Pakistani TV host Javeria Saud is facing major backlash after sharing a fake photo of Yumna Zaidi during Express Entertainment’s Eid special.
The incident occurred while Saud asked guests to guess Yumna Zaidi. She jokingly described the photo as belonging to an actor who “has been working since the stone age but became a star recently.”
The audience inferred she was referring to Zaidi, but the photo went viral on social media, prompting an immediate denial from Yumna Zaidi.
The controversy deepened after it was revealed that the image actually belonged to a young girl named Faryal Hamid, whose family stated the photo was taken from a public social media account without permission. Faryal’s father, Abdul Fahid Hamid, contacted All Pakistani Drama Page, emphasizing that the misuse of his daughter’s photo amounted to defamation and raised serious safeguarding concerns.
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In a statement, he said:
“My daughter’s name is Faryal Hamid. Her picture was used on the show to mock and disrespect Yumna Zaidi. This is a mistaken, fake, and stolen identity, resulting in defamation of character. Legal action will be taken.”
Social media users have praised Faryal’s father for taking a stand and criticized Saud for her insensitivity. Many are calling on PEMRA to take action against Saud, as well as other hosts like Fiza Ali and Nida Yasir, who have faced similar controversies. The incident has sparked widespread discussions about media ethics, child protection, and celebrity accountability in Pakistan.