Why did Vasay Chaudhry apologise to Overseas Pakistanis?
After a guest mocked overseas Pakistanis on Mazaaq Raat, host Vasay Chaudhry was forced to apologise.
Model Sara Neelum appeared on the show and made fun of overseas Pakistanis by insinuating that they dressed smart but took on jobs as toilet cleaners abroad.
Adding insult to injury, Chaudhry quipped that upon visiting their home country, they walked around with thousands in their pockets.
Soon enough, the clip went viral and sparked outrage.
Journalist Ihtisham Ul Haq shared the clip and spoke about the contributions that overseas Pakistanis made towards their native homeland.
He said that $31.2 billion was generated in the year 2021-2022, and also acknowledged 6% of doctors from Pakistan were practising their career in the United States as well as the United Kingdom.
These two idiots made fun of the overseas Pakistanis that they clean toilets and then show off over here. This campaign against overseas is just disgusting which must end. Just in 2021-2022, the remittances sent by overseas is $31.2 billions. Out of 21% of the overseas doctors in… pic.twitter.com/Z2by9wyiFl
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) June 20, 2023
Realising the seriousness of the situation, Chaudhry was quick to appear on social media to apologise for his wrongdoing and stated that an official apology would be aired on June 22, 2023.
Chaudhry commented: “I want to publicly apologise on behalf of my whole team at Mazaaq Raat.
“A very stupid, vile, and ridiculous comment was made recently about overseas Pakistanis by one of the guests in our show which was followed up by an attempted joke by one of the comedians (again in bad taste).
“A formal apology will be aired in tonight’s episode. However, I wanted to personally apologise to all the Pakistanis living abroad.
“We love you, even though you might not feel the same at this point, but ‘ghalatiaan apnoo se hee hoti hain’ [mistakes are made by one’s own people].”
Vasay Chaudhry admitted that the remarks made were foolish and offensive.
He went on to reiterate the love and respect that he and his team felt for Pakistanis who live abroad.
I want to publicly apologise on behalf of my whole team at #Mazaqraat ,a very stupid,Vile & ridiculous comment was made recently abt overseas’s Pakistani’s by one of the guests in our show which was followed up by an attmepted joke by one of the comedians(again in bad taste)
— vasay chaudhry (@vasaych) June 20, 2023
Following her remarks, Sara Neelum released an apology video in which she conveyed remorse for the upset that her comments had caused.
She said she was advised not to take anything seriously on the scripted show and that this particular part of the show was supposed to be a jovial segment.
In her video, Neelum said: “I am making this video to clarify a few things.
“It is for my brothers and their families who live overseas. I did Mazaaq Raat a while ago. Two days ago, a video clip went viral, which hurt my overseas brothers.
“This was not my intention at all. I did not mean to hurt you all. You all criticised me but did not try to find the reason behind it at all.
“You all know that Mazaaq Raat is a scripted show.
“I was also told that if you feel offended, it will be a joke, don’t be serious.”
“From the beginning till the end of the video, we’re all joking around. But I did not think what I said would hurt you all this much.
“You’ve all been hurt by me; I am deeply apologetic for it.”
She admitted that she did not expect her comment to cause so much offence.