Soon after the launch of Pakistan Idol Season 2, the show stirred a major controversy involving its judges — Fawad Khan, Zeb Bangash, Bilal Maqsood, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Many questioned the credibility of the Pakistan Idol judging panel. Initially, social media users criticized the selection of judges, a sentiment later echoed by singer Humaira Arshad. Now, senior Pakistani journalist Naeem Hanif has also expressed his disapproval of the panel.
In his podcast on RNN News, Naeem Hanif criticized the Pakistan Idol judges, stating that Bilal Maqsood, Zeb Bangash, and Fawad Khan are not suitable choices for the judging panel.
Talking about the judges, Naeem Hanif said, “All the people other than Rahat Fateh Ali Khan can’t be called judges. Even if any of them are doing music, that won’t make them eligible to judge others. They are not right for the seat. Yes, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan can get a margin to judge an upcoming singer. There is also an objectionable thing that he is being given a side seat; he must be better given a main spot and the other members after rating the singers, should refer the singer to him for the final decision, if you have to go with the same jury. He should be treated there like a King. There is a member from Karachi who was in the musical band, I have heard he has done music but Fawad Khan as judge is questionable. I have heard, he has done music with Ahmed Ali Butt. Being Madam Noor Jahan nawasa doesn’t make you a good singer. Fawad Khan and Ahmed will be more or less similar kind of singers if they had been part of a band. About Fawad Khan, the criticism is he should judge acting auditions.”
