Farhan faces the music | The Express Tribune

You best believe Farhan Saeed isn\’t the one to receive flak and not hit back. The singer-turned-actor recently bore the brunt after he replied to a Twitter user who shared how Turkish celebrities had been busy raising funds for the victims of the deadly earthquakes that occurred earlier this month.  

A fundraising drive conducted by eight national TV stations and other Turkish celebrities who responded to requests for donations collected approximately $6.1 billion for Turkiye\’s earthquake victims. Turkey\’s new campaign for earthquake affectees, dubbed Turkey One Heart, was established by several Turkish television and radio stations who joined forces to stage a relief drive for the survivors of last week\’s catastrophe.

The said tweep took to the micro-blogging website and posted a picture of Saeed with his Mere Humsafar co-star, Hania Aamir, from a local award ceremony that took place in Toronto. \”Turkish celebrities raising funds for earthquake victims while Pakistani celebrities jetted off for an award function during floods,\” the user criticised. He went on to add, \” Sad. The nations that don’t stand up for themselves deserve this and worse.\”

To this, Saeed clapped back, \”First, revenue generated was for flood victims.\” He further shared, \”Secondly, all these telethons that happen in Pakistan, artists raise funds. For all the Shaukat Khanum hospitals, artists have raised most of the funds with Imran Khan, but with an inferiority complex like yours, you’ll always like others better. So carry on.\”

The Suno Chanda actor\’s response irked many. \”I get where you are coming from, but right now, it is not about the revenue but about the angle of insensitivity that cannot be brushed under the rug, the award show was happening at the exact same time when millions of people had lost their homes and lives in the floods.\”

Another added, \”You only did one formal tweet about floods. Your Instagram feed has nothing about floods on those dates. Go and see Burak\’s, Ozge, Yuldiz\’s Instagram feeds and stories full of rescue messages and donation calls. Sit down. The more you talk, the more we hate your privilege.\”

One more tweep commented, \”It’s not about the revenue or funds but the insensitivity that was displayed, people had lost their lives, houses and everything yet the fraternity went for an award show. They could have raised voices being in Pakistan, being on the ground yet they went and it’s insensitive.\”

Another Twitter user shared, \”Mainstream Turkish channels are not airing any new episodes of dramas, their TV channels, as well as actors\’ private social media, are all 24/7 dedicated to helping earthquake victims. While you\’ll dance a dreadful carnage away.\”

One more added, \”I’m really sorry to break it to you but Hum Awards happened as per schedule just like all the years and after the backlash they finally decided to donate a small portion of revenue to the flood victims, I repeat a small portion. Not the whole revenue.\”

A user demanded Saeed be ashamed, instead of clapping back. \”The sensible thing would be to feel ashamed. Half of the country was underwater mean while our actors were in Canada for an award show. Don\’t BS the public with revenue generated was for the flood. What about all the expenses spent to arrange it? Inferiority complex? Seriously?\”

It is pertinent to mention here that organisers of the said award show had previously announced a percentage of the ticket sales would be donated to the flood affectees. 

It is also important to add that several local artists have contributed to the flood relief mission. Hadiqa Kiani has been helping with her Vaseela-e-Raah campaign to provide goods to the affectees and rebuild flood-hit villages. Anoushey Ashraf, Natasha Baig, Dino and Azekah Daniel, too, visited Sindh and Balochistan areas to raise awareness of the severity of the situation. 

Apart from this, Uzair Jaswal’s concert in Islamabad was arranged so funds could be sent to the victims. Mohsin Naveed Ranjha, HSY among other designers have shared a sum of their latest collections with the relief fund. Meera and Hira Mani arranged shows to raise funds for the flood relief campaign. 

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