Social media turns on Iqrar ul Hassan, wives after Edinburgh trip goes viral

The transition from a celebrated media watchdog to a political aspirant is proving to be a turbulent journey for former investigative journalist Iqrar ul Hassan Syed. Known for his high-stakes sting operations on Sar-e-Aam and his long tenure as a prominent face of Ramzan transmissions, Iqrar’s recent pivot to active politics with the launch of his party, Awam Raaj Tehreek, has met with a firestorm of social media vitriol.

The backlash, however, is not merely centered on his political manifesto. Instead, it has morphed into a complex critique of his personal life, specifically his three marriages and a perceived disconnect between his political "people-first" rhetoric and his family’s public and lavish lifestyle.

The latest wave of controversy was triggered by recent social media posts from Aroosa Khan, Iqrar’s third wife, whom he married in 2023. Sharing glimpses of a getaway in Edinburgh, Scotland, Aroosa was seen in a close, heartwarming display of affection with Iqrar’s first wife, Qurat ul Ain Iqrar.

While the family has long presented a unified and unusually friendly front, the public response to the photos—depicting the two wives posing against the backdrop of the UK—was overwhelmingly critical.

Commenters were quick to target the domestic dynamic, with one user bluntly stating, "Iqrar has prepared a whole haram for himself."

Many pointed out the irony of a political leader championing the "Awam" (common people) while his family enjoys lavish international travel. "Their husband is being disrespected left, right, and center, and they are enjoying in the UK," one viral comment read.

The online hostility reached such a peak that some users even drew disparaging comparisons to figures like Jeffrey Epstein, while others labeled the group a "shameless family."

Public sentiment captured in recent comments reflects a deep-seated anger toward Iqrar’s perceived political shift: "They are enjoying without the clown [Iqrar], whom I once respected... but he is rude, temperamental, and his so-called party seems to be anti-Imran. He feels threatened by a man who is in prison—shame on him."

Aroosa has now deactiavted her Instagram account.

This sentiment underscores the challenge Iqrar faces; many former fans who once viewed him as a "truth-seeker" now view his political entry as an establishment-backed move designed to counter popular opposition.

Iqrar ul Hassan’s marital history—married to Qurat ul Ain (2005), Farah Iqrar (2012), and Aroosa Khan (2023)—has remained a focal point of his public identity. While Iqrar has defended his choices as being within the bounds of his faith and personal transparency, the "unusually close" bond between his wives often leaves the public bewildered.

Earlier in the year, Aroosa Khan faced backlash for a viral shopping video where she attributed her financial freedom to her husband’s credit cards. This, combined with the recent Edinburgh photos, has created a perception of a "lavish elite" lifestyle that many feel contradicts the core values of the Awam Raaj Tehreek.