Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi recently created quite a stir after appearing on a podcast hosted by journalist Mansoor Ali Khan. During the conversation, Hamza spoke openly about his views on Imran Khan’s politics and criticized the way Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has handled things in the past. He particularly condemned the protest marches and the events of May 9, calling them “totally wrong.”
Hamza explained that politics should not be treated as a fight between absolute right and absolute wrong. According to him, Imran Khan should have avoided a confrontational approach and instead focused on peaceful dialogue and political solutions. His views sparked immediate backlash, especially from PTI supporters on social media, and led to intense online debates on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Hamza had once been quite active in PTI himself. He even served as PTI’s culture secretary until he resigned in April 2015. At the time, he explained his decision in a Facebook post, saying that his personal values clashed with the demands of his upcoming film work. Even after stepping down, he remained a vocal supporter of the party for years. That’s why many were surprised and disappointed by his recent criticism.
Some users on X shared their frustration, saying they expected political disagreement from Hamza but were shocked by his harsh tone. One comment noted that people like him often claim to have changed but expect everyone else to change in the same way, without understanding others’ perspectives.
In the podcast, Hamza admitted he was genuinely happy when Imran Khan became Prime Minister in 2018 because he had supported that political journey since 2013. However, he also mentioned that his activism ended when Khan assumed office. When asked if Imran Khan’s time in office lived up to expectations, Hamza responded that while some good things did happen—like improved economic activity and foreign relations—things also became deeply polarized, especially after the political confrontation that began in 2022.
Hamza urged everyone to avoid further clashes. He said that there should be no confrontation from any side—not from Imran Khan, the Army, or the ruling parties—because all of them are ultimately part of the same country. He expressed hope for peaceful resolution through dialogue and mutual understanding.
