Actress Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has expressed her concerns about the situation in Pakistan, underlining the recent internet outages and “out of control” air pollution in Lahore, saying it is no longer just an inconvenience – “it’s about survival.”
In a series of Instagram stories, the actor questioned why basic services like the internet were not working, calling it “unacceptable on so many levels.”
“I’ve reached a point where I no longer care what’s happening in the government because, as a citizen, I’ve learned not to expect much. But at the very least, I should be able to access my most basic rights in this country.”
She shared, “I paid my taxes, followed the law, and did not engage in anything that wouldn’t benefit Pakistan, and in return expected reliable internet.”
“Is that too much to ask? It’s disheartening to say this, but my expectations from my own country have dwindled to the bare minimum. I’m not asking for luxuries; I’m asking for what should be given in any functioning society.”
Her comment came after several parts of Pakistan faced internet outages and an increasing digital clampdown. Citizens reported issues with WiFi, mobile data services, and social media apps, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. They were unable to or facing difficulties while sending pictures, voice notes, large files, or uploading videos.
The outages are linked to the protests that began on November 24 by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters heading towards the capital, Islamabad, where barricades and blockages worsened the situation.
She also expressed concern about the air quality in Lahore, saying she was unable to breathe because the “pollution is out of control.”
“Even when I choose to stay indoors to avoid the toxic air, I can’t find peace because the internet, essential for my work, communication, and connection with my loved ones, is barely functional.”
She questioned what hope was left when the basics of life, such as clean air, safety, and connectivity, were denied to people.
“As a nation, we need to reflect. Where is the welfare of the people? Where is the focus on security, infrastructure, and a better quality of life? It feels like the priorities have shifted away from the citizens and their needs.”
“It breaks my heart to say this, but I am deeply disappointed in the state of my country and the choices of those governing it. Pakistan has so much potential, yet we are failing at providing the most fundamental necessities.”
Pakistani actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has always been open about her mental health struggles. In a recent Instagram post, she talked more about her ongoing battles and the emotional toll it has taken on her and her family, especially her father.
In her latest post, Khattak said, “No father deserves to see his daughter in pain. I wish for health for myself so that my father can stop worrying about me. I don’t want this hollowness to go away because I can’t handle it; now I want it to go away because my father can’t take it. Allah, you are both the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate. Either make me so strong that I can bear this pain myself, or take it away forever. You know what’s best for me and what tests I should go through. I leave it in Your hands. Just make it easier for my family.”
This heartfelt message follows other posts where Khattak has shared her mental health journey, talking about the challenges and the stigma. Earlier, she said, “I don’t know about fulfillment anymore, but words matter. The right words, at the right time. I’m feeling this hollowness in my heart, exhausted by the pain and panic returning, the numbness, the fear.” She added, “I’m ashamed of this disease I have, why? Because it makes me feel shallow knowing my privileges and support system. It’s relentless, and I find myself asking Khawaja Saab, ‘Why am I like this?’ He always says the right thing: ‘You are the best the way you are. Some lows in life do not define you as a person.’”
Khattak has been honest about her use of prescribed antidepressants and the challenges of managing her mental health. “Being on prescribed antidepressants has given me mixed feelings. Initially, I felt numb—not happy or sad, just numb to every feeling, thought, and emotion. Slowly, I decided to lower the dosage to see if I have healed, but I felt an extreme shift. Previously the numbness I mentioned started to make me feel good. Now, I feel pain, fear, and anxiety coming back. I am a little scared too. But it’s alright; I’ll get through this one too.”
After a deadly Israeli air strike in Rafah on Monday, resulted in 45 Palestinian refugees being burnt alive and at least one child beheaded, celebrities worldwide are using social media to express their anger and demand an urgent ceasefire.
Pakistani actor Faysal Quraishi shared his sorrow and support for the victims on Instagram, “All eyes on Rafah. All hearts for Rafah. All thoughts with Rafah. All prayers include Rafah.”
Imran Abbas made a strong appeal on Instagram: “Ceasefire now… What are we waiting for? Even the UK is speaking up, so why are we Muslims staying silent? You don’t need to belong to any religion to feel the pain of burning children and humans alive. There’s no excuse for this terrible brutality.”
Hollywood actor Jenna Ortega, known for starring her role in the Netflix series ‘Wednesday,’ focused on the ongoing suffering of children in the genocide. In a post highlighting the harsh reality, she said, “People are arguing about a ceasefire while many children are still being killed. Where is the humanity?”
Model and actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak, who often speaks out on social media about important issues, shared her thoughts on Instagram. She criticized people who compare Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to Pakistan’s treatment of its minorities. Saheefa mentioned Kim Kardashian’s recent comment of “All lives matter” in response to a call for Palestinian liberation.
Saheefa disagreed with the idea and said, “To those who say I should focus on problems in my own country first, I say: please learn about ethnic cleansing and genocide. The terrible things happening to minorities in our country are also wrong and should be condemned.”
“But please, don’t say that one should condemn one wrong but not the other. To the people in power in the government of Pakistan, I ask you, as a taxpayer, and as a citizen of your country, to stop the genocide in our country. No one deserves this cruelty. We must remember that our flag is incomplete without the color white, which represents our minorities who are also contributing to Pakistan’s growth and economy.”
Saheefa’s message continued to urge for better education and activism: “Stop justifying genocide, unlawful killings, rapes, assaults, and violence. When the Black Lives Matter movement started, some people responded with ‘all lives matter,’ not because they believed it, but to distract from the main focus of the movement.”
Her passionate plea also included a call for targeted boycotting and a deeper understanding of the situation. She said, “Boycotting every company on the list isn’t practical. Many influencers, like myself, have stopped supporting various brands. Remember, the list is long, with hundreds of products from big companies. There’s a reason for focusing on specific boycotts.”
According to Saheefa, a broad, untargeted boycott is “easier said than done” and might be harmful or impossible for “a third-world country with limited resources.” “Don’t boycott all 200 products. Learn why we’re targeting Coke, Starbucks, and McDonald’s. They were the first to publicly fund and support genocides. They fed IDF soldiers while children in the Gaza Strip were brutally killed, raped, and left hungry in the streets. Please, I urge each of you to educate yourselves,” she pleaded.
The collective voices of these celebrities reflect a growing global demand for Palestinian liberation and an end to Israel’s apartheid regime that continues to claim Palestinian lives. Their heartfelt messages have resonated widely, shedding light on the human cost of the genocide and urging immediate action to prevent further loss of Palestinian lives.
Famous actress and model Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has slammed Pakistani brands for delaying payments for their advertisement campaigns.
Taking to Instagram, Khattak wrote, “I’m fed up with these big brands and multi- billion-dollar companies. It’s a recurring nightmare, negotiate low payments, impose a ridiculous 90-120 day payment cycle and then, to top it off, delay payments while boasting about how much work they’ve given us. Enough! Paying for our services isn’t a favor; it’s a transaction. We’re not here to endure your payment delays – we’re the ones selling your brand. Cut the excuses and pay us for our craft.”
The model went on to stress that regardless of the amount, artists shouldn’t be obliged to justify their financial needs to the brand repeatedly. “What’s owed to me should be paid without constant explanations. It’s exhausting to keep reminding the team that I need my payment to maintain my financial cycle. As an artist, the repeated requests for my own payment feel utterly disrespectful.”
“I can’t fathom how these mediators, drawing their salaries from these brands, can be so rude. Phrases like “what’s the big deal, wait for the payment” or “we won’t work with you with this attitude” are unacceptable. Their repeated responses like “I’ve told you a hundred times, the purchase team is sorting this” showcase incompetence. Sir and Ma’am, you lack the ability to communicate with someone frustrated due to your own incompetence and shortcomings.”
Journalist and fashion model Minahil Rehman also shared a post on social media, writing, “Another day, another rant about non-payments and it makes me wonder when it’ll ever end?”
“Saheefa Jabbar Khattak rants about brands that wrap up campaigns and then consistently delay payments and are rude with models who are only left with no choice but to ask for payment that is rightfully their’s! Unprofessionalism can lead to the ruin of an industry and it doesn’t look like things are getting any better in Pakistan.”
Model Saheefa Jabbar Khattak was on the Geo show Hasna Mana Hai where she opened up about her life.
On how she met her husband:
Talking about how she met her husband, Khwaja Khizar Hussain, Khattak said that she had been helping her then-friend, Khizar, look for a bride by introducing him to her female friends. “He was my senior at BNU and he was single. He asked me to look for someone, since he wanted to get married. I was always a tomboy, not a girly girl, so he was never interested in me. Whatever rowdy discussions would be going on between boys, they would come and tell me,” she disclosed. Khattak further shared that she had found some gorgeous women who she felt were perfect for Khizar, but soon found out that they were taken. Then Saheefa and Khizer realized that they liked each other a lot. “We found something else instead,” she said of finding her soulmate.
