Another Actress Joins the Fray: Iffat Omar Calls Karachi a “Dirty City,” Backing Saba Qamar

The controversy surrounding critical comments about Karachi has intensified, as veteran actress Iffat Omar has now voiced a similar opinion, backing fellow actress Saba Qamar and labeling the metropolis a “dirty city.”

The issue began when Saba Qamar, in a recent podcast, stated that she did not like Karachi and only visited for work. When asked if she would ever move there permanently, she responded with “Astaghfirullah” (I seek forgiveness from Allah), a reaction that sparked significant backlash from Karachiites and others on social media.

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Now, Iffat Omar has stepped into the debate. Sharing a critical post about Saba Qamar on X (formerly Twitter), Iffat defended the right to a personal opinion. “If the actress doesn’t like Karachi, will she be forced to like the city?” she wrote. She firmly stated, “Karachi is a very dirty city,” explaining that while many people, including herself, go there for work due to the opportunities, it is not their city of choice if given an option.

Her comments were met with their own wave of criticism. In response to the backlash, Iffat Omar argued that her statement was being blown out of proportion and should not be linked to nationalism or patriotism. She claimed that if someone criticized Lahore, its residents would not react as harshly. She clarified that her remarks were about the city’s condition and its administration, not its people, and drew a parallel by saying she also doesn’t like Frankfurt, Germany, but that doesn’t cause an uproar.

FAQs: The Karachi Comments Controversy

1. What did Saba Qamar originally say?
In a podcast, when asked if she would move to Karachi permanently, Saba Qamar immediately said “Astaghfirullah” and stated she does not like the city, only going there for work.

2. How did Iffat Omar get involved?
Iffat Omar shared a post criticizing Saba Qamar and publicly agreed with her sentiment, calling Karachi a “dirty city” and defending the right to have a personal dislike for it.

3. What was the main public reaction?
Both actresses faced significant backlash and criticism from the public, especially from residents of Karachi, who found their comments disrespectful and insulting.

4. How did Iffat Omar defend her statement?
She argued that her criticism was directed at the city’s cleanliness and infrastructure, not its people. She asked that her opinion not be misconstrued as a lack of patriotism and compared it to not liking a foreign city like Frankfurt.

5. What is the core of this debate?
The debate centers on the line between personal opinion and public responsibility, especially for public figures. It also highlights the ongoing frustration many citizens feel about the infrastructural and governance issues in Karachi, even as they defend their city.