CAN PAKISTANIS LET PUBLIC PERSONAS LOVE IN PRIVACY? FT. #SANIASHOAIB & EX #SAIROZ
Authored By Hadia Arif Haneef & Edited by Reham Aslam
‘Love has no boundaries,’ but why must Pakistanis cross boundaries to investigate the lives of lovers - or exes?
In answering so, the tale of two stunning sporting icons Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik is a glittering example worth citing. While both nations, India and Pakistan, continue to be in awe of the doting power couple , it is no secret that their cross border romance has suffered disapproval from many. Although the relations between the two warring nations seem to intensify with each passing day, our modern day Veer Zaara don’t seem to give much head as they embark on twelve years of togetherhood in April, 2022.
Recently, a behind the scenes clip from ‘Time out with Ahsan Khan’ featuring the lovebirds made virtual rounds. While the Qissa Meharbano Ka actor questioned the national bhabi,‘What is the worst question any journalist or any host can ask you,’ Mirza’s response revealed a different dilemma of her cross border kahani.
Explaining how she despises being asked to pick a side in India vs. Pakistan matches, the Indian tennis star went on to label it as ‘a very bad and stale’ question. While keeping a smile on for the prying eyes of netizens, Mirza requested journalists to ‘get over it’ and described her love for both nation and husband. Even though she and hubby Shoaib Malik were then witnessed enjoying a good laugh, it is safe to infer that Pakistani media perpetually furthers the desi urge to to invade couples’ privacies, in the name of probing.
But it is worthwhile noting that this dilemma is not confined to cross-border couples alone. Another classic example is the former #sairoz couple that amicably parted ways last year, but Pakistanis thought otherwise. Fans were found divided: few batted blind eyes to the hot raging controversy and most jumped the bandwagon of accusing Sabzwari for infidelity and citing his dating history with ramp fame, Sadaf Kanwal. Whether it was the public’s undying love and sympathy for Yousuf or relentless hate for Kanwal and Sabzwari , the #sairoz divorce was deconstructed publicly, from A to Z.
Whatever the Pakistani public or media’s intentions, one must know where to draw the line, for being public figures must not at all be made synonymous to zero privacy.