When asked about her acting career, Saheefa said she hadn’t been involved in television projects since last year, because she’s disappointed by regressive content in the scripts. “It has been a year and a half since I acted, and I think I won’t go for it because the kind of scripts they offer I don’t like them. It’s all about the consistently wailing woman. In every drama she is turned into a mom, is consistently getting slapped and given divorce.”
Khattak talked about her first drama Teri Meri Kahani and said she was disappointed by how regressive the show was regarding the empowerment of women.
“My first drama was Teri Meri Kahani, in which I also had this type of character. I was this well-educated girl who was born and raised from the UK, and comes back here to get slapped, kicked out of the house. Basically for me its very weird because if a girl is very well-educated and independent, as well as a UK national…The problem was a strong independent girl, who literally has properties in the UK, why is she getting slapped around by a man and also accepting false accusations? It was that kind of drama, and the sad bit was that the girl suffers a lot in the story but in the end she forgives the man and goes back to him. And when you ask the production house that why is this happening, they defend their decision by saying the audience needs a happy ending,” she revealed.
Dropping out of college
When an audience member asked Saheefa about her decision to drop out of university years ago, the model revealed that she regrets that decision even today.
“It’s been good eight years since I dropped out and left my education. Every time things don’t work out, they did for me but it usually doesn’t for everyone. Today, I do regret that I left my education because at a lot of places that piece of paper is very important. I didn’t think like this before, had you asked me two years ago I would have said ‘Yes, drop out‘. Now, I have seen this very clearly that a degree is important so I wouldn’t suggest anyone to drop out until and unless you have a very good, solid plan.”
Model-turned-actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has addressed the speculation regarding her separation from her husband Khawaja Khizer on Instagram.
On Saturday, she shared a photo of the couple in an embrace and wrote, “Alhamdulillah, things are greater than ever, it’s just [that] we choose to keep our relationship very private. He has gone to Canada for his studies and I am in Pakistan waiting for my visa to come long distance isn’t bothering us much.”
She explained how they have been dealing with the situation, adding that she is not getting his tattoo removed. “Since so many of you asked as well, we have always been pretty mature with our relationship, our collective goals are so big that we don’t mind the long distance. Yes, we have our lows but he has found some great classmates who helps him with his anxiety and in Pakistan, I have kept myself busy with work so we are doing pretty fine. I wish him nothing but success and health (not getting his tattoo removed).”
She addressed the matter after many of her followers asked a series of questions including whether she’s removing the tattoo with his face and if things are okay between them.
“This isn’t the first time I have posted my tattoo removal on my stories. I have been posting on and off for about two years now but this time so many people came forward with their overwhelming concern and questions [so] I felt I should address them,” she wrote.
Why she removed a tattoo at all was due to multiple reasons, according to her. Wanting to move on, choosing to let go and also fixing an “ugly, faded” tattoo is some of the things she listed.
Last year, she opened up about undergoing a painful surgical procedure. Taking to Instagram, the Beti star shared a picture of her surgery with stitches on her nose.
Revealing details about the painful experience, the Teri Meri Kahaani diva revealed that she had been dealing with this issue for a long time.
Moreover, the doctors had warned her that she would need surgery to repair the bone in her nose. But due to her apprehensions about going under the knife, she was anxious.
“I had a deviated septum. The doctor told us we’d need to operate on the nose and surgically fix the bone. I’ve always been afraid of going under the knife,” she wrote.
“And cosmetically removing a part of my face just freaked me out. I didn’t want to get it done then. This last year breathing had become extremely difficult. And with all this pollution around us, I thought it’s just wise to have two working nostrils filtering the air.”
Giving the good news that the surgery went perfectly fine, she wrote, “So, I did the surgery two months ago. Alhamdullilah it went perfectly fine. My fears about it were real though. Everything about it was painful and uncomfortable and scary. The procedure itself wasn’t complicated, but the post-operation time was hard.”
Further, she added, “Cosmetically solving medical issues is considered such a taboo thing to do in Pakistan, and it isn’t as people imagine it to be. It isn’t always about beautification, there are a good number of cases when it’s about alleviating pain and improving health.”
“It took eleven years of courage to get to this point, but I’m glad that I did it now, and can at least breathe normally,” she concluded.
On the work front, Saheefa was last seen in ARY Digital’s Log Kya Kahenge opposite Faysal Quraishi and Aijaz Aslam.
Singer Abdullah Qureshi has released his new single after a year’s break in collaboration with emerging musician Haider Mustehsan, featuring actor Saheefa Jabbar.
The Bhool star dons a refreshing look in the video.
Abdullah has carved his own niche in the music fraternity for 10 years. While churning out new music isn’t an easy task, Qureshi is on a roll with his new single in collaboration with Haider, the new sensation in the fraternity and also a popular choice of the Gen Z.
