Aina Asif, Abu Al Hassan face backlash over Namaz and depression statement

KARACHI: Rising Pakistani stars Aina Asif and Abu Al Hassan recently made headlines—not for her acting, but for her candid views on mental health and religion.

While promoting her upcoming drama projects "Jurwaan" and "Parwarish" on a morning show alongside fellow actor Abu Al Hassan, Aina engaged in a heartfelt discussion on depression, emotional support, and religious sensitivity.

A clip from the show went viral across social media, igniting both praise and controversy.

During the conversation, Aina said: “Sometimes doctors fail to offer real guidance and instead quickly say, ‘Just pray.’ I believe in the importance of prayer, but someone in deep depression needs emotional and psychological support too.”

Read more: "Don't just pray:" Saheefa Jabbar asks fans to seek medical help for depression

Abu Al Hassan echoed her thoughts, adding, “We must understand that not every problem is solved by prayer alone. God gave us intellect—and there's no shame in seeking help from mental health professionals.”

The remarks sparked a fierce online debate.

While many users appreciated the actors for highlighting the often-stigmatized issue of mental health, others criticized them for speaking on religious matters, arguing that actors are not qualified to offer Islamic guidance.