Vasay Chaudhry apologises for ‘overseas Pakistani’ joke on Mazaaq Raat

A clip from the Dunya News comedy show ‘Mazaaq Raat’ featuring model and actress Sarah Neelum went viral on social media.

Neelum was seen mocking overseas Pakistanis for pretending to be well-established and wealthy in Pakistan, while they are actually washing toilets abroad.

These two idiots made fun of the overseas Pakistanis that they clean toilets and then show off over here. This campaign against overseas is just disgusting which must end. Just in 2021-2022, the remittances sent by overseas is $31.2 billions. Out of 21% of the overseas doctors in… pic.twitter.com/Z2by9wyiFl

— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) June 20, 2023

The clip received severe backlash from overseas Pakistanis. One user wrote:

“This unknown model on national television is claiming that overseas Pakistanis clean gutters abroad and come to Pakistan to show off by wearing cotton clothes. Meanwhile, these very overseas Pakistanis contribute $32 million through their hard work abroad.”

This unknown model on national television is claiming that overseas Pakistanis clean gutters abroad and come to Pakistan to show off by wearing cotton clothes. Meanwhile, these very overseas Pakistanis contribute $32 million through their hard work abroad. pic.twitter.com/18vRlGp1Z6

— Syed Zaighum Kazmi (@syedzaighum110) June 19, 2023

Actor Shaan Shahid was among the voices who critcised Neelum’s opinion:

“Our overseas Pakistanis .. from all walks of life are our pride .. none should show disrespect .. towards them .. as the country and we the nation owe them much more than respect .. as their sacrifices are beyond words.. much respect.”

Our overseas Pakistanis .. from all walks of life are our pride .. none should show disrespect .. towards them .. as the country and we the nation owe them much more than respect .. as their sacrifices are beyond words.. much respect .🙏🏼♥️🇵🇰💯

— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) June 20, 2023

The host of the comedy show, Vasay Chaudhry, stepped in to apologise for the tasteless joke by calling it a “ridiculous comment”.

“I want to publicly apologise on behalf of my whole team at #Mazaqraat ,a very stupid,Vile & ridiculous comment was made recently abt overseas’s Pakistani’s by one of the guests in our show which was followed up by an attmepted joke by one of the comedians(again in bad taste).”

I want to publicly apologise on behalf of my whole team at #Mazaqraat ,a very stupid,Vile & ridiculous comment was made recently abt overseas's Pakistani's by one of the guests in our show which was followed up by an attmepted joke by one of the comedians(again in bad taste)

— vasay chaudhry (@vasaych) June 20, 2023

The ‘Punjab Nahi Jaugni’ actor further added:

“A formal apology will be aired in tonight’s episode. However , I wanted to personally apologise to all the Pakistanis living abroad.We Love you , even though you might not feel the same at this point, but ” ghalatiaan apnoo say he hoti hain.”

A formal apology will be aired in tonight's episode. However , I wanted to personally apologise to all the Pakistanis living abroad.We Love you , even though you might not feel the same at this point, but " ghalatiaan apnoo say he hoti hain " 🙏🏼🙏🏼

— vasay chaudhry (@vasaych) June 20, 2023