ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the Pakistani TV drama “Hadsa,” which received strong criticism for its portrayal of the motorway rape case. The ban is a result of public outrage and raised sentiments over the drama’s content and its potential impact.
PEMRA issued a notification to immediately ban the broadcast of the drama. Concerns about potentially triggering trauma for the victim of the actual incident influenced the decision to ban the drama. Besides this, it can negatively affect Pakistan’s image, potentially portraying the country as unsafe for women.
The authority also noted that the story of the drama was inappropriate and disturbing, not accurately depicting Pakistani society.
Hadiqa Kiani, who played the lead role in the drama, denied claims that the story of “Hadsa” was related to the 2020 motorway rape incident. She clarified that after reading the script and engaging in conversations with the team, she realized that the drama was not related to the real-life incident.
The ban on “Hadsa” reflects the sensitivities surrounding the portrayal of such serious and traumatic events in the media, especially when they involve real-life incidents that have deeply affected society.
