Pakistan Idol has run into its first major issue of the season after one of its Top 16 contestants, M Ibrar Shahid, suddenly left the show. Shahid, a student from NCA and a rising fan favourite, shared a detailed video online in which he accused the production team of creating an unfair and emotionally stressful environment. The show has fully denied everything he said.
Shahid explained that he walked off the set “by choice” during the shoot on December 9, and that viewers will not see him in any upcoming episodes. In his video, he took fans through the entire day, explaining what pushed him to leave.
According to him, the problem started when Pakistan Idol posted a video of his performance. Shahid commented under it saying the voice in the clip wasn’t actually his because it had been over-autotuned. He said that after this, the production team repeatedly pressured him to remove his comment.
He also claimed that from the beginning, the team “didn’t want to keep him” on the show and that they discouraged him at every step. Shahid added that someone in charge even warned him that legal action could be taken if he spoke publicly. Still, he said he would continue to speak up because he wanted to tell the truth.
In the video, he accused the show of “exploiting contestants” and removing many talented singers. Shahid said the experience shattered his trust and left him emotionally drained, even though the judges themselves were “great.” He insisted that his performances were never scripted — unlike the rest of the show.
He ended his message by saying he knew his decision would cause problems for him, but he believed the “power of the people” would support him.
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Pakistan Idol issued an official statement calling Shahid’s claims “false, misleading, and defamatory.” The production team said the show strictly follows international Fremantle Idol franchise guidelines, ensuring fairness and transparency.
Their statement said that the show takes any allegations seriously and would protect its reputation through all legal options.
They also added that Shahid dropped out of the show willingly and the situation was in control.
Pakistan Idol further said that these allegations were not fair to the judges, the crew, and other contestants who are struggling and competing in an honest manner.
The circumstance has raised much debate on the internet. There are those fans that are all in favor of Shahid and others believe that it could be just backstage drama that occurs in most reality shows.
It remains unclear at the moment whether this scandal will end or become an even larger debate regarding the way in which reality shows work. At the moment, Pakistan Idol insists that its platform is fair, respectful, and founded on real opportunities of all contestants.
