A local court in Pakistan on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant for late Irrfan Khan starrer Hindi Medium actress Saba Qamar in a case registered against her and others for shooting a ‘dance video’ at a historical mosque in Lahore.
Lahore's magistrate court issued bailable warrants for Qamar and singer Bilal Saeed for repeatedly missing court appearances. The next hearing has been postponed until October 6.
Lahore police last year registered a case against Qamar and Saeed under section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code for alleged ‘desecration’ of Masjid Wazir Khan in the old city of Lahore. According to the FIR, both actors had trampled upon the sanctity of the mosque by shooting a dance video, and this act also sparked an outrage among the people of Pakistan.
The Punjab government had also sacked two senior officers in connection with violation of the mosque’s sanctity.
Following strong criticism and even death threats to her on social media, Qamar and Saeed had apologised for their act. "It was the music video featuring a nikah (marriage) scene. It was neither shot with any sort of playback music nor has it been edited to the music track,” she had said.
Different religious parties including Jamaat-i-Islami had also held demonstrations in the city, demanding ‘strict punishment’ to artist couple for what they call committing sin.
Saba Qamar is a Pakistani actress who also works as a television host. She is one of Pakistan's most popular and highest-paid celebrities. She has received four Lux Style Awards and has been nominated for a Filmfare Award. In 2012, the Pakistani government awarded her the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, and in 2016, the Pride of Performance.
Qamar, whose work in Bollywood movies received appreciation, had also done a biopic of social media sensation Qandeel Baloch. She received death threats on social media for her "un-Islamic" action. She was warned on the social media that she might face the fate of Qandeel Baloch, who was killed by her brother in 2016 for 'disgracing the family honour.'
With PTI inputs