Khaqan Shahnawaz apologizes after mocking Ali Abdullah’s speech

Khaqan Shahnawaz issued a public apology on Tuesday after he mocked content creator Ali Abdullah over his speech. The controversy began when Shahnawaz criticised Abdullah’s remarks during a Ramazan transmission. However, the situation escalated after the actor posted a video that targeted Abdullah’s way of speaking.

Later, Shahnawaz clarified that he did not know Abdullah had a speech impediment. He said he removed the video once he learned about it. “I didn’t know Ali Abdullah suffered from a speech impediment,” he stated. He also apologised for any hurt his words may have caused.

At the same time, the actor defended his initial criticism. He argued that Abdullah’s jokes during the Ramazan show crossed a line. According to Shahnawaz, making fun of someone’s financial condition or referencing menstruation on national television felt inappropriate.

The controversy traces back to February 25. Abdullah appeared on Piyara Ramzan on Express TV. During the segment, host Javeria Saud asked him to comment on several TikTok clips.

One clip featured TikTok creator Jawad World parodying a diner who complains during sehri. In response, Abdullah joked about the food shown in the video. He commented that the “day-old taftan” warmed with water would help neither health nor algorithm. He then added a remark implying that Jawad would keep experiencing “special days,” a euphemism for menstruation. The comment made the host laugh on air.

Soon after, Shahnawaz reacted strongly. He posted a video mocking Abdullah’s accent. “When your own face is like a taftan, it doesn’t suit you to say these things,” he said. He further told Abdullah that he was “in no position” to mock how others live or look.

Moreover, Shahnawaz spoke about the influence of social media. He described it as dangerous and said it often goes to people’s heads. He reminded viewers that everyone creates content that someone else may dislike. “What you are feeling watching his videos, I feel when I watch your videos… and somebody feels the same watching my videos,” he said. He also advised Abdullah to stay humble to avoid criticism.

However, many social media users criticised Shahnawaz instead. They pointed out that Abdullah has a speech impediment and said mocking it was insensitive. As a result, backlash quickly spread online.

Actor Sabeena Farooq also weighed in. She said Abdullah’s humour represents his specific comedy style. Furthermore, she described Shahnawaz’s comments as “wrong on so many levels.”

The incident has sparked a wider conversation about comedy, criticism, and respect. While Shahnawaz has apologised for mocking Abdullah’s speech, debate continues over the boundaries of humour on national television and social media platforms.

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