Wait! She's actually selling a phone: Front-page ad with actress Nargis Fakhri sparks ire in Pakistan

On Monday, readers of Pakistan's Jang newspaper woke up to Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri sprawled across the front page in an advertisement for the Jazz X smartphone. It didn't take long for many to decide that they didn't approve of it.

Pakistani investigative journalist Ansar Abbasi was one of the first to express his disapproval on microblogging website Twitter.

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 followed soon.

#Mobilink #Ad seems deliberate #marketing attempt to involve even the most ignorant 2 take notice #NargisFakhri — Kaptain Mirza (@kaptainmirza) December 21, 2015

 

@AnsarAAbbasi why newspapers are trying to be like playboy or weekend type of magazine ?? These kind o adds look good in magazine not on NP — Muhammed Amer (@amerdxb1) December 20, 2015

 

@AnsarAAbbasi didn't expect such absurd advertisement on its front page from a serious newspaper

— Usman Ali (@uzzithelofty) December 20, 2015

 

@AnsarAAbbasi Who approved this, should b aware of Pakistani culture & society dynamics!

— Dr Nadia Khan (@nadiakhaan) December 20, 2015

Meanwhile, as always, there were those who chose to see the humour in the fact that nobody seems to care about what the ad was for.

A moment to appreciate all those who realised that Nargis is holding a phone in that advertisement.

— Mahnoor Ahmed (@MahnooriAhmed) December 20, 2015

 

Jazz X to Nargis Fakhri : Excuse me mam this was meant to be about me. Now it's all about you

— Yasar Umer (@YasarUmer) December 20, 2015

 

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

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