Protest Against Telenor’s khamoshi Ka Boycott TVCs

DSCN1456People of Multan are on the roll. Being always the first in any kind of resistance, NGOs and public in Multan staged a protest in front of Multan Press Club against Telenor’s “Khamoshi ka Boycott” TVCs.

The protest, on Sunday, was called by various NGO’s including Naveed Sehar Foundation, Save Future of the Child Organization, Young Pakistanis Organization, Rabita Pakistan Pasiban.

Protestors were holding banners to show their displeasure for Telenor’s “Kahmoshi ka Boycott” TVCs.

Senior officials of above mentioned NGO’s said that Telenor’s TVCs are not only spreading despair amongst Pakistanis but they are also negatively showing the culture of Pakistan which is hampering the image of the country.

They said that Telenor is presenting Pakistan’s culture in worst possible manner just for the sake of their marketing and subscriber count.

They said that gender discrimination and harassment is a global phenomenon. “While the ratio of sexual harassment incidents in Pakistan is way lower than other countries, Telenor is misrepresenting the facts just to spoil Pakistan’s image”, said a protestor.

“Telenor is trying to portray that due to gender discrimination, people don’t allow their sisters, daughters to work or to get education, which is not the case in real”, he added.

Protestors demanded Telenor to immediately stop airing these TVCs or these protests will be taken to next level.

Protestors demanded PTA to devise a policy for cellular company, so that national interest, national integrity and culture is not compromised in future TVCs from cellular companies.

Telenor Pakistan is airing a series of TVCs in which they are asking for the public opinion about various issues including:

  • Booti Culture
  • Parchi System
  • Aurton ki Izzat (Women’s respect)

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • yar mera bas chaley tu Telenor ko apnay country se bahar nikal do ,aur jab telenor ka flurt advertisment aya hai main tu nafrat karney laga hoon telenor se ,itnay barey “MUAFIQ” hai ye khud burai dekha k bol rahay hain khamoshi k boycott,salay hamari awaam ko bewakoof bana rahay hain

    • Yes, i am also not liking more Telenor. They dont respect our culture and pakistani nation. They think that we are the most illeterate nation of the world. Kabhi ‘karo mumkin show’ or kabhi ‘khamoshi ka boycott’. whats the hell going on….

      • Mr. can you explain what is our culture ? does our culture allow us to show dance shows, or romantic ads or valentne celebration, dance parties ???

        If by chance someone raise the voice against social issues WHICH ARE there in our society, all of a sudden simply hopeless immature people stand up because they are the one who are doing those acts themselves too.

      • Does our culture permit drinking alcohol? Breweries are earning and thriving in Pakistan. Does our culture allow prostitution? Brothels are packed with underage girls that are forced to sell themselves and a male population that enjoys visiting these places. Do our cultural beliefs teach us to kill one another in the name of politics? Everyday youths are killing and being killed, universities and colleges are being used as recruitment centers for political parties. The answer to all of these questions is NO, but we do it anyways. Telenor is just trying to bring about social reforms on a micro scale and we want to criticize them!

  • These senior officials of the NGOs should be asked how else do they think this garbage will lessen? Did they ever put up protests against the Booti Culture Parchi System and Girls respect in society; rather than doing that they want to press a good cause since for a long time they had nothing to do so why not.

    Media broke the wrong things into our customs and now through media this will get a repairing. What comes around, goes around.

    You think Pakistan’s picture is otherwise very charming in the minds of west? These people haven’t gotten out of Multan and planning to set an opinion on national image in the eyes of international community.

    I think these are competition paid protests. Initially like their main competition paid different parties to create havoc in Telenor launch days by associating Norway connection the same way they are busy trying to de-image their campaign which is builidng up in youth circles.

  • There has been enough of self-condemnation, “Pakistan mai sab chalta hai” wali line, Telenor shouldn’t add to this anymore. Problems are known to everyone, improve rather condemn and condemn.

