Geo TV on Saturday confirmed that comedian and television host Tabish Hashmi will continue to host the network’s comedy talk show Hasna Mana Hai, days after a farewell message posted by Hashmi on social media triggered widespread speculation that he had been removed from the programme over remarks he made about the ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In a post shared on Instagram in late July, Hashmi thanked viewers, colleagues and the production team for what he described as nearly five years on national television, without specifying a reason for his departure. The post did not name Geo TV or reference any dispute with the network, and Hashmi did not respond publicly to the speculation that followed in the days after it was shared.

The message came three days after Hashmi had posted a separate video in which he spoke about the violence in AJK, where a crackdown on protest movements has left dozens dead in recent months, according to reports from local and international outlets. In the video, Hashmi said he was uncertain which subjects could be safely discussed in the country and appealed for dialogue rather than continued confrontation, adding that the reports emerging from the region had been too distressing to ignore.

The proximity of the two posts prompted many social media users to conclude that Hashmi’s exit from the show was connected to his comments on Kashmir. Posts describing the development as an example of the professional risk attached to political commentary in Pakistan circulated widely on social media platform X, with one widely shared post describing the sequence of events as the cost of speaking against oppression in the country. Several public figures expressed solidarity with Hashmi in the days that followed, and international outlets, including some based in India, picked up the story, framing it as a case of a public figure facing professional consequences for commenting on the situation in AJK.

Neither Hashmi nor Geo TV issued a statement at the time confirming or denying a connection between the video and the farewell post. Journalism Pakistan reported that no credible evidence had emerged at any point establishing a link between Hashmi’s remarks and any action taken by the network, and that Geo TV had not issued any statement supporting claims that Hashmi had been removed from the show.

On Saturday, the official social media account for Hasna Mana Hai announced that the programme would return with an updated set for a new season, with Hashmi continuing as host. In a follow-up post, Hashmi said the farewell message had referred to the conclusion of the show’s previous studio setup rather than his departure from the programme, describing the change jokingly as a “software update” for the show.

The clarification drew criticism from several quarters rather than resolving the speculation. Actor Mishi Khan was among those who publicly criticised Hashmi and his team, saying the sequencing of the posts had allowed a sensitive and ongoing humanitarian issue to be used for promotional purposes ahead of the show’s relaunch. Social media users echoed the criticism in the hours that followed, with some describing the campaign as exploitative and others questioning why the ambiguity of the original farewell message had not been clarified sooner, particularly given the interpretation it had generated among viewers who believed Hashmi had faced professional consequences for his comments.

Some commentators defended Hashmi, arguing that the confusion stemmed from an unfortunate coincidence in timing rather than a deliberate campaign, and that his willingness to comment on AJK in the first place should not be overshadowed by the backlash over the farewell post. Supporters pointed to his history of raising uncomfortable subjects on his show, including a widely discussed interview with Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab in which Hashmi questioned the mayor directly on the city’s infrastructure problems, as evidence that his commentary on Kashmir was consistent with his broader public persona.

Hashmi rose to prominence as host of the digital talk show To Be Honest, produced by Nashpati Prime, before joining Geo TV in 2021 as host of Hasna Mana Hai. The programme, which combines celebrity interviews with sketch comedy and audience-style commentary, has featured politicians, athletes, entertainers and other public figures, and has been described by industry observers as one of the most-watched entertainment programmes on Pakistani television in recent years. Hashmi has also hosted Pakistan Got Talent on the same network and appeared in the feature film Aag Lagay Basti Mein alongside Fahad Mustafa and Mahira Khan.

Also Read: Tabish Hashmi Kicked Out of GEO News? Or Was It a Publicity Stunt

The unrest in AJK, which formed the backdrop to Hashmi’s original video, has continued for several weeks. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), the coalition behind the protest movement, was designated a proscribed organisation by AJK authorities in June under anti-terrorism legislation, a move that international rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have criticised as disproportionate. Mobile internet and network services in parts of the region have remained suspended for weeks, and reports of fatalities during clashes between protesters and security forces have continued into recent days, most recently during the first phase of AJK’s legislative assembly elections in late July.

Pakistan’s information ministry has separately accused international broadcasters, including Al Jazeera, of what it described as biased and selective reporting on the situation in Muzaffarabad, a claim that has added to the wider public debate over how the AJK crisis is being covered and discussed in both domestic and international media.

Geo TV has not issued a statement addressing the criticism directed at the show’s marketing approach, and it remains unclear whether the network played any role in the timing or framing of Hashmi’s farewell post. A spokesperson for the channel could not immediately be reached for comment.

Hasna Mana Hai is expected to premiere its new season in the coming weeks, with the network’s promotional material continuing to reference the show’s refreshed format and studio design. Industry observers say the controversy, regardless of its resolution, is likely to have increased visibility for the relaunch ahead of its premiere, though several commentators have questioned whether that visibility has come at a reputational cost for Hashmi given the criticism directed at him over the past several days.