A Pakistani model has apologised to the Sikh community after her photos from the Kartarpur Sahib evoked reactions. Sauleha Imtiaz took to Instagram to say that she was sorry for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community.
Sauleha wrote, “Recently I posted a picture on instagram that was NOT EVEN A PART OF SHOOT OR ANYTHING.”
She continued, “I just went to kartarpur to learn about the history and know about the sikh community. It wasnt done to hurt anyone sentiments or anything for that matter. However, if i have hurt anyone or they think that I dont respect there culture/religion. I am Sorry. And I just saw people taking pictures and I took a lot of Sikh pictures too there. I wouldn’t have done it at the first place. (sic)”
The model said that she respected the ‘Sikh culture, religion’ adding that she was ‘sorry to all the Sikh community. (sic)’
“These pictures were just a part of a memory that I went there. Nothing more nothing less. However, in future I will always be more clear about these things and refrain to do so such acts,” she added.
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The controversy erupted on social media after Mannat Clothing shared Sauleha’s photos to promote its brand. Akali leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa tweeted, “Such behaviour & act at pious place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is totally unacceptable! Can she dare to do the same at her religious place in Pakistan? @ImranKhanPTI @GovtofPakistan shd tk immed action to stop this trend of treating Sri Kartarpur Sahib as picnic spot by Pak people.”
Azhar Mashwani, an office-bearer of Pakistan’s ruling party, said that he had informed the concerned authorities to take legal action against the model. He wrote, “Forwarded to concerned authorities for legal action.”
Modelling bareheaded for ladies' attire, in the premises of Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at #KartarpurSahib in Pakistan, by a Lahorite woman, has several hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs. Further the pictures were uploaded on social media.@ImranKhanPTI @MORAisbOfficial pic.twitter.com/i5RX01kWGo
— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ رویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) November 29, 2021
Such behaviour & act at pious place of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is totally unacceptable!
Can she dare to do the same at her religious place in Pakistan?@ImranKhanPTI @GovtofPakistan shd tk immed action to stop this trend of treating Sri Kartarpur Sahib as picnic spot by Pak people pic.twitter.com/AwyIkmqgbC— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 29, 2021
Forwarded to concerned authorities for legal action.@OfficialDPRPP @hasaankhawar
— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) November 29, 2021
Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary tweeted, “The Designer and the model must apologise to Sikh Community #KartarPurSahib is a religious symbol and not a Film set.”