Actress Saheefa Jabbar Khattak faces online backlash after saying she prefers Pathan workers over Punjabi and Urdu-speaking staff, claiming her words were taken out of context.
In a video shared on Instagram, Khattak discussed the challenges she has faced while recruiting employees for her Lahore based cafe.
In the clip, she said she wanted “honest” workers and expressed a preference for Pathan (Pashtun) men, stating that she “does not trust Punjabi and Urdu speaking people anymore.”
The comments quickly sparked a fierce backlash on social platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), with many users criticising the actress for what they described as stereotyping and discriminatory language. Critics argue that generalising entire ethnic or linguistic groups based on personal experience is unfair and divisive.
In her recent story that her words taken out of context or misconstrued can still be hurtful, she has reached a point in life where public judgment no longer affects her, and she chooses to focus on what truly matters to her.
Other social media users defended her right to share her personal views, suggesting that her comments reflect her own experiences and hiring challenges rather than broader judgments. However, many voices online stressed that public figures should be cautious when discussing sensitive topics like ethnicity and recruitment.
The controversy has ignited a wider debate about workplace diversity, ethnic stereotyping and the responsibility of celebrities when speaking to large audiences, with some commenters calling for boycotts of her business while others urged a more nuanced conversation.
As the debate continues to trend online, Saheefa Jabbar Khattak’s statements serve as a reminder of how quickly social media reactions can shape public discourse around identity, hiring practices and influencer accountability.