Tarar steps into Mohammed Ahmed controversy with a new proposal
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has entered the controversy involving veteran actor Mohammed Ahmed and called the reported treatment on a drama set deeply unacceptable.
Tarar said the treatment Ahmed reportedly faced was “not only condemnable but highly deplorable.” He also suggested creating a formal system where experienced actors could guide younger artists.
The proposal came after a video from a drama set spread widely on social media and triggered a debate about respect between senior and younger members of Pakistan’s television industry.
What happend with Muhammad Ahmed saheb, Senior TV Artist on the set of a drama serial is not only condemnable but highly deplorable. I would like to offer a solution in the form of a mentorship program for young tv artists headed by senior tv artists like Ahmed sb or a council on…
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) July 30, 2026
In a post on X, Tarar suggested establishing a mentorship programme for young television artists.
He proposed that senior actors such as Mohammed Ahmed could lead the programme and share their experience with newcomers entering the industry.
Tarar also suggested creating a council with a similar purpose if a formal mentorship programme is not considered practical.
The minister said he would call a meeting of television artists to discuss the proposal and collect suggestions from people working in the industry.
The idea could offer a structured way for senior performers to advise younger artists about professional behaviour, workplace relationships and the responsibilities that come with working in television.
It also shifts some attention from the immediate controversy toward a broader discussion about working culture within Pakistan’s entertainment industry.
How the controversy started
The dispute gained attention after Ahmed spoke about an alleged incident involving a younger actor during an interview on Sheeba Khan’s Dareecha podcast.
Ahmed said he had been mocked in a green room by an actor who was around four decades younger than him.
According to Ahmed, the actor, who was the lead performer in the drama, raised his voice in front of others and made comments about Ahmed’s acting ability.
Ahmed said the younger actor referred to having assessed his acting skills earlier in their professional relationship before deciding that he was capable enough for a role.
The veteran actor also described another incident involving a small portable fan on the drama set.
Video brings fresh attention
Ahmed said the younger actor took a portable fan from another colleague and held it near his hair as though he were drying or styling it.
He said the actor announced loudly to people on the set that he was styling him.
Ahmed explained that he did not react strongly at the time because incidents on drama sets can easily be recorded and later shared without their full context.
A video that later circulated online appeared to show an incident involving Ahmed and actor Fahad Sheikh.
The footage showed Sheikh and other cast members laughing while Ahmed was filmed with a small handheld fan pointed toward his hair.
The video quickly became part of the public discussion because it appeared similar to the incident Ahmed had described during his podcast interview.
However, the footage and the surrounding circumstances have been interpreted differently by people involved in the controversy.
Fahad Sheikh rejects bullying claims
Fahad Sheikh later responded to the criticism through a series of Instagram stories.
He argued that viewing a short video without its wider context could create a misleading impression about what happened on the set.
Sheikh described the cast and crew environment as close-knit, saying people working together often joke, eat together and discuss their personal concerns.
He said he had worked with Ahmed on several projects and that their relationship had included friendly jokes and banter over the years.
Sheikh maintained that he did not realise his joke had made Ahmed feel uncomfortable or could be viewed as bullying.
He also said he had already apologised to Ahmed before the video became widely known online.
Sheikh added that he was willing to apologise publicly again because Ahmed is a senior actor whom he respects.
He said he would never intentionally want to disrespect someone senior to him.
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Actors support Mohammed Ahmed
Several well-known figures from Pakistan’s entertainment industry publicly supported Ahmed after his account became known.
Actors including Faysal Quraishi and Shamoon Abbasi urged the unnamed younger actor to identify himself and apologise to Ahmed.
Their reactions showed that the controversy was not limited to social media users.
It also created discussion among members of the television industry about how senior performers should be treated and whether informal jokes can sometimes cross professional boundaries.
The debate has also focused on the difference between friendly interaction and behaviour that may make another person uncomfortable.
