Instagram accounts of Pakistani artists Mawra Hocane, Saba Qamar visible in India amid Diljit Dosanjh-Hania Aamir controversy; YouTube channels accessible again

Indian Express

3 days ago

After the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 Indians, the Indian government imposed a complete ban on Pakistani artists across media. The social media accounts of several Pakistani celebrities were banned in the country. While none of their accounts were accessible in India, it seems like Mawra Hocane and Saba Qamar's accounts are now visible for Indian users. On Tuesday, several Instagram users reported being able to view their profiles.
The accessibility of the their account in India made users check the profile of other Pakistani celebs like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam. Their accounts, however, remain inaccessible for people in India.
Many took to their X accounts to share screenshots of these profiles. A user shared a screenshot of Mawra's Instagram post and wrote, 'Is it only me who can see Mawra Hocane's Instagram profile?' Another user shared, 'Instagram access to several Pakistani artists in India has been restored. Among them: Yumna Zaidi, Ahad Raza Mir, Dananeer Mobeen, Mawra Hocane and more.' The user also claimed that YouTube channels of Hum TV, ARY Digital and Har Pal Geo is also back.
The ban on pak actors nd handles has started getting uplifted
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Screenshots of these accounts were also shared on Reddit, where people offered support to singer Diljit Dosanjh, who has been under fire for featuring a Pakistani actor in his latest movie, Sardaar Ji 3. A user wrote, 'Aur log Diljit ko keh rahe the.' Another user curiously asked, 'This means Diljit and Hania movie is releasing in India?'
Mawra had become a target of severe backlash when she criticised India's Operation Sindoor in a social media post. She called it, 'cowardly.' The operation resulted in the destruction of nine terror camps and significant losses for terrorist organisations and their sponsors.
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Her remark didn't go down well with Indians. Post her statement, her Indian Sanam Teri Kasam co-star Harshvardhan Rane took to social media to claim that he won't star in Sanam Teri Kasam 2 if she's a part of it. He took to his Instagram Stories and wrote, 'While I am grateful for the experience, however, as things stand, and after reading the direct comments made about my country, I have made a decision to respectfully decline to be a part of Sanam Teri Kasam Part 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated.'
Later, the directors of the film, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru confirmed that Mawra is definitely not a part of the sequel.
Apart from Mawra Hocane, actors Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan too were criticised for their support for the terror attack. Hania Aamir is still in news for her casting in Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaar Ji 3. Due to the terror attack, the film didn't release in India. However, it has become a box-office hit overseas.