THE WEEK THAT WAS
Bas Tera Saath Ho | ARY Digital, Mon-Tues 8.00pm
Anas’ (Farhan Saeed) life should have changed after he married Ansa (Sana Javed), but has not because he is held back by childhood memories of humiliation and servitude. Ansa pulls him towards self-respect and dignity, but he continues to devalue himself and is slowly dragging Ansa down with him as well.
Anas’ greatest betrayal of trust is his promise to shield his cousin, Shayan (Haris Waheed), from a police investigation. Shayan had made the fake, indecent AI video that ruined Ansa’s reputation, which gave her brother an excuse to render her homeless. The story takes a karmic turn as Shireen’s (Zoya Nasir) engagement to her ‘ideal man’ — the high-flying Faham (Rizwan Ali Jaffri) — turns sour. Self-assured to the point of cruelty and arrogance, Shireen gets a dose of the pain she has caused others.
Sana Javed has the better-written character and performs it with enough bravado to be called the hero rather than Farhan Saeed. He is out of his element, but still commands attention through his screen presence. The negative characters played by Faran Tahir (Mursaleen), Zoya Nasir and Haris Waheed never fail to impress.
Zanjeerain | Hum TV, Wed-Thurs 8.00pm
Director Shehzad Kashmiri works wonders in picturising this story, but the slow pace, unnecessarily long scenes and clumsy editing often negate the tension and suspense the script requires.
Danyal Zafar has grown into the role of the bookish, introspective hero, but his character’s inability to take any positive actions to move the narrative forward is becoming a handicap. Afraid of being judged and blamed, Rabia (Sajal Aly) gains enough confidence to admit that her husband, Mudassir (Ameer Gilani), was murdered by a man who was obsessively stalking her. The link between Sardar Sher Dil’s (Ahsan Khan) suspicious death, Mudassir’s murder and Sher Bano’s (Sahar Hashmi)disappearance is still not clear, but a pattern is emerging.
Rabia is re-emerging as a strong, resourceful protagonist after experiencing extreme trauma, which Sajal Aly portrays perfectly. The main acting credits go to Raza Ali Abid (Sohrab), whose restrained portrayal of avarice and sheer hubris hidden behind an affable mask of loyalty is the highlight of every episode. In addition to the established stars, Anayah Shahid, who plays Sohrab’s co-conspirator and lover Shireen, continues to garner praise from critics and audiences. Despite gaps in direction and missing plot points, the show has a strong hold on its audience and hits the target of entertaining the masses every week.
Muhafiz | Geo TV, Daily 9.00pm
For those who want nothing but entertainment, this simple but well-written story from writer Sadia Akhtar is the answer to all their hopes and prayers.
Honest policeman Zawar (Junaid Khan) cannot work in a corrupt system, so he reluctantly agrees to guard the wealthy Paras Shah (Momina Iqbal). Paras is irritated by what she sees as control and interference but, after a few attempts on her life, she grudgingly has to accept that Zawar means well. After a near-deadly attack, Zawar spirits Paras away to hide in his quiet, conservative village. This twist upsets Zawar’s traditional family, and his soon-to-be fiancée Resham (Areej Chaudhary) starts acting like a cartoonish villain.
Junaid Khan is not the most emotive of heroes, but fits flawlessly into the role of a determined man who likes to keep his own counsel and is unafraid of danger. Momina Iqbal has become the go-to actress for playing a spoiled pretty girl, and does an efficient job. Difficult circumstances bring them closer, but Paras is still unable to shake off her natural arrogance enough to appreciate Zawar’s good nature.
What To Watch Out For (Or Not)
Beti Ka Ghar Kaunsa | Geo TV, Daily 7.00pm
After the success of Noor Jehan, another serial about a controlling mother hits our screens, starring Moomal Sheikh and Humayoun Ashraf.
Published in Dawn, ICON, August 2nd, 2026