Mikaal Zulfiqar, an actor, caused a stir when he admitted that he is "half Pakistani and half white." The actor said in a recent interview that his mother is British and Russian while his father is Pakistani, referring to himself as "main aadha gora tha or aadha Pakistani hoon" (I am half white and half Pakistani).
The disclosure sparked a contentious discussion on social media, as many people questioned Zulfiqar's allegiance to Pakistan and his assertion that he represented the nation's entertainment sector. He has been criticised by some of projecting an aristocratic, westernised image and of being detached from the difficulties of the typical Pakistani.
Since then, Zulfiqar has defended himself on social media, saying that it is better to appreciate his mixed heritage than to criticise it.
He has also emphasised how proud he is to be Pakistani and how determined he is to uphold that dedication in the entertainment sector.
Even then, there has been a growing backlash to Zulfiqar's remarks, with some advocating for a boycott of his next ventures and others defending his freedom to identify whichever he pleases.