Hasda Rehnda is a product of Qureshi and Mustehsan’s hard work and talent. Abdullah formerly wrote this love song which has a fun vibe to it and later on when this became a duo, Haider added his own spin to it.
The song has graced the screens with a simple yet beautiful video featuring Saheefa Jabbar Khattak. Saheefa dons a simple look for her character while we see both the musicians in their element as well. Together, the melody as well as lyrics make for a single you would definitely hum along.
Last year Jabbar took to her Instagram stories to announce that she hasn’t quit acting, she has just taken a break because of lack of good scripts and progressive roles for women.
The Beti diva questioned that why do our women in drama remain oppressed despite there being diverse women in society.
“There are no good scripts out there. The scripts which are being offered to me at the moment are not up to the standards of storytelling I feel comfortable endorsing,” she said. “I am writing this today because a few rumours have made their way back to me and it does not feel nice to hear untrue things about yourself.”
Her posts raised important issues regarding portrayal of women in Pakistani dramas.
Jabbbar was last seen opposite Faysal Qureshi and Aijaz Aslam in Log Kya Kahenge.
A string of claims began when model Manal Saleem took to her Instagram stories to state that clients should avoid making her shoot with any actress or celebrity due to their “self entitled attitudes.”
While Manal refrained from naming the actress in question who reportedly called her a “dou takkay ki model,” she did state that people guessing who the actress was were not too far from hitting the nail on the head.
The situation unraveled further when make-up artist Omayr Waqar weighed in on the matter as well, stating that “It’s just one person – not all actresses are the same.”
This controversy sparked a debate between the general public, who not only took turns trying to guess the individual being discussed, but also shared how they felt that entitlement and an overtly inflamed sense of pride are traits that are both unnecessary and unbecoming of any person – especially when it is a person in a position of relative power.
Within a span of barely two days, however, accusations grew from being merely speculative in nature, to others within the industry sharing their experiences.
Models Mydah Raza and Mushk Kaleem took to their Instagram stories to discuss how “this actress is notorious for being unpleasant on set,” like an alleged bully, and how the encounter spoke more to the actress’ own insecurities.
Stylist Anila Murtaza shared an Instagram story with a thought bubble with the name ‘Sana’ in it, and makeup artist Ikram Gohar stated that he knew it was none other than Sana Javed being discussed, calling her a “horrible and unprofessional actress.” Make-up artist Rhyan Thomas applauded those speaking up, sharing that he had the worst experience working with the star, stating that “people like them think no end to themselves.”
Shortly after, make-up artist Ikram Gohar went into great detail to further explain his stance, talking about how Sana Javed is “horrible and unprofessional,” and he will never work with her again.
Moreover, Ikram talked about Sana allegedly calling him to a place in DHA for her nikkah makeup trial, during which she mistreated him over an eyeshadow look, and refused to let him use the washroom at the place they were in, urging him to utilize a rest room at a restaurant in front of the space in which the trial was ongoing.
He stressed upon the fact that the industry consists of many names that maintain professional decorum, regardless of their star power.
In addition to this, Rhyan Thomas shared an incident where he was called in by models Sana Javed and Sadaf Kanwal for the PISA awards in Dubai, where Sana allegedly displayed behavior that was both unprofessional and petty.
Given that two models had to be catered to, timings were set accordingly by Rhyan. However, as per Rhyan’s recollection, upon his arrival, Sana claimed to be suffering from a migraine and went to take a hot bath that lasted an hour. After this, she allegedly wanted to have hookah, for which she took Rhyan to the lobby to spend time with other celebrities. This ordeal took another two hours, during which Rhyan claims that he was in touch with Sadaf as well.
Upon heading back to her hotel room, Sana allegedly “threw a fit,” due to her being late for the red carpet. With Sadaf’s calls alerting Rhyan, Sana apparently confiscated Rhyan’s phone, and “put the hotel’s landline on hold” to ensure there was no contact from anyone.
Here, Rhyan states that he was “held hostage,” and Sana reportedly spent the rest of the time demeaning his skills, also placing blame for the process to have taken 8 hours upon the make-up artist. In all of this, Sadaf thought that Rhyan had bailed on her, and did her hair and make-up herself, which the make-up artist claims is what Sana wanted due to “insecurity.”
Durefishan Saleem shared Rhyan Thomas’ post, stating that “harassment is a big NO,” regardless of the gender of the instigator.
With more and more encounters coming forth with regards to this, various figures from the industry are speaking up. Model Fareeha Sheikh recently took to Instagram to compile a post about alleged misbehavior by Sana Javed.
