Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi has stirred controversy following his appearance on a podcast hosted by Mansoor Ali Khan, where he openly criticized Imran Khan’s political approach and PTI’s strategies — particularly condemning the long marches and the events of May 9 as “totally wrong".

Hamza argued that politics should not be seen as a battle of absolute right versus wrong, and suggested that Imran Khan should have avoided confrontation and protest-driven tactics.

Time to unfollow this unnecessary individual @iamhamzaabbasi. by the way 9th May was done by those who made you sit on that chair with @_Mansoor_Ali. now please retire from our TV screens, you are a sheer disgrace!!!#HamzaAliAbbasi #Pakistan #ImranKhan #Tehran #PakistanCricket
— Rubab Khalid (@Sierra156binge) June 16, 2025

His comments sparked a wave of backlash, especially from PTI supporters, and ignited heated debate on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where reactions have been intense and varied.

فلم انڈسٹری چھوڑ کر دین سیلھنے گیا تھا ، آج اتنا دین سیکھ لیا ہے کہ ظالم اور چوروں کے خلاف بولنا بند کر دیا اورالٹا عمران خان کو غلط کہہ رہا ہے کہ اس نے ان چوروں اور ظالموں کے ساتھ ٹھیک نہیں کیا ۔۔👏👏#HamzaAliAbbasi pic.twitter.com/zyHDob6SUU
— Aladeen (@Aladeen_Pro) June 16, 2025

جنہیں راستے میں خبر ہوئی کہ یہ راستہ کوئی اور ہے۔۔۔#HamzaAliAbbasi #Respect pic.twitter.com/zRx1tBqp78
— Iqrar ul Hassan Syed (@iqrarulhassan) June 15, 2025

Abbasi’s criticism comes years after his resignation as PTI’s culture secretary in April 2015. At the time, he stepped down via a Facebook post, citing a conflict between the values he wished to promote and the content of his upcoming film.

hamza ali abbasi say political difference ki ummed thi leikin aesi tone deafness ki umeed nai thi, reality is this: ppl like him say I have "changed" but they always want to impose the same change on others & never want to understand where the other is coming from.
— Irtaza Asif Azad (@thoughts_irtaza) June 15, 2025

Though he remained a vocal supporter of PTI, his recent remarks have proven too harsh for many in the party’s base to accept.