A front-page ad featuring Bollywood actress and model Nargis Fakhri that appeared across a number of daily newspapers in Pakistan on Sunday has sparked a social media backlash, The Express Tribune first reported.
The ad, for Pakistan mobile carrier Mobilink, depicted Fakhri in a long-sleeved red dress, lying down, holding a smartphone in one hand, while the other rested on her hair.
However, some Twitter users - including prominent journalist Ansar Abbasi, the investigations editor at The News - complained the ad was "absurd" and "shameful," presumably for Mobilink's choice to use a beautiful woman to help sell its phones.
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, 2015This is shameful. For those using a (photo shopped) woman as a tool to sell phones. And the seths 4 printing it. pic.twitter.com/ipvLTwqMWi
- Sana Bucha (@sanabucha) December 20, 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, 2015Woke up to find every 2nd person on my T/L tweeting that Nargis Fakhri front page ad. Offensive or not, advertiser's mission accomplished
- Talat Aslam (@titojourno) December 20, 2015cud've used a talent like @NargisFakhri in a much better way,@Mobilink's TOM / TRPs objectives still achieved!#makingnewspapersrelevantagain
- Aleem Qadeer (@aleemqadeer) December 20, 2015Nargis Fakhri is still trending.Mobilink marketing manager must be going crazy in delight
- Naveed Nadeem (@NaveedNadeem007) December 20, 2015#ShukriyaNargisFakhri Nargis Farkhri once again u r trending in social media wit love & hate speeches@NargisFakhri pic.twitter.com/IAvmYLxBku
- Mirza Fawaz Baig (@arabianbrat) December 20, 2015