According to Fareeha’s post, the unfortunate incident took place a few months ago at Mian Saad’s studio where multiple shoots can take place. Fareeha arrived first and got her make-up done on the day when Sana Javed had to shoot for a designer at a separate set.
According to Fareeha, Sana arrived three hours late, and upon seeing Fareeha in the room, “stormed out” and “threw a tantrum,” stating that she’s leaving due to another girl being present in the room. Sana reportedly stated that she would not come back till Fareeha was “kicked out,” upon which the designer Sana was shooting with “barged in and started screaming” at Fareeha, leaving her shell-shocked. This prompted the make-up artist and Saad to ask the designer to leave the space.
Fareeha makes it a point to end her account by stating that she hopes “Sana Javed learns that shit comes back to you one way or the other.”
Mahnoor Sheikh also weighed in on this, stating that Sana is “arrogant, disrespectful, [and] rude.” She, too, shared an incident where Sana allegedly did not want to sit in the same make-up room as her and two other models while shooting a TVC.
Prominent female celebrities have shared their stance on the on-going controversy and schooled the Pyaray Afzal diva for her conduct.
Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has expressed her disappointment with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement regarding women’s attire and potential rape threat.
Taking to her Instagram story, Saheefa said Pakistanis had chosen Khan as PM to solve the problems and not for giving irrelevant statements.
“We have chosen you to make our country better and not for giving irrelevant statements,” Saheefa called out. “Firstly, do justice with teenage girls who were sexually abused and then give such statements,” the actor stressed.
“Every time, you [PM Khan] start blaming the opposition. Kindly, do not do that, people want you to solve their problems and not just blaming the opposition,” she added.
The Boom Boom rendition singer Meesha has also tweeted on PM’s statement.
“To matlab bachay bhi aurton ke kapron kee wajah se rape ho rahay hain?”, tweeted Shafi.
To matlab bachay bhi aurton ke kapron kee wajah se rape ho rahay hain?
Maria Wasti recently gave an interview in which she spoke on a wide range of topics, from politics to the entertainment industry.
“I would like to say to Prime Minister Imran Khan Ghabrana Nahi Hai [not to be scared],” said the actress, appearing as a guest at the show Jashan-e-Cricket.
Without mentioning it directly, she spoke about the recent controversy triggered by the prime minister’s comments on women’s dressing and the rise in cases of sexual abuse and rape.
“The PM should weigh his words before speaking on international forums,” she said.
Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has called out Ramzan Transmissions for having problematic content and not following COVID-19 SOPs.
The model-turned-actor, in a series of Instagram stories, said that on one hand, the government and the public are trying their best to follow SOPs, make compromises on their luxurious lifestyle and give up all activities to contain the spread of the virus. But on other, the Ramzan transmissions are allowing large people gathering which will be a serious threat to the life of people.
“COVID is at its peak. Cricket leagues are getting cancelled, countries in the subcontinent are going into lockdown and strict curfews are imposed on peoples everywhere — we are well in the middle of this horrendous and treacherous third wave,” said Saheefa urging everyone to follow SOPs and wear a mask at all times.
Khattak then pointed out how she read somewhere how social distancing was a privilege.
“It means you live in a house large enough to practice it. Hand washing is a privilege too. It means you have access to water. Hand sanitisers are a privilege. It means you have the money to buy them,” she said.
Saheefa also took the opportunity to highlight the problematic content in Ramazan transmissions.
“They do not follow protocols and are filmed on sets where crews as large as 60 to 70 people are not quarantined and don’t operate inside a bio secure environment. This is a blatant breach of government policy and just shows our inherent insensitivity to the situation,” protested Khattak.
“Rather, they seem hellbent on ridiculing and insulting human beings in the name of entertainment and profit. It’s crass, rude, and has zero respect for human dignity. I’m sorry but this frustrates me a lot!” she added.
Khattak also presented a solution to the problem, suggesting that the airtime can be used to “spread awareness about COVID and enforce message sent out by the government.”
“There was no better time to do it in Ramazan, but no, how would people win a Corolla then?” she sighed, reminding people to take the pandemic seriously.
“Spend Eid while practicing social distancing, recognise your privilege and try to see through the lies we consume through the magic box!” concluded Saheefa.
Meanwhile, according to the latest statistics by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 4,109 cases of COVID-19 and 120 deaths were recorded in past 24 hours. The positivity ratio in the country is at 8.54 percent.
Statistics 8 May 21: Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 48,103 Positive Cases: 4109 Positivity % : 8.54% Deaths : 120
