Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar, who was recently seen jamming with veteran Indian screenwriter-lyricist Javed Akhtar in Lahore, has now criticised the latter for his remarks on the neighbouring country.
Javed Akhtar was recently in Lahore to attend a festival organised in memory of the legendary Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
During the festival, Akhtar mentioned that the terrorists involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks have been roaming free on the Pakistani soil, and it has not gone down well with the people of the country, including Ali.
Ali Zafar breaks silence on Javed Akhtar's statements
Following Akhtar's remarks, Ali was at the receiving end of heavy backlash from Pakistanis for catching up with the lyricist and jamming with him.
However, Ali has now clarified that the party had happened before Akhtar attended the Faiz Mela and that he was not aware of the remarks until the next day.
"I am a proud Pakistani and naturally, no Pakistani would appreciate any statement against its country or people specially at an event meant to bring hearts closer than further," Ali wrote on his Instagram story.
He went on to say, "We all know how much Pakistan has suffered and continues to suffer at the hands of terrorism and such insensitive and uncalled for remarks can deeply hurt the sentiments of so many people."
Javed Akhtar's controversial remarks in Pakistan, about Pakistan
While attending the Faiz Mela in Lahore, Akhtar also took potshots at the country for not being welcoming to Indian artists.
He said that Pakistani artists like Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Mehdi Hassan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and others have always been welcomed in India with open arms, but the neighbouring country never organised an event for Lata Mangeshkar.
"So the communication blockade is from both sides and perhaps more from your side," he said.