    Image of the country must be respected, many countries whatever bad they have are always concerned about the image that world would see. These issues which Telenor is pointing at aren’t only in Pakistan but a few are at worst in developed countries. Read following news which addresses two of the above issues which shows image of developed countries:

    1- When it comes to respect of women, ICANN has devised a way to legalize business of some Domain names which was always known as immoral. We all know who is victim of this business.

    2- A recent survey to see plagiarism in UK universities shows they are also progressing in this field too (just an example).

    • Tell me one thing: if we don’t examine our social problems, how can we fix them? How can we even know how wide spread they are?

      Hiding everything doesn’t help anyone.

      As to your news items, they have nothing to do with Pakistan. Ignore them. Concentrate on what is important to us. We live in Pakistan, shouldn’t we care about our environment? I’m not talking only about our social issues, I’m talking about everything.

      Lastly, why is it okay for you or someone else to sit with friends and gup about Pakistan’s problems, but it is NOT okay for someone to do it on TV? When Telenor does it, does that make it worse??

  • I think Telenor Pakistan’s CMO should take the responsibility of these useless, copy cat and meaningless ads and resign.
    It was certainly a very bad effort from Telenor Paksitan.

        • Again, it depends, :) It depends on what kind of Framework you are using.

          A Muslim (Real Muslims not pseudo )uses Quran and Sahih Hadeeth to determine what’s offensive and what’s not.

          Some people use Culture as Framework.

          E.g. It’s a taboo for most Pakistanis if a Girl proposes or wants to have a say in her Marriage. Most brothers or Fathers will be offended by such act. These Pakistanis are using Culture as Framework to determine if something is offensive or not.

          A Muslim will have no problem with Women having a say in here marriage. As a matter of fact according to sahih Hadeeth Marraige Contract is INVALID if Man AND Women don’t have consent. Prophet peace be upon him cancelled marriage of a women who said that her father forced her marriage.

          A Pakistan will be offended if women (mother, sister etc) ask for their share in parent’s wealth while a Muslim will have no problem giving here due share.

  • Iyana dakhya tu bura maan Gaya!
    They want what ever we do, we should advertise ourselves as very innocent and well mannered people. Please stop this Hippocratic behavior.
    In my university there are many student organizations who often protest against fee increase, degree recognition, and many other issues. But they never protested against cheating.

      • Are you the one who thinks that people like you don’t get Hurt by ANYTHNG, like you are THE MAN because you don’t get hurt?

        Who are you fooling? Only yourself.

        • I am not hurt by Telenor’s ad. How can anyone be personally affected by it? Did Telenor kick your pet? Break your windows? Insult your family? What did they do?

          I don’t understand all this fake shame.

          • Again, it’s fake shame for you but real shame for someone else.

            Try to come out of yourself and see from others perspective.

            Try launching same kind of Ads in India or most and you’ll know how they take it. They will most likely attack the company office. Their gov will ban them from India.

            Because their Mother (Country) is an extension of themselves (SELF) they will NOT take BS for their country no matter how factual that BS is.

            I guess that’s the same here (although we are no where near as patriotic as Indians). These ads may not personally offend most of us but they do depict Pakistanis as cheaters, perverts and much more.

            I am not saying most of our nation is not all those things but most countries won’t allow anyone to market their nation as such.

            We should work on our negatives but should not mass market our negatives to the world.

            • — Try to come out of yourself and see from others perspective.

              So explain your perspective. I have asked: how are you affected by the ad?

              — Try launching same kind of Ads in India or most and you’ll know how they take it.

              I’m not Indian so why should I care about how they view ads? Please restrict yourself to Pakistan and Pakistani culture and ads hhere. This issue isn’t about anyone else.

              — These ads may not personally offend most of us but they do depict Pakistanis as cheaters, perverts and much more.

              Have you read a newspaper ever?? Every day there are reports of murder, robberies, rapes. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Now, you think the newspapers are lying and presenting a false picture of Pakistan? THEY ONLY PRESENT SUCH EVENTS AS THEY OCCUR.
              Same with the ads. SO, why offended by ads but not news?

              — I am not saying most of our nation is not all those things but most countries won’t allow anyone to market their nation as such.

              Hardly true. Go to youtube and search for “PSA” for many countries. Public Service Announcements. They are many against drugs, against sexual violence, against domestic violence. THESE ADS ARE ON TV IN MOST COUNTRIES. What is special about Pakistan that we can’t have that on TV?

              Are Telenor Pakistan’s ads marketed or viewable OUTSIDE Pakistan? Are they on CNN or BBC and viewable from places like Saudi Arabia on Saudi TV or Tajikistan? NO! They are marketed to us ALONE. So, your point about mass marketing to the world is also irrelevant: it doesn’t happen.

    • o bhai such karway ki baat nahi… baat hay samjnay ki… tum socho pahlay kya hum sub loog jahil hain…. One company with Two faces. this is the bottom line my dear.

      • They need to sell their product aur han Telenor galat be hota hai but this time they are true and 100% valid.

        • vse kia telenor ma parchi ne chalti….ple kud so sudharo dn dosro ko kahne k kabil bano ge

    • I agree such karwa hai, but ask them to do an ad campaign in their home country on Increasing Rape cases. Women are just becoming things, will Telenor make on ad on that? I don’t think so.

  • We need to improve upon ourselves. Whether the percentage of mentioned activities is lesser than other countries, still it is a problem in Pakistan.

    I agree with the idea of “Khamoshi ka boycott” and I suggest that Telenor should include more issues as well. Its for general awareness/awakening :)

  • agar aap ko ye adds buray lag rahay hain to pehlay news channels daikhain, har roz taqreeban koi na koi aisi new ya to news channels per aarahi hoti hain ya news papers may k fala area may fala shaks ne fala larki ya masoom bachi k saath ziadti ki hai or baaz ko to ziadti k baad qatal kar diya jata hai, jab hum parents bacho k saath beth kar new channels per ye dekh rahay hotay hain to bachay puh letay hain k papa ye ziadti kya hoti hai? ab kya hum apnay bacho ko ye lesson dain k ziadti kya hoti hai? aap log tab to koi protest nahi kartay……..

    aakhir kyu?
    kya aap log milay huay hain unse?

  • one cant watch these telenor ads with family. they are now becoming more like family planning ads where we had to switch channels or mute them at least.

    • Family planning ads are you serious man?
      Ese ad main kia hai jo tum family k saath nahi dekh sakte?

      • May be his values are different than yours. Respect him for that and he will respect yours. That’s the only way we can live.

        It’s just red color is dangerous for us but a blessing for Chinese. See the what I am saying?

  • Dont know why are you guys against Telenor and do hell with these Multani protestors.Jab sab kch hochuka hota hai tab hum log protest karte hai.Raymond nikal bhi gaya kabka aur ab protest kar rahe hai ab kia woh khud ayega tum log k paas?
    Rahi baat telenor ki Sprite jo dikha raha hai ose pe ye log q protest nahi karte aur jab Jazz ne valentine offer dia tha what was that?
    Hum logo ko ghussa is lye araha hai k hum log khud ese sab main involved hai in someway.Media is free now Pehle log Geo k peeche they k why are they showing the truth of the country aur ab telenor k peeche.
    Agar telenor ne ye sab kuch kiya hai to ose ko esa k solution bhi dena hoga so we have to wait for that.

  • Running these ads on private channel is somewhat ok but getting them aired on PTV is condemned.

    PTV reaches to the rural and less liberal people of Pakistan who may feel uncomfortable watching these ads with family

    • and you think they feel great when other ads show romance and valentine offers, come on. give some logic

  • Telenor is devastated due to this anti-telenor sentiment in the public. management is considering various options to tackle this. But nothing has been finalized so far.

    Taking ads off-air is not in options as of yet.

      • If some people don’t mind the ads but others do, it’s subjective so why should they be fired?

  • According to survey reports, Rape incidents in Norway increased by 13% but this Norwegian operator is “KHAMOSH” in its own country.

    We should all boycott Telenor & protest against this company for portraying negative image of Pakistan.

  • we are so called indenpendent state and our media MashaALLAH is free but currently they are more focused on our Politician and state affairs, they have to work on such subject and issues which prevailed in any socity. we are not the only one who are suffering from such problems, black sheep’s and black wholes are common when it comes to lower or Initial level. its a time to restructure our own deeds.
    hope for the best.

  • What about Nokia guys who r showing silly ad exploiting young girls n boys in the name of social networking?

  • aik to mujhe yeh Telenor ke phuphi ke putaron kee samajh nahin aatee…
    Oye bhains kee dum just think about the country image… Have you ever seen india portraying negativity about its society… point out how many incidents in Indian society taboos are portrayed over media… you can see lots of movies and documentaries but not on air…
    name any other country that portrays and allows social negativity in the name of marketing campaign…
    ruk is liye raha hoon ke ab jo likhoon ga woh aamir kaat de ga…

    • Very well said. While I don’t say that we should not do something about negatives of our society but you’re are right. Most countries(who have positive perception due to media/Marketing)DON’T publish anything about negatives in their country most of the time.

      • COMPLETELY NOT TRUE!!!

        Do you think most of the news items in the media that are Against the US and UK are published in other countries? NO! THEY ARE PUBLISHED IN THEIR OWN MEDIA! Read http://www.guardian.co.uk/ or http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ or http://www.fair.org/index.php or http://www.npr.org/ for some examples. (note: npr is like PTV — owned and run BY THE GOVERNMENT and it is sometimes very critical of their OWN policies)

        For every single news article you read against the UK, you can find TEN OR MORE in their OWN news magazines, their own nwespapers, their own tv channels. They even have a public advertisement watchdog see http://www.asa.org.uk/

        They do all this openly. We are humilated and shamed when someone does it for us.

        Again, I ask: why is it okay for you to gup about things with friends but not for an ad to say the same on tv ?

        • I stand corrected partially. UK and some other countries do let these things on air but in a controlled manner.

          Telenor never launched same kind of campaign in their home country where Rape has increased several folds.

          Other countries do talk about negatives but don’t do it in the same way.

          When you take India then my opinion holds true, they don’t allow anything that shows India negative.

          Dany boyl’s movie was not well received by large mass in India because of same reason.

          • — Telenor never launched same kind of campaign in their home country where Rape has increased several folds.

            Again, where does this “fact” come from? Norway’s own police statistics say rape is DOWN not UP. See my other comment.

            Also, did you know that many of the rapes are by immigrants in Norway, and not by Norway people themselves? Think about that.

            — Dany boyl’s movie was not well received by large mass in India because of same reason.

            The movie was based on a book written by an Indian diplomat. Did they masses burn the book?? Did they kill the diplomat or burn the publisher? NO. Indians look reasonable now.

  • I am ready to join this protest if these people first join me in a protest about
    1. Mismanagement of the economy – high interest rates, high inflation. We need to convince the government to stop borrowing so much and reducing its budget deficit
    2. Corruption at all levels
    3. Womens rights. Can a woman’s witness testimony finally equal that of one man’s.

    As I said, I’m ready to protest this crazy campaign by Telenor but please first join me.

    • @Gostam: I agree that all your concerns and points are valid here but since this is the blog of technical blog, we cannot discuss other social issues.
      Agar kisi ne economy, corruption ya women rights par likha aur us par Aamir ne koi article likh dia to people here will say that propakistani has crossed its boundaries. We are all discussing something that was caused due to telecom sector or 1 operator. I think we should all learn to remain to the point.

  • Though Telenor is running this campaign just for the sake of minting business. KHAMOSHI KA BOYCOTT is Telenor’s new “Product”. That’s it.

    However, the fact they are showing in TVcs are unfortunately bold truth.

    Never mind if it is coming from an Overseas Cellphone Company. After all when we are bearing Drone attacks, Bomb Blasts (supervised and engineered by Americans) and can let go Raymond Davis without accounting him for his espionage activities in Pakistan what harm this truth will make which are being TVCs by Telenor. After all their aim is to make us a Good Nation.

  • let’s join hands together to PROTEST against Telenor’s attempt to disgrace image of Pakistan. Friday, 25th March @ 3:00 pm in front of Telenor Head Office, F 7 Islamabad.

    We are United for Pakistan.

    • I suppose the millions of Pakistanis that don’t show up at your “protest” are not united for Pakistan?? Hah

  • Not only Telenor but whole paki media is involved in presenting Pakistan’s culture in worst possible manner just for the sake of their marketing, money, subscriber count and may be to keep some western powers happy.

  • cheating, stalking, abusive behaviour … .you call it culture?? as you have written

    “they are also negatively showing the culture of Pakistan which is hampering the image of the country.”…

    • Telenor has spread our image negatively. Why they did not run campaign in Norway or other countries especially in India (uninor)

  • Meri sab se request hai plzz khud bhi telenor use na karein aur apnay janney walon se bhi kahin wo telenor use na karein .Telenor ney flurt promotion ad dekhaya hai jo hamari family values aur culter k bilkul against hai.mujey tu lagta hai in ka AGENDA hi yahi hai.is liye plzz telenor ka BOYCOTT karein sab.

  • I think this is the responsibility of our TV channels not to play such types of commercials. But our TV channels are working against Pakistan.

  • That is what I used to say while watching one of Telenor’s TVC on (Aurton ki Izzat), that gender discrimination and harassment is a global phenomenon. “While the ratio of sexual harassment incidents in Pakistan is way lower than other countries, Telenor is misrepresenting the facts just to spoil Pakistan’s image”. While at home I also said that Pakistani people will raise their voices once again.

    Good to see that there some people who show the facts of Pakistani culture, and defeat it.

  • I’m Multani and, I’m not against these ads, They are fit against Booti Culture…

    I know, A person, foold me make against me the wrong case in my papers, A Student use booti hisself and he stuch it within my chair……

    ProPakistani, I’m not against these ads.

  • SUch a Non sense … these ppl were enjoying dining in and lunches when the protest was going on against raymond davis case, and they woke up against a CSR activity.

    Such a NON SENSE … hopeless ppl

  • I read all the comments of people ,,, and the most depressing is .. “How much pessimist we are?”… sad but true.

    we always rush to find negative impact of everything but we willnever find any positive impact.

    in logon ko inke haal per he chorh do … jahilon k sath sir dewar main nahi mara jata ..

  • Fellows. Blinding yourself from real life situations is one trait which is displayed by cowards. I believe unless you raise your voice about something and stop saying “sab acha hey”, only then you rise above. It is very convenient to criticize everyone sitting in your comfortable couches.

    I being a female strongly back up Telenor for at least being the first to raise issues which are right there in our society. Ask a female who drives in a posh area of Lahore at 7:00 pm and gets mentally harrassed by a Pajero with PPP flag on it, right beside a policeman standing. I am quoting ONLY AND ONLY one of the examples of everyday instances we read in newspapers and this has personally happened to me.

    These are the people who have access to media. If and only if they start using that power to atleast change people’s minds, we can live a better life. Kabootar ke tarhan aankhein band karnay sey kuch nahe hota.

    Think about it!

  • My peoples My pakistan Should be first!!!

    our national interest is every thing.we are policy makers we are advertisers and then we starts discussions .

    its sad we ever discuss advertise and says what is wrong but we never say how we correct and what is right.

    Think about it

  • app ki sans band ho gayi hai ek din mobile network band ho na sa …………………………. liken pakistan mein ek is city hai hai jahan sa gas nikal rhaa hai aur pura pakistan mein gas supply ho rha hai ………… wahan koi mobile network nhi hai …..aur na hai koi vfone ka koi net work hai ………… ( SUI GAS ) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>BALOUCHISTAN DERA BUGTI>>>>> ( Plzzzzzzz think it ) EID MUBARAK

  • pakistan mein ek is city hai hai jahan sa gas nikal rhaa hai aur pura pakistan mein gas supply ho rha hai ………… wahan koi mobile network nhi hai …..aur na hai koi vfone ka koi net work hai ………… ( SUI GAS ) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>BALOUCHISTAN DERA BUGTI>>>>> ( Plzzzzzzz think it ) EID MUBARAK


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