03-05-2025
Pakistani Singer Momina Mustehsan Faces Heat, Instagram SUSPENDED In India
Pakistani singer Momina Mustehsan's Instagram was suspended in India amid a crackdown on Pakistani personalities' social media after a terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir.
Pakistani singer and songwriter Momina Mustehsan's Instagram account has reportedly been suspended in India. The move comes in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which left several tourists dead and heightened tensions in the region.
Mustehsan's Instagram account is currently inaccessible to users in India. The Afreen Afreen siner joins a growing list of Pakistani celebrities whose social media presence in India has been curtailed, including acclaimed actors Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Ali Zafar, Ayeza Khan, Sanam Saeed, Maya Ali, Iqra Aziz Hussain and Sajal Aly.
So far, Momina hasn't reacted publicly. But fans in India have noticed the disappearance of her account and are sharing their confusion and disappointment online. Many have been following her for years, not just for her music but also for her thoughtful posts and positive messages.
Indian users trying to access the accounts are met with a message saying: 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."
Momina Mustehsan rose to prominence as a co-singer and writer in Farhan Saeed's single Pi Jaun, and later sang the acclaimed song Awari for the Indian thriller film Ek Villain. Her claim to fame came later, when in 2016 she made her Coke Studio debut as a featured artist in season 9, with the ghazal song Afreen Afreen and the romantic song Tera Woh Pyar.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened. In past situations where tensions have risen between India and Pakistan, steps like this (restricting access to certain apps, content, or profiles) have been taken to manage the situation.
Right now, it's unclear if the blocks are temporary or long-term.
This move comes just days after the Indian government blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels that had a combined following of over 63 million subscribers. The list included major news outlets like Dawn, Geo News, Bol News, and Samaa TV, as well as individual creators such as journalist Asma Shirazi and the popular digital talk show The Pakistan Experience.
Government sources said the action was taken because some of the content was considered misleading, provocative, or harmful to peace and public order in India.
On April 22, terror returned to Kashmir's scenic Pahalgam as armed militants opened fire on a group of tourists, turning a peaceful visit into a nightmare. According to accounts from survivors and grieving families, the attackers reportedly asked the tourists their names and religion before opening fire. Those who identified themselves as Hindus were shot dead on the spot, while Muslim individuals were reportedly asked to recite the Kalma before being spared.
The brutality of the attack left 26 people dead, including a tourist from Nepal. Survivors, many of them women and relatives of the victims, were spared but told to go back and 'tell the government what happened," according to their statements to the media.
First Published:
May 03, 2025, 09:36 IST
