Azbia Khan has landed in hot water after pictures and a video from her bold photoshoot at the historic Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore went viral, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
The images, which began circulating online earlier this week, drew sharp criticism from netizens who labelled the act ‘insensitive’ and ‘disrespectful’.
The Akbari Gate police have now registered a case against model Azbia Khan and photographer Zain Shah for recording a video on the mosque premises.
The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Mohammad Awais, an official of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), under charges of violating the sanctity of the mosque.
According to the complaint, the model recorded the video in an ‘unreasonable’ dress without securing prior permission from the relevant authority.
The WCLA official alleged that the footage, shot four days ago, not only undermined the sanctity of the mosque but also damaged the department’s reputation once it was uploaded to social media.
The Wazir Khan Mosque, built during the Mughal era in the 17th century, is one of Lahore’s most treasured heritage sites and an active place of worship.
Social media users argued that using such a sacred landmark for fashion and promotional shoots is both culturally inappropriate and religiously offensive. The backlash made the actress, deactivate her Instagram account.
This is not the first time a photoshoot at the mosque has stirred controversy.
In August 2020, actor Saba Qamar and singer Bilal Saeed faced similar backlash when portions of their music video Qubool were filmed inside the Wazir Khan Mosque.
At the time, a case was registered against them for allegedly violating the sanctity of the site, and the mosque manager was suspended after the Punjab Chief Minister took notice.
The Punjab Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department later imposed a ban on filming dramas and music videos inside mosques and shrines.
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Azbia Khan, known for her daring fashion choices and bold social media presence, has yet to issue a statement on the current controversy.
However, the backlash has reignited calls for stricter monitoring of religious and heritage sites to prevent their misuse for publicity stunts.
As the photos and video continue to circulate, netizens are urging the Punjab government and Auqaf Department to implement tougher regulations.