KARACHI – The latest episode of the drama serial Pamaal has sparked intense criticism online after a bold scene featuring Saba Qamar and Usman Mukhtar aired without any apparent censorship. Viewers accused the actors and the channel of overstepping cultural boundaries and questioned the need for such intimacy in a prime-time family drama.
The controversy erupted after a sequence in which Maleeka, played by Saba Qamar, embraces her husband Raza (Usman Mukhtar) in an emotional moment following news of his hospitalisation. While the scene aimed to capture Maleeka’s distress, many viewers labelled it “unnecessary,” “uncomfortable,” and “inappropriate for Pakistani television.”
Pamaal follows the life of Maleeka, a writer who grows up idealising marriage, only to face disappointment and control after tying the knot with Raza. The drama portrays themes of emotional struggle, mistrust, and marital challenges — but critics argue the latest episode crossed a line.
Social media users expressed outrage, with some claiming Pakistani dramas were “copying Indian trends,” while others said the channel failed its own commitment to “family-friendly” content. Several viewers commented that they were relieved their parents were not watching the episode with them.
The backlash continues to dominate online discussions, as audiences question whether drama makers are shifting towards more daring content at the expense of traditional viewership expectations.