Pakistani ad featuring Nargis Fakhri sparks outrage on Twitter

Bollywood actor Nargis Fakhri's advertisement for a cellular-operator Mobilink on the front page of leading Pakistani Urdu newspaper Jang has created a stir on social media with people condeming the ad as "cheap and absurd".

Mobilink (Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited), launched four new 3G enabled phones, and the actor was roped in as the brand ambassador.

On December 17, Nargis had unveiled the teaser on Twitter and asked her Pakistani fans to "get ready for a big surprise":

All my Pakistani Fans get ready for a big surprise! #AaRahaHaiX pic.twitter.com/bSoAxk6mUG

— Nargis (@NargisFakhri) December 17, 2015

Many, including journalists, took to Twitter to express their displeasure over the "obscenity" of the ad that shows Nargis Fakhri lying down in a red dress with a phone in her hand.

Pakistani investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi was the first one to condemn the ad on the micro-blogging site

My strong protest to top jang group management for this absurd front page ad in today's jang. pic.twitter.com/M5SRc1p3H7

— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) December 20, 2015

Others too followed soon.

....you r right, today its front page tomorrow it may be within your column "Kise wakeel karin kis se munsafi chain" https://t.co/BVqVwpbRQx

— Matiullah Jan (@Matiullahjan919) December 20, 2015

And, of course, since it is Twitter, hilarity ensued soon.

Hahahahaha! Mobilink's print-ad featuring Nargis Fakhri has provided us a reason to joke about. pic.twitter.com/YQUJuWxjNK

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) December 21, 2015

#NargisFakhri is inspiring some hilarious expressions from Pakistanis. pic.twitter.com/F4wW4tgwgI

— Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi (@Ali_Abbas_Zaidi) December 21, 2015

#NargisFakhri has done more for #urdu newspaper readership than all media houses combined. Thanks for that pic.twitter.com/eki4KwxiIl

— Pakistan Media Watch (@PakPressWatch) December 20, 2015

I wonder does @NargisFakhri knows she's trending in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/EZbJb9448G

— Nazrana Yousufzai (@NazranaYusufzai) December 21, 2015

Nargis Fakhri ne mujh mein akhbaar parhnay ka jazba jagaya #Confession

— The Knight (@imnasirabbas) December 21, 2015

Some cried discrimination.

Baluchistan discriminated as usual. #NargisFakhri pic.twitter.com/F8DSTHvblB

— Nazrana Yousufzai (@NazranaYusufzai) December 21, 2015