Bollywood star Veena Malik sentenced to 26 years in prison over part in 'blasphemous' TV show

Malik, who is expected to lodge an appeal said: '26 years! Come on. 26 years is a lifetime!'

16:57 27 November 2014

Bollywood star Veena Malik has been sentenced to 26 years in prison by a Pakistani court for taking part in a “blasphemous” TV programme which aired several months ago.

 

Her husband, Asad Bashir Khan Khattak, the owner of the company that aired the programme Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and TV host Shaista Wahidi were also sentenced to 104 years in jail between them. 

 

The programme showed the couple re-enacting their wedding to the tune of a “contemptuous” qawwali, a traditional form of South Asian music. 

 

Aside from jail time, the guilty parties were also fined 1.3 million Pakistani rupees. 

 

Malik, who is understood to currently living in the United Arab Emirates, is expected to appeal. She reportedly told a local newspaper. "26 years! Come on. 26 years is a lifetime...

 

"But I have faith in higher courts in Pakistan. When the final verdict comes, it will do justice to me. Nothing bad is going to happen.

 

"I have faced highs and lows in my life. But I am sure I haven't done anything wrong."

 

She added that she plans on going back to Pakistan in December.