A biographical drama based on the life of alleged Karachi drug queenpin Anmol, popularly known as Pinky, has divided social media while also drawing criticism from several celebrities and a politician, who say that the project glorifies a criminal and wastes an opportunity to tell stories that actually inspire.
Many others argue that the serial could raise awareness about the dangers of drug dealing and serve as a cautionary tale.
The project gained traction after actress Saba Qamar shared posts about being cast in the project on her Instagram stories. Journalist Shahzeb Khanzada is reportedly writing the script, while the drama is said to be in development at 7th Sky Productions for Geo Entertainment.
No official announcement has been made by the production house or the broadcaster.
Actor Noman Habib was among the first from the industry to speak out, addressing Qamar directly through an Instagram post urging her to reconsider the role.
He said that portraying a drug dealer on screen risked turning her into a figure the public would begin to idolise, and that Qamar’s talent deserved to be channelled into a character that was heroic rather than criminal.
Actor and filmmaker Shamoon Abbasi raised similar concerns, questioning why such a project was being entertained when so many other women-centric stories existed that could motivate and inspire audiences.
He acknowledged that Qamar would “perform so well that people will fall in love,” but said that was precisely the problem.
Abbasi pointed to her earlier drama Case No. 9, which he called a “fantastic drama” that left a “positive impact” and raised awareness on harassment and the legal options available to survivors. He questioned why her reach was now being used to popularise a criminal’s story.
He said beaming a criminal’s story into living rooms where young girls were watching was “tricky,” and described the project as an opportunistic attempt to capitalise on the virality of Anmol’s case.
“I already am not in their good sacred books anyway,” he said, acknowledging that his criticism would not go down well with those behind the project.
PML-N MPA Hina Parvez Butt also weighed in, calling the drama “extremely shameful.” Taking to X, she wrote that Anmol was not a role model, and that making a drama about her was an insult to the women who had contributed positively to society.
Not everyone agreed. Several users pushed back on Butt’s comments, arguing that dramas on controversial figures were neither new nor inherently harmful.
“Dramas had previously been made on figures such as Qandeel Baloch and various gangsters, why Pinky should be any different,” wrote one user.
Others challenged Butt directly, noting that the Punjab government had funded the film industry without producing content on national heroes, and asked why criticism was reserved for this project alone.
Some commenters argued the drama could serve a social purpose. Another wrote, “If the story showed the dangers of drug dealing and the destruction narcotics cause to young people, it could raise awareness rather than glorify crime.”
Others drew comparisons to internationally acclaimed series and films on gangsters and smugglers that depict both the lives and the consequences faced by such figures, arguing that such storytelling educates the public rather than celebrates wrongdoing.
Those opposing the project were equally vocal on social media.
“Don’t glorify criminals,” one user wrote. Another asked, “Why don’t we make dramas on women like Fatima Jinnah, Benazir Bhutto and other heroes?” A third user wrote, “Making a drama on her means portraying her as a hero. What a stupid idea.”
This is not the first time a true-crime project has run into controversy in Pakistan. The film Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer was denied a nationwide cinematic release in 2022 and only reached audiences recently through YouTube.
