Actress Iffat Omar has responded to criticism after a video showed her dancing to a religious kalaam at the end of a fashion show in Lahore.
The show closed with the kalaam “Ye Sab Tumhara Karam Hai Aaqa.” Models and celebrities, including Iffat, were seen dancing on the runway. The video went viral, with social media users and several Pakistani celebrities criticising her.
Iffat addressed the controversy on social media, stating that she stopped dancing as soon as she realised what the song was. “Just to clarify I had no idea what song it is but as soon as wording started I stopped, if I had known I would have never,” she wrote.
Actress Mishi Khan expressed disappointment over the show, especially its decision to close with the kalaam. Abida Parveen made the kalaam famous, and other artists have performed it too. It carries spiritual meaning for many listeners.
Mishi questioned whether a devotional piece suits the finale of a fashion show. She asked the organisers to consider the religious significance of the kalaam before using it in a runway presentation, and whether they had thought about how audiences might interpret the performance.
She also criticised Iffat over the dance steps she performed during the kalaam and asked whether such movements were appropriate while the devotional lyrics played.
