Imran Abbas is a renowned Pakistani television and film actor with a strong following on Instagram and other social media platforms. He currently has 8.9 million followers on Instagram. Imran is known for being a vocal celebrity who often speaks out when necessary. He also holds strong religious sentiments and believes in respecting all the holy months and religious festivals.
Recently, the actor has once again raised his voice against the film distributors and entertainment industry’s insensitive attitude towards the holy month of Muharram, which he believes should be observed with utmost respect.
Imran Abbas expressed his displeasure over movies being released during Muharram. Notably, Hania Aamir’s film Sardaar Ji and Mission Impossible were released in cinemas around this time. Sardaar Ji was released on the 1st or 2nd of Muharram. Besides this, films like Love Guru and Deemak are also currently running in cinemas.
Imran Abbas shared his concerns on his official Facebook account. He wrote, “I have never seen movies being released on the 1st of Muharram before in Pakistan. This is not about Shia or Sunni — certain dates and months carry significance for all Muslims. I still remember when PTV used to run music-free transmissions during these times. Now, we witness dance and music shows even on the 9th of Muharram. People treat these days as holidays to travel to hill stations with family and friends. The day is not far when we may start celebrating the Islamic New Year with parties on the 1st of Muharram. I urge everyone to respect the sanctity of Rabi-ul-Awal, Ramadan, and Muharram, and to acknowledge the significance of these months, regardless of sect or background.”
He further added that the cast of the film should not be held responsible, as they were simply fulfilling their duties as actors. However, the authorities could have delayed the release slightly. Since the film is expected to be a blockbuster, postponing its release by a few days wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
Many people are agreeing with Imran Abbas and have thanked him for raising his voice. Shaan Beig wrote, “Absolutely agree with you. As Muslims, certain months like Muharram should be treated with the dignity they deserve, no matter which sect we belong to. It’s sad to see how quickly we’re drifting away from that sense of reverence. The release could’ve easily been postponed out of basic respect. Thank you for raising this — much needed.” Another user wrote, “I feel the same way. In my childhood, our Sunni brothers would respectfully observe Muharram. We should strive to maintain that level of respect and understanding.” A social media user added, “It’s because people are becoming more liberal and forgetting about religion and its incidents. I remember back in 2010 or earlier, people wouldn’t watch dramas or movies — instead, they would listen to scholars narrating the stories of Karbala. But now, watching movies, dramas, and listening to music has become common.” Another netizen stated, “True. We are moving far away from our ethics, rituals, and values — and as a result, we are gaining nothing.” Read the comments:
