ISLAMABAD: The impact of the conflict in the Middle East has extended to Pakistan’s entertainment industry. The country’s biggest national singing competition, Pakistan Idol, has announced it will pause due to regional tensions rising.
In a statement on Instagram, the programme’s organisers said they were set to continue the show after taking a pause during Ramadan “with the finale just weeks away”.
However, it said, “as the situation around us evolved, it became clear that the mood of the nation had shifted”.
The organisers said it “did not feel right” to continue a celebration at their scale during a time when the country is faced with “ regional tensions rising and calls for national austerity”.
Pakistan Idol, they said, stood for “joy, pride, and the collective spirit of this country” and they felt the finale, a moment of national celebration, “deserves to happen at a time when Pakistan can truly embrace it”.
Addressing the show’s contestants, organisers said their journey on the show was “not over” and their moment to shine was “not lost. It is simply waiting.”
They also thanked audiences, whose “love, support, and belief in this platform mean everything”. They pledged to return, “When Pakistan is ready to celebrate again.”
In its second season, Pakistan Idol consistently remained the talk of the town, starting with controversy over its selection of judges and continuing into its last few episodes before Ramadan where stars such as Farhan Saeed, Asim Azhar and Shuja Haider appeared as guests and treated the audience to stage performances.
Alamgir, the 70s pop icon, even appeared on an episode and sang a medley of his songs.
The show is also one of several reality shows and TV competitions that have sprung up recently.
Masterchef saw a revival in Pakistan last year and Shark Tank held its inaugural run.
Upcoming entrants include Pakistan’s Got Talent — a local franchise of the British series — and Rap Icon Pakistan. - Dawn/ANN
