KARACHI:
The announcement that Ayesha Omar is about to host Lazawaal Ishq – Pakistan’s first courting actuality present – has already triggered sharp debate.
The idea mirrors worldwide codecs like Love Island, bringing collectively 4 males and 4 girls in a villa the place they’ll date, participate in challenges, and kind alliances whereas cameras observe their each transfer. The finale will see one couple declared the winners.
The teaser, launched in mid-September, rapidly divided audiences. On-line criticism poured in, with many arguing that the programme clashed with cultural traditions and Islamic values. Boycott campaigns unfold on social media, with hashtags focusing on each the present and its host.
Calls additionally grew for regulators to step in earlier than it might attain screens. Responding to the controversy, the Pakistan Digital Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a clarification. The regulator confirmed it has obtained a lot of complaints however defined that Lazawaal Ishq has not been licensed for tv broadcast in Pakistan.
Pemra famous that its jurisdiction applies solely to licensed TV channels, and because the present’s teasers are circulating on-line and can air on Youtube, it can not both ban or approve the content material at this stage.
From Istanbul, Ayesha Omar defended the undertaking as a groundbreaking step for Urdu-speaking audiences. She mentioned the contestants are all Pakistani and described the manufacturing as a mixture of drama, romance, and competitors.
With its villa setting, swimming pool, and 24-hour filming, she added, the sequence is designed to ship an immersive reality-show expertise by no means earlier than tried within the native business.
Regardless of her optimism, pushback stays sturdy. Spiritual teams, cultural commentators, and lots of social media customers argue that courting reveals danger undermining household values and selling behaviours seen as inappropriate.
Some critics have even pledged to strategy the courts to attempt to block the programme earlier than it launches. One consumer acknowledged “Guys, all of us need to report it. It is in opposition to our faith tradition and norms.” One other acknowledged “Report it please, we do not assist it.”
One more consumer acknowledged to “Have some decency it is one factor to sin … And is one other to to publicise it!!! Concern Allah … What are you abandoning on this world!??? What are you main folks to ??? You could be getting fancy checks and what not however so that you by no means perceive the fitnah!??”
One other acknowledged: “Sadly, the folks criticising right here are sometimes the identical ones who take pleasure in actuality reveals from different international locations. However when it is our personal actuality present, made by our personal folks, we’re fast to criticise and degrade it, with out even figuring out the precise context and watching the present.”
He continued: “We simply by no means encourage or respect the efforts of our personal folks. Everybody acts like they spend all their time in worship, comply with every little thing that our lovely faith teaches, and by no means watch something, which is just not true. Cease appearing such as you’re a saint.”
“For as soon as, attempt to assist your individual nation’s star and your individual actuality present. And when you do not prefer it, nobody is forcing you to look at it. Cease giving your irrelevant opinion with out even watching it. She’s our personal Star, attempt to respect and respect, we should not be degrading our personal folks. Watch the present first, then give your opinion.”
One other consumer acknowledged “Let’s boycott and lift our voices earlier than this shamelessness begins! Look the best way these feminine actresses of Pakistan are spoiling our youth by western tradition’s clothes! We do not need such reveals please!!”
As of now, no broadcast date or official platform has been confirmed, leaving the present in unsure territory. What is obvious is that Lazawaal Ishq has already turn into a flashpoint in discussions about leisure, regulation, and cultural id.
For supporters, it represents an opportunity to experiment with new codecs and increase Urdu content material on the worldwide stage. For detractors, it highlights the stress between imported media traits and native values. No matter its destiny, the talk surrounding the present has ensured it will likely be remembered as a marker of how contested the way forward for tv in Pakistan has turn into.
