Tabish Hashmi lambasts critic extending rape threats

Fame carries a steep price, and Tabish Hashmi confronted its dark side when his family became a target of rape threats from a critic who accused him 'spreading vulgarity in society.' Tabish dismantled the concept of scapegoating television as the source of societal ills.

In a recent podcast, the quick-witted comedian expressed his disgust at receiving rape threats against his mother, wife, and children from a critic.

Known for his puns and wordplays, Tabish admitted he usually ignores such comments but is dismayed that educated individuals stoop to such disgraceful levels.

"While I refrain from responding to such comments, it deeply disturbs me to witness those preaching morality while threatening my sister with rape threat. Notably, the perpetrator wasn't an illiterate but a university student,” he stated.

Emphasising the dark side of fame, Tabish asserted, "Fame has a cost, and we must tolerate it."

He addressed the common misconception in Pakistan, where TV is frequently unfairly blamed for disseminating vulgarity, urging people to recognise that the issue begins at home.

He questioned the understanding of culture, stating, "People claim 'culture' is degenerating without truly understanding what culture is."

In the podcast, Tabish raised a pertinent question, asking the host where he learned his first cuss word. The host attributed it to friends, prompting Tabish to inquire, "And where did your friends learn it?"

“Certainly not from TV, but from their homes,” he continued.

Tabish highlighted that families, not schools or teachers, play a role in children learning cuss words. He emphasised, “Everyone learns it from their surroundings, not from TV. They witness their fathers cursing their mothers; society, not TV, imparts these lessons.”

Asserting his stance, Tabish Hashmi maintained that Television is not the catalyst for the vulgarity that exists in Pakistani society; rather, it is the pervasive disregard for women's rights and the perpetuation of harmful gender norms that fuel these deplorable acts.