Mentorship Programme Attaullah Tarar Calls for Industry Reforms After Syed Mohammed Ahmed Row

Mentorship Programme has become the focus of proposed reforms after Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar condemned the reported mistreatment of veteran actor Syed Mohammed Ahmed on the set of a television drama.

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In a post on X, Tarar described the reported incident as “highly deplorable.” He said the controversy highlighted the need to promote respect for senior artists and improve professional standards across Pakistan’s entertainment industry.

The minister proposed creating a mentorship programme or advisory council led by experienced actors, including Syed Mohammed Ahmed. He said senior artists could guide emerging performers and help build a healthier and more respectful working environment.

Tarar also announced plans to meet television actors and industry representatives in the coming days. He said the discussion would focus on practical measures to improve workplace culture and encourage professionalism on production sets.

The controversy began after Syed Mohammed Ahmed recalled an unpleasant experience during a recent podcast. He alleged that a younger lead actor humiliated him while they were working together on a television drama.

Although the veteran actor did not identify anyone by name, social media users speculated that he was referring to actor Fahad Sheikh. Soon afterward, older videos featuring both actors spread widely across social media platforms.

Fahad Sheikh rejected claims that he had intentionally disrespected the veteran actor. He said the viral videos presented only part of the incident and created a misleading impression.

The actor also revealed that he had already apologised to Syed Mohammed Ahmed privately before the controversy became public. He later repeated his apology publicly and reaffirmed his respect for senior members of Pakistan’s entertainment industry.