Barzakh: In response to growing criticism over its portrayal of queer love, channel Zindagi announced on Tuesday that it will voluntarily remove the series ‘Barzakh’ from YouTube Pakistan starting August 9. The show, which generated significant buzz by reuniting Pakistani stars Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, also features prominent actors such as M Fawad Khan, Salman Shahid, and Eman Suleman. 


Barzakh to be pulled down from YouTube Pakistan


"We, at Zindagi and Team Barzakh, extend our heartfelt gratitude to our global audience for their unwavering support for Barzakh—a show that was created to bring people together everywhere," the channel said in a statement shared on social media.  




"But in light of the current public sentiment in Pakistan, we have made the decision to voluntarily withdraw Barzakh from YouTube Pakistan, effective August 9, 2024. This decision underscores our dedication to honoring our audiences without causing alienation. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support,” the statement further read. 


Director Asim Abbasi reacts to the decision


Directed by Asim Abbasi, 'Barzakh’ premiered worldwide on Zindagi's YouTube and ZEE5 on July 19. Abbasi, whose previous show ‘Churails’ also faced obstacles in Pakistan despite international acclaim, shared the channel's statement and confirmed that the finale of the six-episode series would air as scheduled. "Yes, the finale still airs tonight," the director wrote, using the hashtag #Barzakh. 


The London-based Pakistani filmmaker also posted the statement on his Instagram Stories. He also shared a quote from renowned queer American author James Baldwin: "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." 



About Barzakh and the backlash it faced in Pakistan


One of the storylines in the surrealistic drama focuses on M Fawad Khan's character, Saifullah, and his romance with Lorenzo, an Italian cook played by Franco Giusti. This depiction drew significant criticism in Pakistan, with some accusing the makers of promoting an LGBTQIA+ "agenda." 


Pakistani actor Mishi Khan condemned the show, calling it "trash" and alleging that it normalises a hidden LGBTQ agenda.  


She wrote on X, "What a shame that we are watching trash in the name of drama. This hidden LGBTQ agenda in the name of drama is being normalized with plays like Barzakh. Shame on the cast who knew the filth in the script but opted to do it." 




Despite some supportive voices, most recent social media reactions were critical of the show's stance on queer love. One user on a microblogging site claimed, "This vulgar Pakistani drama '#BARZAKH' is funded by Illuminati, Freemasons, LGBTQ and satanists. 100% sure."  


Others called for a boycott of the show, with hashtags like #boycottbarzakh and #Barzakh trending online.