz and Ahmed Ali Butt, as to why a drama would perpetuate the myth that women in domestic violence situations would be lying about it.

Journalist and author Laaleen Sukhera responded directly under the tweet saying, “How could you trivialize real pain that women endure & barely/rarely survive? Extremely irresponsible & dangerous depiction. Domestic violence is real & crime & social cancer. It is not a joke. Trauma survivors are heroes.”

How could you trivialise real pain that women endure & barely/rarely survive? Extremely irresponsible & dangerous depiction. Domestic violence is real & a crime & a social cancer. It is not a joke. Trauma survivors are heroes.#Jhooti: another reason to never watch Pk drama

— Laaleen Sukhera (@laaleen) January 5, 2020

Professor and activist Nida Kermani wrote under the original post, “This is nothing less than sick. Such dramas reinforce the idea that women are liars & that domestic violence isn’t a problem.”

This is nothing less than sick. Such dramas reinforce the idea that women are liars & that domestic violence isn’t a problem.

— Nida Kirmani (@nidkirm) January 5, 2020

Twitter user Aliza Sukhera wrote to ARY, “my only question after watching this trailer: why does ARY hate Pakistani women so much and always portray them as evil?“

my only question after watching this trailer: why does ARY hate pakistani women so much and always portray them as evil?

— #JunaidHafeez || علیزا سکھیرا (@aliza_sukhera) January 4, 2020

An environmental activist whose Twitter name is Moomal also took to calling out actor Iqra Aziz in her response to the tweet, “No one lies about abuse! As if #domesticviolence has not already been difficult for hundreds of women! This gives those who abuse a justification! Shame! @IqraAzizHussain couldn’t you understand?“

This is horrifying! This should immediately stop & not be aired! No one lies about abuse! As if #domesticviolence has not already been difficult for hundreds of women! This gives those who abuse a justification! Shame! @IqraAzizHussain couldn’t you understand? #stopairingJhooti

— Moomal (@acerbtrenchant) January 5, 2020

Activist Tooba Syed quote tweeted ARY’s post saying, “Absolutely disgusted. Women are a victim of abuse and violence every single day in this country & our mainstream dramas are only trying to portray them as liars.”

I’m disgusted!! Absolutely disgusted. Women are a victim of abuse and violence every single day in this country & our mainstream dramas are only trying to portray them as liars. Ughhh https://t.co/8KTgWORkE9

— Tooba Syed ☭ طوبیٰ (@Tooba_Sd) January 5, 2020

Activist Daanika Kamal called for the show like many to be canceled from airing, writing “Stop dismissing real issues experienced by millions of women daily.”

This is absolutely disgusting. I hope you are banned from producing any sort of ‘entertainment’. You’re trivialising domestic abuse & reinforcing stereotypes that the woman is always lying about her abuse. Stop dismissing real issues experienced by millions of women daily.

— Daanika Kamal (@daanistan) January 5, 2020

Domestic violence in Pakistan is an epidemic and an ugly reality of many women in the country, with Pakistan routinely topping in lists of the worst countries for women. With laws being challenged and introduced to curb abuse, politicians have attempted to tackle it year after year. In the age of #MeToo where people are being encouraged and supported in coming forward with their stories of abuse, the drama’s timing and plot seem to go against the turning tide of the discussion around domestic abuse.

ARY, Iqra Aziz nor Ahmed Ali Butt have yet responded to the backlash.

The trailer features Aziz looking in a mirror and surveying her efforts to appear as if she had been battered. She is sneering and then smearing her lipstick to look as though she had been hit in the mouth. 

In Pakistan, the drama industry is the leading entertainment source and arguably the most influential. There has been repeated criticism from entertainers, critics and audiences alike on the often problematic portrayals of women, where the abused and crying and helpless are deemed good women, and the independent ones to be weary of.